Had to have one of my girls operated on the week before last, so had her speyed as well as she's now 9.

On Saturday, we went to have the stitches out and check up, and whilst in the waiting room there was a woman at the desk with her 11 week old Shih Tzu pup, accompanied by her friend.  Another woman was talking to them and within 2 minutes the pup owner had declared her intention to breed the pup, to her jack russel!   I had commented that I didn't envy them the coat care and was told 'you just take them to the groomer every 4 months or so for an all off!'

Argggghhh!

Whilst P was having her stitches removed, I brought up the appalling number of people in this area who see pound signs when they get a puppy, or worse, just buy one for breeding, and none of them have a clue what they're doing.

Vet said she is sick of doing emergency ceasars on bitches for owners who haven't a clue, and of course there's the puppies that need vet care as soon as they are bought.   I asked if they'd ever considered writing a leaflet and poster telling people of  the pitfalls of breeding, the expense, the breed specific health tests needed etc.  And she said that they had been discussing it only the day before and were going to get the wording sorted asap.

This time last year, they hadn't heard of breed specific health tests required before breeding, and weren't aware of the continuing development of DNA testing, which breeders are involved with.    Had a PM liver biopsy on my bitch and they were clueless, which was very distressing.   However, they've been willing to listen and are much more clued up now.

I know not everyone will read the posters, and even if they do, most will ignore the advice.  But if it makes puppy buyers think a bit more, and prevent some of them breeding it will be better than nothing  :-)

It's definitely a good start!! I wish the KC would print posters that all vets could put up in their waiting rooms.

I'm wondering why the BVA do not do so as they jointly administer the major health schemes. 

I have raised it with numerous vet practices.  General reaction was that it would be unpopular with clients.

Also why no big adverts for Alizin!!!  Wormers, chips, but no birth control, other than pushing early neutering.

> Also why no big adverts for Alizin!!!  Wormers, chips, but no birth control, other than pushing early neutering.

I would so like to see this promoted more.

"I wish the KC would print posters that all vets could put up in their waiting rooms."

It's always puzzled me, why this hasn't been a major feature of the Kennel Club.   Surely part of their reason for being, is education and promotion of responsible breeding?

"General reaction was that it would be unpopular with clients"

And pushing neutering is popular?   Or is it just a nice, lucrative procedure?

When I took my bitch in for her op(s), the vet who went through everything with me, said that neutering a bitch is one of the most dangerous operations they do, as it's such a major operation!   This was  when going through the likelyhood of adverse events and even death owing to either  the anaesthetic or the op itself.

What was  that about 'first do no harm?'

And perhaps if vets didn't just tell everyone that asked that their bitch was fine and healthy enough to breed from, without considering whether it SHOULD be bred from, it would help!