Please can someone advise. I bought a Westie puppy from a breeder a couple of days ago. On getting home I noticed she was scratching and aklso had bloody diarrhoea. I took her to my vet today and am told she is rife with lice. My vet also advises that I think of returning her to the breeder before I become too attached and seek another puppy from another breeder - hopefully one that has correctly checked etc,. her prior to selling. I'm in a quandry what should I do?

Do what your vet has advised!

Margot

Hi,

If it was me I would take the pup back to the breeder and explain to them what your vet
has found and ask them politely for an explanation.
Most good breeders would take the pup back and refund or perhaps offer to pay for any treatment.Then again most good breeders would have had a good check over each puppy before they go to their new homes?Just my personal opinion,others will be along to offer their opinions i'm sure.

Briony :-)

Both conditions are easy to treat, so if you have bonded with your pup, bite the bullet and have the pup treated, if not return the pup to the breeder as sold in an unsuitable state and unsuitable for the purpose of purchase i.e., a pet, and demand your money back.

Where did you find out about the breeder in question, report your problems to them. How much research did you do before buying this pup, remember next time to do more.

Poor you! Poor dog!

I would take the dog back unless you have bonded with it. However if the breeder did not care about the puppy being infested with lice/fleas. Did they care enough to have the parents health tested with eye checks, hips etc before breeding??

Is the dog k.c registered? Is the breeder a member of their breed club is so report them to the club.

If you have bonded then get the puppy treated.

Where did you find this breeder from?

All valid points that I aggree with but would point out that even should you decide to keep the pup then you should still tell the breeder and probably report them to the breed club.

Would be surprised if someone like that was a member of a breed club :(
I would certainly inform the breeder tho' you'd probably be wasting your breath. Could threaten them with Trading Standards & maybe at least get some money for treatment.

if one pup is teeming with lice, surely it is likely that the others are too? i dont see the point in exchanging it for another from the same litter in that case, despite what your vet said. I would try to get some money refunded though, for vetinary costs etc.

Hi pink lillies, Vets advise was get another pup from a DIFFERENT breeder
bye
Gwen

oops yes i just re read that!

All are valid points, but if you intend not to show and it's a pet - then If it was me I would treat it, keep it, and love it even more to make up for the crappy start it got in life. I think in returning it, would be sentencing it to a fate far worse. I should think he/she would much prefer a loving home with you than a place where it was so obviously neglected.
Speak to the breeder about it and if you get no joy then definitely report it!
PS: If the condition of the pup requires hundreds of pounds in treatment then, Yes return it. But if it just needs lots of TLC, then I'd go for the TLC.

If you do intend on keeping your pup then contact both your and the breeders local Trading Standards office. Your complaint could be the one where they can then take action against the breeder if they have had more than one incident.

Jesse