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K9 Corner: Good breeding can't ensure puppy perfection

August 01, 2007|HELEN PALMER

A reader called asking for the name and phone number of an AKC breeder for her selected breed. She stated that she knew that if the dog is registered and costs a lot, it means that the dog can be shown and bred and will always be healthy.

I explained that even the pups from the highest ranked champions cannot have a guarantee that they will follow in their parents' footsteps. That is the reason that responsible dog breeders will have a clause in the contract that if the pup does not grow and perform as expected, the breeder will accept the animal back.

Some other health problems that may not be noticeable in a young pup are: faulty heart or the pituitary gland can shut down (one of my dogs had that happen and she drank gallons of water a day until she got the hormone shots). Another one of my dogs, a conformation champion, developed "dry eye." For the rest of his life he had to be treated two or three times a day with an eye ointment. I did not consider him good enough to be used for breeding because he had several health problems that developed after he earned his championship.

It is the owner's responsibility to watch for warning signs that the dog needs to be seen by a veterinarian. At least once a week and preferably more often, the animal should be inspected for any problems that might have started. This could be as simple as a balding spot on the top of the back where the dog has rubbed the fur off because of itching, or it could be as serious as a thick ocular discharge signaling a trip to the doctor.

I noticed a bluish cast to the normally dark brown eyes of the dog that had "dry eye" and asked the veterinarian to check his eyes. I have spotted nail trouble in its early stages, which turned out to be an aggressive infection that was resistant to two different treatments.

The veterinarian cannot take care of your pet unless you have first observed and concluded that there is something going on that needs to be seen. Most animal clinics will advise you if you are in doubt. "My dog is throwing up," cries a concerned owner. The office manager or technician will then ask a few questions such as "How long has this been going on?"

Based on this information, the owner may be advised that it is an emergency and the dog needs care immediately or that the condition bears watching but is not critical at the moment. Again, it is the owner's decision in the end.

Going back to the reader's question, I was able to supply the name and address of a breeder as she asked, but I emphasized that the pick of the litter show quality pup may not reach its potential and registration papers do not guarantee perfection in either conformation or brains when the pup is grown.

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