Bad Problem With My Chow... Would Like Some Opinions

[spirrall]

Hi Spirrall

Thanks for the update and really hope all those dollars its cost you have given Chowie a first class cosmetic repair job. If there are signs of ulcers and damage at her young age the problem has been evident for some time. Have you contacted the breeder at all to keep them updated? You do realize don't you that you are entitled to request at least a partial refund because you have paid for a top quality puppy which is now strictly pet quality only and must not be bred from.

One can't tell much from a photo but Chowie does look like a lovely puppy and I really hope once you've recovered from this hurdle she goes on to give you many years of happy companionship.

Hi Goldchow!

Thanks a lot for your constant input. I really appreciate it. I think my breeder is ok to give me a refund. Good news though... the right eye is healing super quick. Ulcers are healing super quick on that eye as well. Bad news.... her left eye is still unsatisfactory. I'm going there again next Tuesday to see if we need to do another operation. I also did a silly thing where I took her elizabethian collar off before I gave her her meal and during that split second she scratched her left eye and we think thats probably the reason why its not healing as well. So rule of thumb... no collar off... That was another $1000 surgery which was super unnecessary and i might need to go for another if her left eye isnt healing. The good thing apart from our inability to pay for our credit card and interest in the mean time is that hopefully she'll get better in the long term. Yeah... i was hoping to show chowie which was what I was expecting when I bought her. The papers were signed and i should be able to show her and breed her but now... I'm doing the ethical thing and not going to reproduce any unhealthy pups. I need to desex her soon as well but I might leave it til later since she's had a lot of surgeries lately.

Hi, I am new to the forum, and new to the whole 'breeder' thing. I am however a Emergency and Critical care vet nurse so I was reading this thread with interest. We also have an Ophthalmologist working out of our clinic once a week.

I hope Chowie improves and recovers quickly for you, he is obviously well loved and cared for. and he looks like a very nice dog.

Are 'buyers' really entitiled to a refund from breeders if something like this happens down the track after purchase?

I am not arguing this comment at all, I would have NO CLUE about this, it just surprises me. Is the breeder responisble for this even months after purchase? I would have thought that after purchase and perhaps the initial 2-3 week health guarantee that some breeders give, it's no longer a responsability they are liable for.

I see many dogs (and cats) with hereditary or breed related health rpoblems, and it's just unfortunately part of those breeds. One has to do their homework (which in this case was clearly done) and then make a decision if you are willing to take the chances with that particular breed with those particular tendancies.

Can a breeder really be responsible for this down the track?

I have my dog insured, as I know what kind of conditions she is predisposed to, I viewed the parents and asked for hip scoring, PRA testing and eye testing of the parents. That's all you ca do really.....what happens as she matures in my mind is not on the breeder.

Again, I am just curious about this, in no way am I implying any ill feelings towrads your post or you in any way. :D

Hi, yeah i got the surgery done by a Ophthalmologist at SASH vets (Mark Billson). Hes a really good surgeon and seems to really care about the dogs. In regards to your question about the pup. I got Chowie relatively later... She arrived to me approximately 17 weeks and that's a little under 5 months so i only had her for about 2-3 weeks before her eyes had the "infection". My breeder agreed to a refund. All my dogs are on pet insurance. I was going tog et it for Chowie. It wouldnt have worked anywais since its a minimum 30 day waiting period and her eyes got infected a lot sooner than 30 days of having her.

Oh dear, I haven't read this thread for a while as I had not expected anyone to reply after a while. Anyways just a quick update: Chowie's has already done her surgery and price of it went over $3000 (this is a lot considering I've spent $3000 on her and basically I've just justed $6000 easily within this month). However, I believe it was worthwhile because she had it done at an eye specialist who needed surgery on all four of her eyelids, both eyes. Yep, tacking was too late because it was really severe and she was sent to have the operation the next day because it was an emergency.

very expensive.

Entropian surgery for a 5 month old Anatolian puppy cost $600.

What was involved in Chowie's surgery?

Re inheritence:

Both sire and dam had no entopion or history of producing entropion.

the puppy in question however had one of the biggest boofiest ASD heads I'd ever seen,

spec vet thinks entropion resulted from skin / head structure of the individual puppy.

I think price-wise its different depending on the case. I believe my dog had an operation on all four of her eyelids. So I think that's what made it more expensive. It couldn't be done at our local vet which they said they would charge us around the high hundreds if they did it.

[BittyMooPeeb]

How is Chowie going?

[goldchow]

Hi Spirrall, thought later that I should have warned you not to feel sorry for her and remove that collar, one swipe of that paw can do lots of damage as you've already found out.

I wouldn't consider putting Chowie through desexing surgery for quite some months Spirrall, anaesthetics really take alot out of this breed and she's had two really good bouts already. The Chow has a very finely tuned nervous system and you need to be aware not to put them under unecessary stress.

Hi Lilli, agree Chowies eye surgery sounds expensive. The last surgery of this sort I had done would have been around six years ago, both eyes and paid about $500. Not done by a specialist but my usual vet who is an unofficial specialist in the chow breed, and a godsend I might add.

[spirrall]

How is Chowie going?

Hi Chowie is going really well. Both her eyes are now looking really decent. Unfortunately she did have to go through a third surgery since her left ulcer refused to heal. But since then, it's already loooking really decent. Thanks for asking though! Chowies kinda amazed with what she can actually see in life. Its so much more fun to see her in the doggy park, running around and chasing after dogs now that she knows who shes facing. Before she was kinda more stuck to us, as she wasnt too sure of all the unfamilar noises.

Hi Spirrall, thought later that I should have warned you not to feel sorry for her and remove that collar, one swipe of that paw can do lots of damage as you've already found out.

I wouldn't consider putting Chowie through desexing surgery for quite some months Spirrall, anaesthetics really take alot out of this breed and she's had two really good bouts already. The Chow has a very finely tuned nervous system and you need to be aware not to put them under unecessary stress.

Hi Lilli, agree Chowies eye surgery sounds expensive. The last surgery of this sort I had done would have been around six years ago, both eyes and paid about $500. Not done by a specialist but my usual vet who is an unofficial specialist in the chow breed, and a godsend I might add.

Hi GoldChow,

You've probably read above but chowie did end up having another surgery. The damage left eye did make things worse and there was a left ulcer that refused to heal. Chowie did go through another surgery and currently it looks a LOT better, so Im really happy. Will be at the specialist again in another 2 weeks to get her to have a check up. I'll keep in mind that she shouldn't be desexed til later. Yeah, Chowie has been going through a lot of stress at the hospital from what I've heard and it seems like even having the nurses around playing with her, isn't making things better. I have read that Chows can be loyal and rather cold to strangers as they believe that its not as necessary to make friends since they believe that their owners will be back soon for them. But more importantly I just needed to get her eyes fixed. This was more than what I expected to pay but to see her little happy tongue poking at me, makes me smile and feel that it was worth it.

Thanks for all the advice you have given me! It was really helpful!

spirrall

[persephone]

Nice to read that she can now gaze out on her world comfortably! :D

[goldchow]

Thats great Spirrall, it sounds like its a whole new world for Chowie. Chows bond very closely to their owners and can be quite stressed when seperated. If any of mine require surgery my vet, who has been a great fan of the Chow for many years and has studied the breed in depth, he likes the owner to be virtually there as soon as the Chow wakes from the anaesthetic.

Here's wishing you many years of happy chow memories.

[spirrall]

Just a quick update for everyone who has been following this thread. Thanks for everyone's participation and follow ups. I had taken all your advice and I feel very lucky to have all of your support. Chowie has officially taken off that horrible cone or elizabeth collar as most would call it. Her eyes have fully recovered. YAY!!! We'll be back for another check up when she 18 months to see if she needs the surgery again.