My pet store pup (female Lhasa Apso) is showing many health problems (eg. crusty eye, broken leg etc.) - HELP!

Question

I got a female Lhasa Apso puppy from the pet shop near my house a few days ago. She was 7 weeks old when I got her. I paid $1400 for her but as her price was dropped from a stupid $1900 - I decided to get her as not only a good bargain but I had been looking for a Lhasa breeder for several months and the prices were very high ($2000+) and none had litters available at that time. When I got her, she had kennel cough, was limping a little, was sneezing a lot and had crust around her eyes. I was told that the kennel cough and the sneezing would pass in a few days and it was only because she was stressed after coming to the store. The shop had a 42 hour health guarantee on her - that was 5 days ago. The kennel cough hasn't gone away so I purchased some over the counter medication for her and it is slowly clearing up. The sneezing hasn't stopped and she is now weeping from the eyes. Her right eye has crusted almost fully over and I got very worried.

Yesterday I went back to the pet shop and asked for atleast $1000 back and they said they can't give me the money back because they have no record or evidence that she got her crusted-over eye, kennel cough (medication cost $40) or any virus or other illness from their shop - BUT HE WAS LYING. I walked out of the shop with a $20 voucher for their shop. They said they would get their vet to check my puppy out for free. The vet told me that the kennel cough was clearing away, the weaping and sneezing is due to stress - the vet said just to keep her happy, he said that the FULLY crusted over eye was due to DUST IN MY HOUSE and he said vaccum the house and that I was being very paranoid. As the pet shops vet handed me my puppy, he DROPPED HER. So when I got home, I put my puppy in her crate with a blanket over it and I vaccumed the house - all over. I checked her leg and she bit me - hard. She hasn't walked on her leg all day and she has been crying all day due to her leg.

I saw her walk to her food bowl and she was limping - a lot. I am heartbroken. I read all about puppy mills and pet shops but I trusted my pet shop as I had a friend who used to work there but got fired for telling someone not to buy a sick Bulldog puppy. I never thought I would get one of *those* puppies - but I did. I know I am a fool for buying a sick puppy from a pet shop so please, DO NOT GIVE ME RUDE COMMENTS ON MY DECISION TO BUY THIS PUPPY. I have no idea what to do now. I went to my vet yesterday and asked him to check the puppy and give me an estimate on how much I would have to pay to cure my baby girl.

My trusted vet said it would require surgery to fix her leg as a small piece of bone was broken - coming to $1300, $70 for a good kennel cough medication and $200 to "fix" her crusted eye. My evt also told me that the crusted over eye could result in BLINDNESS. If she was blind do to the crust, it would cost $3000 to fix her right eye. Vet bills come to a total of $4970. I can't afford it. Is there any way I can get the money for the vet bills? I don't want a refund on my puppy as I plan to keep her - forever. Please, PLEASE help me!!!!

****PLEASE READ MY WHOLE QUESTION BEFORE ANSWERING - I KNOW THERE IS A LOT BUT I NEED SERIOUS ANSWERS*****

ANY RUDE COMMENTS TO ME (eg. YOU ARE AN IDIOT.. ETC.) WILL BE REPORTED.

Answer 1

This is a prime example of why people should either adopt from a shelter or buy from a reputable breeder. Buying pet shop pets is supporting puppy mills and unhealthy pets. Your pup needs vet care. Over the counter stuff most often doesnot work and is often harmful to pets. What you saved buy getting this "bargin" will cost you much more in the long run in vet bills. I really feel sorry for the pup.

Answer 2

ok at this point it sounds like you have covered all info needed, problem is it will take a while to get your money back from the pet shop and your dog needs care now. I'm not sure where you live but you can take the pet shop to small claims court but after you have paid all the bills. My suggestion is go to the vets again and have a conversation with the vet, see what needs to be done today and if he can set you up with some sort of payment plan. Some vets will do things to help the pet and work with you on paying a bill. If you have done this already and they won't really help, you are limited, you can go another vets and explain the situation or try to raise money for the little pup. The main problem you have is time right now, i would try to get the medicine for the eye and kennel cough asap try to raise money for the leg surgery. Sometimes there isn't much you can do till after, but be wise save all your papers from beginning to end write everything done and file in small claims court. on top of that the best thing you can do is tell everyone don't let this happen to anyone else that buys a puppy from these people. You can also look into pet insurance if available in your area. seriously good luck and do your best to save this little puppy.

Answer 3

Your vet should contact the pet store and speak with the manager or even the owner. The animal hospitals I have worked for in the past the vets would do this and get a better outcome than you could on your own. And if a pet store ever suggests that their vet look at it even if it is for free they're not very trustworthy. Just share with your vet everything you have mentioned in your question and additional statements about what the pet store told you. It's problems like this why so many people are against pet stores. The majority of puppies and kittens bought from these stores are in poor health. The stores just want to make money. As for the vet costs most animal hospitals can set up a payment plan for you and hopefully your vet can prove to the pet store that they need to pay for most of it. I hope your little pup feels better and that everything works out.

Answer 4

Wow!!! That is a horrible story. Not to rub your nose in it (so to speak) but, this is a prime example why we warn people not to buy from pet stores. Your poor pup is certainly going through a lot and probably has been since birth. The truth is if you look over your paper work when you bought the pup, you will see it only protects the store, not you or your dog. They count on your seeing things through rose colored glasses and not really reading it. You are just another statistic unfortunately. Also, now since the puppy mill has been paid for the pup and the pet store has another empty cage to fill the cycle has continued for more to become victims. Hope you can make arrangements to have the pup cared for properly. Hopefully someone else will read this and learn. It's too late for you!! If you had a witness to the other vet dropping your dog you may have some recourse but, I am sure it would just be for him to fix it. I wouldn't trust him to do it right. Good Luck, sounds like you will need it......

Answer 5

You have found out one BIG reason that people should NOT buy puppies from pet stores..they are mostly from Mills and always from irresponsible breeders.They are often very ill and suffer major health problems throughout theri lives. Also your puppy was sold too young and for a much higher price then what you could have got a nice healthy pup from a respected, responsible breeder.
There are puppy lemon laws in most states. I would contact a lwayer that is experienced in pet cases and talk to them , ask advice (there is usually no cost for info), get all documentation from your vet complete with dates, exams, diagnosis, treatments, future treatments, estimates on costs, etc...if and this is a big if the dog is registered with a legit registry get the breeder name off the papaers and contact the registry, contact your states bureau of consumer affairs/better business bureau and lodge a formal complaint against the store you bought the puppy from, contact your states animal welfare dept. and also lodge a formal complaint, contact the ACO in the town where the store is and also lodge a complaint...send copies of ALL vet reports to ALL of these places.
Do NOT self medicate!!! Do NOT use OTC medications ever unless it is specifically advised by a licensed vet!!! To do so can cause serious harm even death.

Answer 6

I am so sorry for you.
So many people get shafted by pet stores and that is NOT right.
I am Not going to condemn you for buying from a petstore and so sorry you are going through a hard lesson. I would go ahead with the vet expenses to make your pup better and i agree with chihuaha lady save all the reciepts from everything and even dates for when you went and talked to the people afterwards. Get that friend of yours to back you up since she was fired for telling someone not to buy a sick puppy and go see a lawyer. There has to be laws against this and i would also contact your local aspca, or humane society and try something there so they can check into the background of this petstore, DO not give up and fight fight fight for your rights and those poor animals rights.
I feel for you and wish you the best of luck
as far as the crusty eye is concerned take a warm damp wash cloth and clean the eye, take some neosporin and put directly over the eye. The neosporin is a triple antibiotic ointment and may help with the infection in the eye. Do this three times a day at least.
A vet is a friend of mine and i called them for you to ask about the eye. The neosporin WILL NOT hurt the eye.
as far as the rest call around and get differant vets opinions and try to find a cheaper one.
It is not good for you to give any otc medication to your dog kennel cough basically needs to run its course. sounds as if you need antibiotics. You can go to dr. foster and smith.com and buy amoxicillan without a prescription.
good luck

Answer 7

No, unfortunately, you cannot get your money back for making the unwise purchase of a sick dog from a pet store. Consider this a lesson well learned. You get what you pay for. The $2000 for that top quality/reputable breeder pup sure sounds like a bargain now, doesn't it??? Buying a dog is not time to price shop around for the lowest deal.

I am sorry your dog is sick. The best bet is to get with a vet who will work out a payment plan, find one that takes CareCredit (a credit card you can get just for health related costs) or just use your regular credit card.

My labs have had injuries (not due to bad breeding) and I've had to suck up over $6000 in vet bills just to fix some knees.

Find a good vet, and work to get the pup healthy and suck up the fact that you are going to have to spend alot of money.

I suppose you could sue the petshop in small claims court, but I doubt you would win.

Answer 8

You need to get all the information from your veterinarian and have him write and/or call the owner of the pet store. This might result in the pet store being willing to refund your money IF you return the puppy (which they will likely euthanize). But again, this will take weeks, if not months. You have to keep on it and your veterinarian has to be willing to help you with this.

Unfortunately, what you've described is typical reaction from the pet store. Pet stores are not interested in the welfare of dogs, just the money they can make. It's common for the puppies to leave with respiratory problems and other health problems.

See if your state has a lemon law regarding puppies. This may help the process. Please understand that even if you are aggressive, you may not get any results. The pet stores do not care.

Best wishes with your little one...please share with others your pet store story, hopefully it'll start to open people's eyes about their lack of ethics and concern about puppies welfare.

Answer 9

Sad, sorry to hear about it. The $$ to get your dog fixed is a lot to pay at once. Can you maybe discuss a payment option plan with your vet? Most vets won't see an animal in pain when owners can't afford the full amount at once.. Ask him and hopefully he will say yes. if not try another vet.. Once your puppy is all better buy pet insurance for anything else that comes up un expectedly..

Good luck and yes puppies/dogs are forever regardless of what is wrong with them

Answer 10

Yikes you got shafted there my friend. It makes me soooo sick to the core in regard to these pet shops, yes they do run alot of there pups through there from puppy farms and they have female dogs that just keep on pumping them out, interbred and the list goes on, I am so sorry for your heartbreak, working in the vet industry i see this time and time again, it makes me soo mad because i see the heartbreak it causes in people.

It is plain to see that the pet industry need a bloody big wake up call. I get so mad. That is absolute bull about the kennel cough have been caused by stressed Kennel Cough is an extremely contagious viral infection that is passed on from one dog to another. I am gathering that pet store is infested with it and will have other puppies leave the store as sick as your dog.

You as a consumer are protected against this sort of thing and i would even seek legal aid to get ALL your money back. You needs to ring Consumer affairs or the equivalent in your country and find out about there legal obligation to you in selling this extremely expensive SICK puppy. Please do not give up it is people like you we need to give these owners of this pet store a kick up the backside. They are only in it for money. Get your friend to back you up as to why she was fired.

I don't know if your in Australia but if you are i would contact a program like today tonight or A Current Affair and expose this this absolute discusting mess to them.

Again i am so sorry, the dog for this price should be 100% health no questions asked. Please make sure you keep any vet correspondance should you need it.

Good luck, my email is available i would like to hear how you go. Dont give up