NewMum

I'm on the northside. Yes, the breeder did know about the swallowing issues and no, they didn't tell me about it. I mentioned it to the breeder as soon as I got the puppy and noticed the funny sounds she made when drinking. The breeder said she had noticed the swallowing before sending her to me, but thought it would be alright. I definitely think I should have been told beforehand, because I wouldn't have accepted a puppy with a possible problem, and the breeder admitted that she had made a mistake by not telling me. Also, the puppies brother was put down at a few weeks of age because he had a closed oesophagus. Which to me should have been another factor that the breeder took into account when faced with my puppy's swallowing problems. To her credit, the breeder told me about the brother before I got my puppy, but I specifically asked whether any of the other puppies were or could be affected and she said no. Now obviously my puppy doesn't have a closed oesophagus because the endoscope showed it was fine, but if you have one puppy in the litter that was put down for some reason, and another puppy that shows symptoms of having some sort of problem, that would put me on higher alert than normal if I was a breeder. That's just my opinion anyway.

The vet just said to keep an eye on things and see how she goes e.g. if she has a funny coloured discharge from her nose that would indicate an infection.

The breeder and their vet knew about the swallowing problem but didn't tell me about it - they just thought it would be alright. I don't believe the other problems were present before she was sent to me. We have been mixing some fresh meat in with the kibble, and she tends to pick that out and leave her kibble behind. Although I'm now just feeding her one main meal at night (the breeder suggested this) and she's eating the whole lot.

The gravy powder suggestion is a great idea - I'll try that and see how she goes!

Eagle Pack Puppy, which is what I'm feeding her. She must be bored with it - I can't say I blame her!

In response to the questions above: My puppy had an x-ray of her throat at the same time as she had the endoscope, which showed that her oesophagus was the correct size (I just forgot to mention it in previous posts). So at least that's something ruled out! The endoscopy showed that she has a short soft palate - the vet said that a geneticist might say that it was technically a cleft soft palate, but that they wouldn't go as far as to say that. I live in Brisbane. Any "fantastic vet" recommendations would be appreciated! I'm willing to travel (within reason). The breeder currently has a litter and has two planned for later in the year. She hasn't offered a refund, but has offered a replacement puppy from her final litter due at the end of the year. She said will pay for the endoscope when she gets paid for the puppies from her current litter. Regardless, I've decided that I can't give her up. I'm going to persevere and cross my fingers that she'll be alright. I tried to visualise putting her back on a plane to VIC, but it was too upsetting. I love her way too much!!!

Thank you - I have asked for it to be moved!!!

It depends on what the second vet diagnosed the blisters and bacteria to be. Blisters can be from herpes, but I'd assume the vet would have mentioned this if Herpes was diagnosed. Otherise *to me* it reads like the first vet thought the discharge was normal, and probably vaginitis. The second vet took a swab and found bacteria (the only possible outcome) and so administered ABs. When these ABs didn't clear up the discharge the vet took a urine same and another swab (both positive) and administered different ABs. When she was on those antibiotics, I noticed some yellow discharge from her vulva, which our first vet said was "probably" normal. That's when I took her to another vet, who took a swab and found that she did have some bacteria there, so was placed on further course of the same antibiotic. However, the discharge was not clearing up so when she had the endoscope procedure on her throat, she also had a sterile urine sample taken and further swabs. The results were that she had blisters/bacteria in her vulva and a bladder infection I just wanted to clarify the timeline of events (I know my previous emails have probably been too long-winded and confusing, but it's a bit of a long story!). So here goes: First visit to Vet 1: At this stage there was a lot of urine staining, the breeder had told me it was not normal in her dogs and could be a UTI, which I asked the vet about, and she dismissed it. No ABs prescribed. Second visit to Vet 1: Little red dots had appeared, I reminded the vet that the breeder had mentioned the possibility of a UTI. I had not noticed any discharge at this stage. The vet did not take any swabs but said the red dots were pustules and prescribed Clavulox for ten days. At this appointment the vet also hygiene clipped the puppy (just on her vulva) as she thought the amount of hair in that area was the reason for the staining - the puppy spent the rest of that day and night and the following day licking the area constantly and whining, and was clearly in distress, but the vet receptionist (relaying information from the vet) said that this was probably just because it felt different. While puppy was still on these ABs I noticed the discharge. I called the vet receptionist (who again relayed information from the vet) who said that I could bring her in if I wanted to but that it was probably normal and it was "up to me". I wasn't happy with this advice as it's not up to me - I'm not the vet and I'm calling for the vet's advice! This was when I decided to take her to Vet 2. First visit to Vet 2: She took a vaginal swab which showed some bacteria (more than normal). As the puppy was still finishing her ABs from Vet 1, Vet 2 prescribed another seven days to see if it just needed a bit more time and help to clear up. Second visit to Vet 2: There was still discharge so it was decided to take the puppy off the ABs for one week to allow things to return to normal and then take the urine sample and vaginal swab. First visit to Emergency Vet: During the week off the ABs, puppy had a night of frequent urination, with little or nothing coming out, and whining while she was trying to urinate. She was given a Temgesic injection. Third visit to Vet 2: Endoscope procedure performed on throat, and urine sample and vaginal swab taken. This was when the blisters were found (ecoli bacteria present) and Cephalexin prescribed for one week. Bladder infection results came in subsequently and Cephalexin was determined to be the correct AB to be on for both vulva infection and bladder infection. Fourth visit to Vet 2: Puppy was prescribed another three weeks of Cephalexin to ensure bladder infection would clear up. Fifth visit to Vet 2: Puppy had a check-up one week before the end of the ABs and vet put a scope (or something) into her vulva which appeared to have cleared up and puppy did not show any discomfort while this was being done. Sixth visit to Vet 2: Final check-up with only one day of ABs to go. Discharge still present but determined to be normal. I mentioned at this visit about the incontinence - as the previous week she'd been incontinent two days in a row. Nothing was really said about this. We were to take her home and keep monitoring her. This was two weeks ago. This week she's been incontinent two days in a row also (one day incontinent once, the next day incontinent twice in the one day). It's a bit of a saga I know, so sorry for the length of my response.

Firstly, sorry you've had so many problems. Each in themselves doesn't sound much more than what can happen with any dog, when you put them all in one puppy, and a new excited owner and some issues in your own life then it does sound all very disappointing and hard. I don't think it is unreasonable for you to ask the breeder to take the puppy back. If you have kept the breeder up to date with all the issues as they have arisen IMO any reasonable breeder would say they would replace the pup at some future date (unless there is more to the story - if they have given you sound advice and you've ignored it for example, then they might be a bit antsy about supplying another pup) IMO it is a bit unreasonable to expect a full cash refund at this stage because apart from the swollowing issues, none of the other things are things the breeder had any control over or really can be considered responsible for. What the breeder choses to do with the puppy if you do return her shouldn't really come in to it. It will be difficult as you are obviously very attached to the pup, but you have to decide what is best for you and if that is sending the puppy back then that is what you should do. I have kept the breeder fully informed of all the puppy's problems, vet visits, treatments, etc and the breeder has also spoken to her vet to get her opinion and has relayed that to me. The breeder was the one that said in the beginning that it might be a UTI, which I told the first vet but which she dismissed completely. There is no issue in terms of a replacement puppy - however, the breeder said I could keep the puppy I have and have a replacement puppy as well. She has admitted to me that she made a mistake by not telling me of the swallowing problems up front, and she seems to be trying to make amends. But I'm not sure that having a problem puppy plus a replacement puppy will be the best thing for me to do.

Thanks so much for all your responses. I thought the consensus would be to send her back to the breeder. When I think about it too much and get upset and distressed about not being able to figure out what her problems are, I do want to give her back. But when I calm down (and whenever I look at her cute little face) I just don't know if I could go through with it. In response to lilli: I'm feeding her Eagle Pack Puppy. However, she's fussy, so she was getting 25g of My Dog mixed in to make it more appealing for her. That was until a trainer at the RSPCA where she was attending Junior Manners said it was like feeding a child broccoli with McDonalds on the side. So we're trying not to feed her My Dog anymore, which just means that she's not eating as much because she's over her dry food. She's an inside dog, so I do get the chance to watch her when she drinks and she does seem to drink quite a bit - she does dribble a bit out though, but not much considering the amount she is gulping down. She was initially on Clavulox for ten days. When we took her to the second vet, she put her on a different brand of the same AB for another 7 days (I'm not sure of the actual name). She was then taken off the antibiotics for a week to see if that was all she needed, but during that week we had to take her to the emergency vet because she had the typical symptoms of a UTI - frequent urination with not much (if anything) coming out and she was whining when she tried to go. That vet gave her a Temgesic injection for the pain. Then she went back to the vet, had her tests done and was given different antibiotics - Cephalexin - although apparently the first lot of antibiotics should have done the job in getting rid of the particular bacteria that was found. The pustules looked like little red raised dots. I'm not sure if they were causing discomfort. I think at that time she was licking that area quite a bit, so perhaps it was, or perhaps it was her other issues? They probably appeared a few weeks after we got her - so around 2.5 to 3 months of age. I was told that this could have been because of the change in temperature from being sent from VIC to QLD. I think puppy pimples had been mentioned at the time by the breeder, but the vet just said that they were pustules. The first lot of antibiotics (Clavulox) were actually prescribed for the pustules, because the first vet told me flat out (at two different consultations) that there wasn't a UTI or any bladder infection as she wasn't showing any signs of infection (I have since read that the infection can start well before any physical symptoms appear). The breeder had actually told me to mention a UTI to the vet because I was worried about the extent of the urine staining she had - it was spreading outwards into the fur on her back legs. The second vet did mention that her discharge could be vaginitis, so I think they did consider it. The ABs prescribed for the blisters in her vulva and the bladder infection were Cephalexin. The second vet didn't suggest lack of water for the bladder infection. I think they said that she had a heavy growth of ecoli on the vaginal swab. I'm not sure of the specifics of the bladder infection. This vet also did say (at out first consultation, before she took the urine sample and before the blisters in the puppy's vulva appeared) that some bacteria was normal, but that there was a bit more than she would expect (as she did take a swab at that visit. I was very concerned about all the ABs as well, as she was on them for a good six weeks. I worked out within two visits that the first vet was an absolute moron - she was the one that was completely ambivalent about my concerns and the one that prescribed the ABs for the pustules. But I thought the second vet seemed much more caring and definitely more knowledgeable - at least she took a swab instead of dismissing my concerns outright - and because I don't have any training or experience in these things you just do what you're told to do. It's all very difficult when it's your first one! Do you think I should seek an opinion from a third vet? The second last sentence in your post has been cut off - it starts "The ABs over so many weeks may....." - can you please let me know what the end of the sentence was please? She has also had very soft poos since being on the antibiotics (which I think is to be expected). She's now been off them for over a week, but still has soft poos - is this normal? I really appreciate all your questions and advice - thank you! In response to lappiemum: When I spoke to the breeder last week she confirmed her offer that she would pay for the endoscopy bill but she said something along the lines of "I can't keep paying her vet bills into the future, so you should consider your options because I don't like to see puppies suffering." I understood that to mean that I should consider euthanising her, and my automatic response was of disbelief and horror because I told her that I didn't think she was suffering. Obviously she has issues and she has some suffering in the sense that she's had some discomfort with her one bout of frequent urination and with the procedures she's had to endure to see what is wrong with her palate, but other than that she seems to be a very happy little puppy who's also very loving and affectionate. I know the breeder is having a difficult time financially, so I am concerned about what she would do if if I were to ask her to take her back. It also makes it more difficult to know what to do because at this stage we don't know what's going on with her swallowing - other than she has a short soft palate. The breeder spoke to her vet (who also knew of the swallowing problems before she was sent to me, but who apparently told the breeder that she didn't think it would cause any problems) who said that there could be a problem further down her oesophagus, near her stomach, which could be creating the problems, and that essentially there was no way of telling if this was the case. Sigh!

I'm new to this forum and would like some advice please. I have an almost six month old Samoyed puppy who has had constant problems from when we brought her home at eight weeks old. The first thing we noticed was that she had a funny swallow when drinking water. She laps the water but then for several seconds after the water has gone down, you can hear more water going down, so it's like it's getting stuck somewhere along the way. I mentioned it to the breeder as soon as we got her home, and the breeder said she had noticed it before sending the puppy to us, but didn't think it would be an issue. Our first vet was hopeless, but we have since found a very good one who ended puttinh an endoscope down the puppy's throat. They couldn't see any obstructions, but apparently she has a short soft palate (although this isn't the cause of her drinking issues). The next step would be to have a fluoroscopy to see what is happening with the water when it goes down her throat. We haven't done this yet. Apart from the funny sound she makes when drinking, she also coughs up food (probably only about once each meal though). In the mornings she seems to have a very dry mouth and continually licks it for a while, and then she makes throwing up noises, but doesn't throw up - we were thinking it may be hair balls? She doesn't seem to do the licking of her mouth or throwing up noises at any other time of day. Our puppy also developed a yeast infection in one of her ears shortly after we got her, but she had some drops, and that seems to have fixed the problem. She also developed pustules on her tummy for which she was prescribed antibiotics - apparenty this is quite common in puppies. When she was on those antibiotics, I noticed some yellow discharge from her vulva, which our first vet said was "probably" normal. That's when I took her to another vet, who took a swab and found that she did have some bacteria there, so was placed on further course of the same antibiotic. However, the discharge was not clearing up so when she had the endoscope procedure on her throat, she also had a sterile urine sample taken and further swabs. The results were that she had blisters/bacteria in her vulva and a bladder infection. So she went on a different type of antibiotic to try to clear these up. She was on those for four weeks and has recently come off them, so we can see how she goes. Within the past couple of weeks we have noticed that she is occasionally incontinent when she's asleep during the day - this has probably happened twice per week in the past two weeks - two days in a row one week, then two days in a row the following week (and twice in one day - yesterday). There was one previous time, a month or more ago where she was incontinent once, but I put it down to her just being a puppy. The next step is for her to go back and see the vet. I adore my little girl, but I never imagined that within the first four months of having her she could have so much go wrong with her. She's also my first puppy and I did so much research and spoke to so many breeders and expected to get what I paid for - a beautiful, healthy, Samoyed puppy. I'm also disappointed that I was sent a puppy that was showing signs of having a problem before she left the breeder. The breeder said she will pay for the endoscope procedure, and has said that I can keep my puppy and that she would provide me with a replacement puppy if I wanted one. I just don't know what I should do, because while I love her, I've had nothing but tears, heartbreak and distress trying to figure out how to "fix" her. Would it be reasonable of me to ask the breeder to take her back? I don't really want to do this, but I also don't know if I can continue with the mental anguish of a puppy that is never quite right. Please don't think I'm callous. I just wanted this experience to be wonderful and it really hasn't been, and I feel cheated and upset, but I also feel guilty for feeling that I can't handle the situation (although life has been unexpectedly difficult for me this year in a lot of ways, which hasn't helped). Any feedback or advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated.