What to do when a puppy has an inverted vulva.

[ambrosemerryweather]

I have a beautiful litter of 8 labrador retrievers. Everyone is healthy. They are six weeks old and we have our first vet appointment this week. I noticed last week that one puppy seems to have a mild, inverted vulva. I have not noticed a rash or that she has trouble urinating. I called my vets office to talk to them about it and she said that she would look at it and determine if it was mild or what might have to be done. Either way, whether it is mild or not, I need to talk to her new owner about it. They want her as a family dog and are not going to breed her, but she is a very intimidating lawyer and I wondered if anyone has any suggestions about what options I can offer her. Do I just tell her I will return her deposit and find a new home? Do I let her take the puppy with the understanding that she is as-is? I do not want her to take the puppy then sue me later. I would rather find a loving home for the pup or keep her myself than have trouble from this buyer in the future. I want to be a responsible breeder and I want to do what is right for the puppy but also her possible, new family. 

Edited April 8, 2020 by ambrosemerryweather
clarity

[Rascalmyshadow]

We have gone through this with our bearded collie puppy, her breeder hadn’t realised before we got her, we found out after multiple urinary tract infections.

Our vet advised us to let her have a season and then wait another 3-6 months before desexing her, if it hasn’t corrected itself then she would have corrective surgery at the same time.

 

I would give your puppy buyer all the information and let them make the decision if they take the puppy or not, maybe you could offer to refund a certain amount if she does end up needing corrective surgery.

[Rebanne]

Tell them up front, offer to take puppy back when she has her season (if they feel they can't cope), and if you wish, offer to go halves in any corrective surgery. Not all the costs though as they have taken her with full disclosure. This would be as a good will gesture only not because you have done anything wrong. Sh!t happens at anytime. Ask you vet what they think the surgery would cost so you have an idea. Make sure any agreement is in writing. Just a simple letter saying X has purchased female puppy with possible inverted vulva, recommend to allow puppy to have one season and if it doesn't self correct, then you will contribute x amount of dollars ( or 25/50 % ) to corrective surgery.    Or same letter without the contributing part but saying you would refund part purchase price upon the bitch needing surgery, and include at same time of desexing. Just because your buyer is a lawyer does not mean they are any better or worse then others.

 

[_PL_]

I agree with the signed agreement but as well, put everything in email. Even if you tell them over the phone, follow up by clearly confirming what you have discussed  (even send the vet report if you wish). Lawyer or not (sorry that you feel intimidated), just be clear in writing of what you know and what you're offering, and they can make their decision. 
 

It's probably not going to be a huge drama anyway, things happen. It's nature.   They might just need your extra assistance to get through the bumpy bits. 

[ambrosemerryweather]

Thank you, everyone! This is some great advice. I also appreciate your kindness in your answers. Take care and stay safe!

[persephone]

..and well done on being a thoughtful and responsible breeder

[Dogsfevr]

I would not put in writing you will pay so much towards the procedure & the reason being they may decide to pick the most expensive vet around which will cost you more .


It would be better to drop the price of the pup taking out what the estimated cost of surgery will be .
The issue here is pet insurance for the new owners may be a problem as you have rightly so informed them of a pre existing condition so they will head straight to there vet where it will be noted in the system .So UTI 's may not be covered .

Forget there a lawyer ,you are dealing with a puppy owner .
First job is to inform them ,let them know what the pros/cons are off the issue ,send them the vets report which wont be massively detailed because there is the unknown in rectifying with age BUT it backs you up .
Ask them to think about it as a family .Personally i would send a follow up email with it all in writing not just verbal .
Then make sure you have it clearly written in your puppy contract that they are buying this puppy fully aware of its diagnosis & have been made aware of the potential outcomes .
Lawyer or not you would have to do the same thing .
This isn't a massive issue BUt it can be a tad costly for UTIs so important people are made aware .
UTI can become an issue ,a good vet will absolutely suggest allowing 1/2 seasons to help assist if not severe .Even if not severe the UTIs can be just a bigger pain so surgery still the open .
We own a bitch slightly inverted & she has no issues what to so ever .
We groom a English Springer Spaniel that had constant UTI,sore vulva & drama's until she had the surgery than all good

[Tassie]

Good for you for being open and responsible.  No specific advice, but this reminded me of when I was getting my previous girl .. born before there was a DNA test for Collie Eye Anomaly.   Affected pups were only discovered at a 6 week check with a vet ophthalmologist.   I knew that CEA was a possibility as her grandsire was a carrier, so her dam could have been, although the breeder had tried hard to find a non-carrier sire, but since she was not going to be for breeding, just for performance, that was not an issue for me.    So I got a phone call from the breeder after the pups had had their 6 week check, and 'my' pup (2nd pick .. breeder was going to keep the pick) was CEA affected.   The breeder said it would be completely understood if I didn't want to take her, but that she had arranged that the ophthalmologist was happy to talk to me on the phone if I wanted to call him .. I was in another State.    So I did call the specialist and had a really good chat with him .. he was particularly concerned that I wouldn't be wanting to breed with her .. I wasn't!  ,,, but he felt that she would be fine for obedience and agility.    So I went ahead with the purchase, and had my lovely girl for the next 15 and a quarter years and had heaps of fun with her.   She saw the specialist once a year for 4 years, just to make sure all was going normally … and I'm happy to say that her blood sample may well have made a contribution to the discovery of the gene responsible for the defect, and the DNA test which now ensures that with responsible breeding, there are no more affected dogs.   The whole process was so open and pleasant, with full disclosure and discussion.  I was absolutely happy to pay the full price .. but her lovely breeder discounted the price because she wasn't able to deliver the perfect puppy she had been hoping to send.

 

So on the basis of that experience, I'd say that full and open disclosure and discussion of options before completion of the purchase is really important.   I wish you and the puppy all the best.