Having said all this, even a dam and a sire with low elbow and hip scores can produce puppies with bad joints - its just one of those things.
So basically:
1) If they were elbow scored and had high scores you bought the pup = you can't do anything
2) If they were elbow scored and had low scores its just one of those things = you can't do anything
3) They weren't elbow scored and you bought anyway = you can't do anything.
Its just one of those things. As Jules said, he probably will live a full and happy life and you can't ask for more than that.
" There is not a DNA test for this kind Di, only for the kind which goes hand in hand with Retinal Dysplacia "
John, I hate to be pedantic, but I was really careful to say that a DNA for certain strains of Dwarfism has been developed. I didn't say there was one for this kind because the kind hasn't be fully identified by the writer. I'm fully aware there isn't a sweeping test for 'dwarfism' as a whole, unfortunately.
In my defense, m'lud I'm sorry if I didn't make my wording clear.
Di
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The boys!
Read: Wylanbriar Dog Blog on the website: Updated! 1st February 12´!
I was really sorry to hear about your poor pup but delighted to hear that he has found himself a family who are prepared to love him and care for him regardless of this. He is a very lucky boy. As so many people have said it is impossible to guarantee a completely healthy dog, even if all the health tests are done. At the end of the day you have a dog which you obviously love dearly and I am sure you will do everything possible to manage his symptoms. Many dogs on this forum have this type of problem and lead happy and fulfilling lives thanks to their dedicated owners. It's easy to fear the worst but I bet you will be surprised. It would be great to hear some updates as things go on to see how he is doing. You will get so much support and help here so you won't be on your own. Good luck!
I am sorry for the situation you have found yourself in - I can only re-iterate what others have said about the parents / the value of the pup purchased.
I have a Lab with joint problems - came from fully health-tested parents - the breeder couldn't have done any more - it was just bad luck - her siblings / half siblings are all fine.
It is far too early to say yet whether he will have shorted lifespan - and don't forget - there are many other things that can sadly get in the way of life too
My girl might well succumb totally to the arthritis in the next couple of years (she is a good bit older than your pup) - but my god, for the time being, she is making every moment count - and I just hope I have the courage to know when the time is right to say "enough is enough" - but for now - she dances round here like a loony most of the time, and if there is trouble, you can guarantee she will be in the thick of it - she's always first on hand to corrupt new babies I bring in or are born here.
Quality of life is as important as life expectancy - what you can do now is to ensure that your pup has the best life possible, whether that be for the next 5 /10 or even 15 years - don't write dogs of this breed off, they are enormously resilient with an amazing capacity for adapting and living the life within their capabilities. - and believe me when I say those capabilities often go far beyond our expectations - I speak from first hand experience.
Do you have a valid insurance polcy to help you cover the costs of any treatments?
Welcome to the Labrador Forums Im sorry to hear that Blue has already had a few problems. I just wondered why you feel you need your money back, is it because you feel that you have 'faulty goods' or that you need help with medical bills or that you are worried that you might not be able to deal with his future needs and so would rather hand your pup back even though he is part of the family? What health tests had his parents had?
I can understand that its a bit of shock to find out that your adorable pup has something that isnt quite perfect and that might need ongoing medical bills but sadly that is something that happens. All we can do when we look for a new addition to the family is stack the odds in our direction. So we look for hip scores, elbow scores, DNA tests, BVA eye tests etc etc for the parents. This doesnt guarantee a healthy pup (nothing does) but it does help lessen the chances. Even if all the health tests possible have been carried out, it doesnt mean that you have any comeback on the breeder unless there is a contract in place that states you can return the pup for a full refund for x y z reasons within a set period of time. It also depends on the sort of relationship you have built up with the breeder too as they can offer lots of advice and support.
However I also know that there are many many dogs on here that have various health issues, for many different reasons. They are all adored by their owners and have their medical needs cared for. They all have fun, do things they like doing and have a good quality of life. Im sure that there will be people on here that can recommend things to help.
I think you need to have a think about what you want to do next, there are lots of people on here that could support you
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I'm sorry if I didn't make my wording clear.
Im sorry to hear that Blue has already had a few problems. I just wondered why you feel you need your money back, is it because you feel that you have 'faulty goods' or that you need help with medical bills or that you are worried that you might not be able to deal with his future needs and so would rather hand your pup back even though he is part of the family? What health tests had his parents had?
