My 5 month Westie, Ben, has been diagnosed with an inhereted disease called Westie Jaw (Craniomandibular osteopathy to be more precise). We paid the going rate for Ben from a registered breeder obviously wanting a good pedigree. Also now we have had to pay a considerable sum in vets fees to attempt to get this condition under control. When I contacted the breeder to inform them of Ben's condition they were not at all interested and say that there has never been an occurence of this from any of their dogs. I have requested some sort of compensation from the breeder (don't get me wrong though - I will never part with Ben now) but this has fell on deaf ears. My point to the breeder was that not only were they breeding animals with genetic defects but they were charging people the full wack for animals that in turn cannot be bred or shown. We can't insure Ben now! Can anybody give me some advice on what to do next, maybe there is a canine legal expert out there with all the answers. Thanks, Gill.

Gill, contact the Citizens Advice Bureaux.

Leigh

CMO usually corrects itself as the puppy gets older i.e. around 18 months, unless the breeder has had this before in her lines she probably would not know about it, until someone lets her know. Did you not get the 6 weeks free insurance with your pup from the breeder, and if you did, why not continue with this, as your dog is now 5 months and with no insurance you will have to pay vet bills, most good breeders will give the 6 weeks insurance. I have been breeding for a long time, and have never had CMO, but, that does not mean that in a future litter it might" rear its ugly head" , its like skin problems you never know when they will occur, if you wish any further advice about westies please e mail me, and I will help you as much as I can. I am surprised the breeder "does not want to know" as If I had this in one puppy I would certainly be re-thinking, breeding plans with that particular bitch and the stud dog used. Please get in touch.
Irene-westyholm westies.

Hi, when I was starting out in Westies I bought 2 bitch puppies and one turned out to have CMO. She must have been lucky because a short course of tablets was all she needed to correct the problem - betsolan - as I remember. She then went in a lead a normal and happy life, and was absolutely fine, thoough of course was not used for breeding. I do sympathise with you greatly, but you say you now cannot breed or show, did you tell the breeder that breeding and showing was what you wanted to do with her? Puppies are not merchandise with any guarantee usually, sometimes these things do crop up, and the breeder is not always to blame morally. CMO is a due to a recessive gene, both parents have to "carry" the gene, for their puppies to show the compaint, but neither parent needs to suffer from it. One only knows that there is a recessive gene problem when two dogs who carry- but not display-the problem come togther, The bitch and the dog put to different mates can have puppies that do not display CMO, but might carry it for genrations without any one knowing. I know this does not help you much, but might make you feel a little better about the breeder, they may genuinely have had no idea that there was a problem. I would inform the Kennel Club, perhaps sending a copy of the vets diagnosis together with the bitch and dog's names and reg numbers and ask if they will refuse to register puppies from these dogs in the future. Do get in touch with Irene, she always gives a balanced view and lots of practical help. Good luck