Hip Dysplasia In Large Dogs

[neo161]

Im a breeder - sold my pups no worries - then I get a email to say one of the pups had to be put down due to Hip Dysplasia, was around 3months after me selling them the pup. They are now taking me to court for a full refund plus expenses of the vet. I offered another pup to these people straight away without hesitation - but they want one within 7 days. Now my research shows me that hip dysplasia is around 30% genetic and 70% enviromental (meaning what they have fed the dog and exercise etc) what is your opinion on this?

[Rebanne]

how old was the pup when sold and when PTS?

Did you have a contract and if so what did it say? what score did the parents have? did you explain to the new owners about the disease and how they had to take care as well?

[megan_]

Where your breeding stock hip scored? If yes, then I think you're in the clear (you've done everything you can to ensure healthy puppies, whether genetic or not). If not, then you have not done everything to ensure you breed healthy puppies and you'd be better off just paying up now, before you are awarded costs against you.

[sas]

I don't think your percentages are correct.

http://bakerinstitute.vet.cornell.edu/contentimages/library/File/Canine_Hip_Dysplasia_brochure_11_05.pdf

If you can show a court that you did everything you could to prevent such a condition such as:

- Hip score your breeding stock

- Provide a suitable diet info pack

- Keep in touch with family to try and ensure they were keeping to the puppy raising / diet info

Then for a condition that is part genetic and part environmental I think it will show you have done what you can. If you offered me another puppy I don't think I'd take it given my experience already. As a seller you have the Three R's to provide: Replace, Repair, Refund. If there is a high possiblity that the consumer believes the product is defective it would be reasonable for them to decline a replacement.

If I were the breeder I would have expected my Puppy Buyer to contact me and give me an opportunity to pay for a second opinion and to see the xrays if applicable - this could go against the seller if they did not do this.

If you're being taken to court I'd suggest you speak to a Lawyer rather than a forum where you're going to get mixes messages some may or may not be factual and you'll not know which is which.

[Brookestar]

If I were the breeder I would have expected my Puppy Buyer to contact me and give me an opportunity to pay for a second opinion and to see the xrays if applicable - this could go against the seller if they did not do this.

If you're being taken to court I'd suggest you speak to a Lawyer rather than a forum where you're going to get mixes messages some may or may not be factual and you'll not know which is which.

This I agree with. If they are taking you to court you need to get a lawyer. One can only do so much to prevent a condition. Hip and Elbow scores are not the same as DNA testing, but they are the best thing we have. One cannot guarantee a dog will not have hip or elbow displasia, they can simply lower the likelihood.

I would question any vet who simply put down a dog with so called hip displasia, especially if it were a puppy. I know puppies that had really bad hips and actually grew up to have better hips. Others that looked like they had great hips, that ended up being bad. This is one of the reasons scoring is not done until the dogs are at least 12 months old, the hips of puppies can and do change over that period of time.

Hip displasia also veries in severity, and if one does have a dog with displasic hips does that automatically warrant the dog being euthanised. Thousands of dogs live with the said condition. May not be what they wanted, not what anyone wants, but to simply euthanise a dog because it is not perfect is quite an extreme response. I would always seek a second opinion from another vet. And of course they should always have contacted the breeder before any of this happened and offered the dog back to the breeder.

They are going to have to show x-rays in court, and also justify why it was necessary to euthanise the dog. If they did not seek a second opinion that looks bad. If they did not contact the breeder before hand that is also bad. And yes diet and exercise do play a role. Like others I disagree with the percentages you have, but a whole range of things contribute to hip displasia. But since one cannot do a DNA test to definatively say a dog will not be affected, then one cannot guarantee anything.

I would say though any decent breeder explains all of this stuff before selling pups, and puts all of this stuff in writing to the new owners, along with detailed information about diet and exercise, copies of the parents health clearances, etc. The standard contracts also say that the breeder must be contacted before a dog is euthanised, unless it is a medical emergency. Hip Displasia is not a medical emergency. And most contracts also state that the breeder must be able to have a second vet examine the pup, etc. Such breeders also have mentors they talk to and communicate with and would be discussing it with them, not on an online forum where anyone can answer.

Edited February 14, 2013 by Brookestar

[Tassie]

Age of pup when sold/ when PTS?

Specialist opinion sought by owner?

Be interesting to know if it was PennHip scored or AVA. Haven't there been some other instances of juvenile PennHip leading to PTS or early (possibly unwarranted) surgeries? Worth checking for other threads

[Nekhbet]

yes and no when it comes to environment and genetics, I can tell you I didnt take away my rottweilers hip sockets.

If they did not consult you about these problems, then some of the fault is on them. What does your contract of sale say?