Hi All,  has anyone had this experience.  I have recently sold a labrador puppy to a family who live a long drive from me.  They got the puppy on Sunday.  She was the slightly smaller and quieter pup of the litter but seeing as they have never had a pup before I thought she would be the best choice for them.  On Tuesday they took her for her injections, and raised a concern with the vet on how sleepy and inactive she was.  The vet then checked her over because she was asleep on the table.   Making clapping noises and popping noises at her all that she took no notice of.  She then told the family that she thought that she was abnormal and needed tests as she may have a neuroligical problems.  These she said would costs lots of money and all would need doing if they were going to keep the pup.  She did not give the injection and told them to contact me.  Which they have.  I am shocked to say the least when she left me she had just spend 1/2 hour playing with my other dogs and had eaten a full dinner.  I asked if she was still eating well, drinking and her stools ok, I was told they were all fine, just she was sleepy.  I have offered them a full refund if they are not happy, but I think they are expecting me to drive the 5 hours to pick her up!  I was just wondering if anyone had heard of something similiar and how did you deal with it.  I have never had this problem before. 

If she was a puppy that I had bred, and had this report, I would be on the road to pick her up by now!   It may be something, it may be nothing - but in the circumstances I would want her back with me - and I would refund the money at the same time.  The best thing for the puppy, to be back with me, the breeder, the best thing for the family who are probably worried sick (possibly without any cause, but scared by their vet - who knows who/what the vet is like - here I'm thinking of the TV Emma vet who abhors pedigree pups) and the best for my reputation!

Margot

I hope you can get it all sorted out, and that puppy is fine and healthy!

Hi Lokis mum,
That is in my mind too.  Unfortunatley I do not have transport until the weekend as my partner is away on business.  Just a update though I have managed to track down the vet and have spoken to them I have told them that unless it is an emergency, I want no tests doing at all until I have had chance to speak to my vet (trust mine). 

Had the pup had a meal shortly before going to the vet, or had she been sick in the car? Both can make a puppy very sleepy and difficult to wake. But I'd certainly go asap and bring her back.

You say you have the impression that they are expecting you to collect the puppy but perhaps if you spoke to them about it they would bring in back, particularly if you are going to refund them.  It's a shame the little mite should travel that distance again though if he does, perhaps, suffers car sickness.  Could you not have further investigations carried out down there on the understanding that you would refund and collect later if something serious is detected.  You never know, that might lead to a resolution that involves it staying there anyway.

down the vet and have spoken to them I have told them that unless it is an emergency, I want no tests doing at all until I have had chance to speak to my vet (trust mine).
can understand this. If you are taking the puppy back, why pay for tests from a vet you don't know, and can't trust. They will not be working for you, but for their client, and who knows what advice they may give them. far better for your own vet, who you trust, to do anything necessary. You are not stopping treatment if urgent, just tests that can wait till you have him home at the weekend, for your own vet to evaluate next week. Wish you luck, hope nothing is bad for this little chap  

This reminds me of the kitten buyer who called me to say their kitten's legs didn't work properly. The kitten was walking oddly, crawling low to the floor. I pointed out this is how cats walk when unsure of their surroundings, and the kitten had only just arrived there -but if they were worried, see the vet etc. Within 12 hours the kitten was running about like normal.

I definitely get the impression here is a clueless owner and a trouble stirring vet (sadly they do exist as we know) but yes I too would want the pup back under these circumstances.

I trust my vet fully but he's a vet and so his main experience is with sick animals. I once brought a young dog to him for a check up, one that had been treated badly and so was terrified of anything new. She was so scared she "switched off" on the table, became like a zombie, staring into space, not focusing on anything or anyone, not moving etc. I KNEW she wasn't like this normally, it was fear, but the first thing  my vet thought of was neurological problems, the second was eye problems -once fully examined he was satisfied I was right,she was healthy but scared, and indeed as soon as we were out of the door the dog was wagging her tail and acting normal again.

I think we have to bear in mind that the vet has their clients interest as their primary responsibility.  If the puppy was exceptionally sleepy then further investigation, or further examination at the very least, would be appropriate rather than to allow them to accept the puppy as fully fit.  My contract, like most peoples I think, allows for the puppy to be returned within one week, with no quibble, if their vet does not pass it as fully fit, in any doubt I really would expect their vet to advise them to take advantage of that.  It is, after all, more sensible than getting attached and then, perhaps, getting in a fight with the breeder over whether it was something introduced environmentally after the puppy had left their care.

I don't have transport at all, so I would ask them to bring it back but pay their petrol.

I suppose it IS possible that there is some oversensitivity on the part of the new owners..but it depends if they are experienced dog owners. Having said that if the puppy truly did fall asleep whilst being examined by the vet, and they couldnt wake it  then I personally would find that VERY unusual and worrying. Just because the pup was alright before it left you, doesn't necessarily mean that it can't have become ill since. I personally would be rushing to see the pup myself, either finding my own way there or getting them to bring it. if that weren't possible I certainly wouldnt be advising deferring medical tests....it could be something urgent.

hi
just had to reply because although i am no expert i had exactly the same experience with my beardie pup she was a quieter one in litter, i collected her she slept on way home, all evening she slept, didnt sleep much that night:rolleyes: slept all day took her to vets for jabs that afternoon. she was fast asleep on vets table even while being examined. opened eyes for jab briefly and back to sleep! myself and hubby were really worried but vet said she was fine and although it was unusual it was just the huge stress of leaving her family. this continued for about 3 days and then she turned into a real pup and now at 16 weeks is running us ragged!! hopefully this is the same scenario, if my vet had fed my fears i would have been frantic.
fingers crossed for you all
emma

I also wonder if the pup could be exhausted either because there is another dog to play with or because the owners or children are overtiring the pup.

I have found on occasion pups can be dead to the world when sound asleep just like babies, where you can pick their arms and legs up and they carry on sleeping.

Just wanted to add that I had the same experience with my Estrela Mountain Dog pup.
She would not stand up on her legs for the first few days - if you picked her up she just lay down wherever you put her.  I was worried that she couldn't walk!!  She wouldn't go outside, wouldn't go in or out of her crate, and shook with fear when I took her in the car or to the vet.

I spoke to my breeder because I was so concerned but she said give it a few days, she'll be fine.  I had seen her running around at the breeder's house when we went to collect her so I knew her legs did work, I just was astonished that she wouldn't use them.

It turned out she was just absolutely petrified and nervous.  Within a week she was perfectly normal and like Dilemma's pup, she is now running us ragged :D

I have one at home at the moment 4 1/2 months old. When I took him for his first vaccination he fell aslep on the table. When he went for his second vaccination he fel asleep on the table. He is so laid back he is almost horizontal. He is a hapy, lively puppy but just so chilled he is as calm as you could ever believe a puppy could be. He has passed all his Vet health checks to date. However, in the light of things I personally would get the puppy back. If the Vet is giving them doubts now then they may always be looking for faults.

Hi quick update to you all and thankyou for your replies.  I have contact the owners twice a day since they emailed me with their concerns and the vets.  It appears that they had gone on a shopping trip to Waitrose and then to the vets after strolling around Pets at Home first.  I think as everyone has said it was just exhuastion on such a hot sticky day.  Anyway, she is now playing, sleeping better at night, taking interest in her surroundings and has managed to climb the stairs.  I am keeping in touch with them every day for the next couple of weeks guiding them through new ownership.  I have suggested that they take her different vet for a 2nd opinion which I have offered to pay for next week when she is settled.  If they are still unsure if she is okay I will make arrangements with my husband and we will get her, with a full refund.  They can bring her back if need be before that and as Brainless suggested I have offered to pay the petrol.  I think maybe if they had told the vet that she had been out most of the day in a hot car he may have offered her a drink!!!

Glad the puppy seems better now :)

I noticed you said that she puppy managed to climb the stairs, and I thought puppies were not supposed to climb stairs until they were proberly grown or is that large breeds only?

No breed should be climbing stairs at this age.

I don't see why they should change vet as more than likely they hadn't told the vet all that they'd done with the pup before even getting there :rolleyes:  No wonder the poor little thing was knackered.

Poor wee thing, hope they didn't leave her in the car when they went out and about. At least the worry for you has now gone that there may have been something wrong.

Hi,

I advised them to get a stairgate as I do all my new owners, I have suggested it again.  My advice to go to another vet was for a 2nd opinion only.  As if 2 vets had the same concerns then I would be very very worried and definately gone a got her. We have talked length and they are beginning to understand a little more about being a puppy owner.  They are new to this and I feel a little daunted by the responsibility now that it is a reality, never mind at least they came to a breeder who will always be their at the end of the phone 24/7 365 days a year, and not a puppy farm!!!!  At least we all care and thank you once again for all the advice.

Thank you so much for the update. Have been worried about your little puppy! Hoping all will be well.

I think maybe if they had told the vet that she had been out most of the day in a hot car he may have offered her a drink!!!

I think the vet could have asked a few more questions about what had happened to the puppy, from when she arrived home, journey distance, how long pup had been in the new home, and what had occured before the examination too! The background to any type of behaviour or illness has to be important, before making any decisions and totally scaring the new owners. Everything has to be judged on its merit. So pleased the puppy is settling in now, a bit of wait and see would appear to have been all that was needed. :)

Yes they shouldn't really be climbing stairs, specially downwards, and of course I'm sure you told them not to drag a young puppy all over town and in hot cars too! :-)

My vets never asked me in 20 years how far I've travelled or whether I've been anywhere else before taking my puppy for it's vaccines.  I should think that most wouldn't expect that a puppy had been all over before as most of us when we've only just got a pup would take it straight to the vet.

I understand what you are saying, but with a puppy that is sleepy and not responding, I would have thought that question should have been asked, because this is not normal with a puppy, and also they were asking why could the puppy be sleepy.