What do you do when you buy a puppy from a breeder, and find out 2 days later they have hook, and tapeworms?

Question

I am so upset!! I took my new little baby chihuahua to the vet today because i could see that she probably had tapeworms. I bought this puppy on friday. Anyway, the vet did the whole worm check thing, and she also has hookworms. The vet said she probably got them from her mother. Well my question is shouldn't this have been prevented?? This lady that I bought her from is a breeder, who sells lots of puppies. Now, because of this I have a hefty vet bill for the treatment. I feel that it was her responibility to make sure my puppy was worm free. She said when I bought her that she had been wormed, but I wonder now if she was lying. Anyway........I just want someone's opinion about this. Thanks so much to those who answer

Answer 1

>>>This lady that I bought her from is a breeder, who sells lots of puppies.<<<

Good breeders don't sell "lots of puppies", they have a few, carefully planned litters (like maybe one or two a year).

She should pay for the deworming, your puppy did not develop worms in just two days.

Answer 2

You just give the puppy the medicine the vet gave you. If the breeder wormed her mother they may have not got the worms. As a breeder I worm my puppies 2 to 3 times after they are off the mother. Because they do get the worms through the mothers milk, so she may have not took them off the milk soon enough or wormed them after she stopped them from breast feeding. Your puppy will be just fine! Future reference make sure when you buy a puppy you get a full health history on that puppy how many times they have been wormed, and had shots. Make sure the puppy was vet checked before picking it up see proof. The vet should have checked the stool from the puppies. This is no reason to sue someone. The best and cleanest breeder may have puppies with worms!!!

Answer 3

Breders come in all shapes and sizes. Some are very reputable and others are not. Often times a one dose of worm medicine does not take care the problem. The puppies do get the worms from their mothers. The mother dog apparently was not properly taken care of which is really to bad. If the puppy came with no guarentee then unfortunately you are on your own. I have visited homes of breeders and knew instantly that I did not want one of their puppies. There is a diffeence between a "breeder" and someone who runs a "puppy mill". If nothing else you have saved a puppy and she will now have a caring and loving home. Good luck with her... When she is old enough be sure to have her "heart worm" checked. This is vital.....

Answer 4

The hook worms are very normal. Almost all puppies get them from there mother's milk. Many dogs require multiple wormings when they are puppies. Oddly enough my dog got diagnosed with hook worms today. Probably picked it up at the park. This really isn't that big of a deal. This is probably some sucky back yard breeder. Hook worms also don't always show up on a fecal and they puppy could have reinfested itself if the environment was contaminated. So maybe giving her the benefit of the doubt she didn't know.

Answer 5

First a health certificate or vaccination certificate came from the breeders vet? All pups have worms from the lactating Mom; did your pup receive all doses ? My puppies had to have 3 doses and they didn't leave until they were done and stool sample turned out okay; I love it when people go to breeders, no 1 ; so many puppies they are puppy mill no matter what anyone says; when people say breeder since ___ , I like to ask what did they do with all the male and females after they reached there AKC limit? you can' t be breeding for years with the same dogs and you can't keep getting more and more without having to get rid of the older ones b/c they would be out of business, do the math ; if you can breed a female 3 times and a male 4 times , what are you doing in business for any length of time ; where are all the faithful dogs that they used? I have seen people (breeders) get rid of them and get new stock ; is that for the love of the breed; I don't think so ; ask questions, many many ; don't be in such a hurry for a puppy; in this instance I would check the health record she gave you and ask her to pay for the deworming; that is her cost of breeding; go back to her ; if she doesn't assist you, take it upwards , file complaint with akc, small claims etc.

Answer 6

The hookworms aren't too much of a problem to treat. There are even OTC meds to treat them and they did come from the mom. The tapeworms are another story. They came from the mom (who more than likely has/had tapeworms herself) and pups having had fleas at some point. Now IF the puppy was not 2 pounds when you got it, then the breeder couldn't have treated the puppy for it. HOWEVER, if she was aware of the problem, then she should have given you the worming med to give the puppy when she is large enough.

Answer 7

Worms are very common in dogs. Did you get a Health Certificate with your baby. I worm my puppies at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks. Then they are checked by the vet for worms at 8 weeks and given a health certificate. Despite all of that from time to time they will still have worms. A lot of breeders do not guarantee against worms due to the fact of they are common and easy treatable by your vet.

Answer 8

DUUUHHHH... It's a PUPPY, it's GOING to have worms (probably whipworms and roundworms too, as well as Coccidia protozoans). This is a fact of life. Most pups need several wormings their first year, and at least two every year afterwards. My new pup is 7 months old, and has had 5 wormings so far! Puppies get worms like kids get colds... especially tapeworms, you can't prevent them... if a pup eats a flea or a mouse with tapeworms, then BAM, they've also got 'em. Anyway, worms are part of the territory when dealing with a pup. Get used to it!

Answer 9

I see that she told you that the pup had been wormed. Did you sign any type of a contract that stated that the pup had its first shots and had been wormed. Ask your vet if the pup had been wormed, how soon after worming could it contract the worms again. She may very well have wormed the pup, but has worms running rampant through her kennel. If she has as many pups as you say she does, she may be running a puppy mill. They usually don't take very good care of their dogs. They just keep breeding them to make money off of the pups. If you find that the pup should not or could not have contracted worms soon after worming, then call the breeder and tell her what happened. She may just say if your not satisfied, that she will take the pup back and give you your money back. Its your call.

Answer 10

First of all you should have asked for the up to date vet records. Second. All pups get worms. Usually breeders will start to administer worm treatments to the pups once the pups reach about 4 to 6 weeks old but it usually takes a couple of follow up visits to the vet once the pups been winged off the mother. The worms usually come from the puppy nursing. But going out and getting a pup is a wonderfully fun experiance but you also take on certain resposibilities as the pups new owner to get him to the vet and have him checked out. As long as you choose to be a pet owner you will have to take the dog in for regular check ups and regular vaccinations so that the dog stays healthy and had a long life. This is your responsibility. And if a pet owner fails to do this than they shouldn't own one. Not to mention it's border line animal abuse. So you better expect to get an occational vet bill once in awhile. Bsides vets aren't that expensive bcause I have 4 dogs 2 of which are police service dogs and they have to get regular vet checks and vaccinations religiously and all the handlers on my dept are resposible for their own dogs rotine vet care. The only time vets are that costly is if you dog has to have dental work or sergery.

Answer 11

well I would say that you actually bought from a BYB. not a real one. if she has lots of puppies then that is your first sign, as most breeders who do it for the dogs have very few. If you did not get a health guarantee or her paperwork so that you could contact the vet that the breeder took her to then you are basically up a creek. Take this as a lesson learned and do not buy from a BYB again. Hope she gets better.