Hi,

We have bought home a golden retriever puppy on Friday - he went to the vet today because of a limp and the vet said he might have fractured his toe and will need an x-ray and then possibly a cast which will all cost several hundred pounds.  The breeder didn't give us the KC certificate because they haven't sent off for them yet - I thought this would have given us free insurance for 6 weeks - are we covered in any way at all?

Thank you.

I think it would depend what date the breeder puts down on the forms. If it was done before you took your puppy, (mine was done at 7 weeks of age but she was 8 weeks before I got her, this was because some of them were going at 7 1/2 weeks) so she was covered before I picked her up. However my first puppy wasn't covered until I registered a change of ownership myself, which took ages.
I might be wrong though, my memory isn't what it used to be :)

Hi Guest

Unless you have taken out insurance you will not be covered.  The law changed earlier this year and I don't think breeders are allowed to offer insurance as they are not brokers.

If your vet thinks he has fractured his toe (unusual in such a young pup I would have though where the bones are so soft) I would ask him if he would do anything different if it was fractured than if it wasn't, and if it is likely to be anything more serious than a fracture.  For instance, if all he would do if it was fractured was to put him in a cast then put him in a cast anyway?

When my male broke his leg he had a "Robert Jones" bandage put on up to his knee rather than a cast.  It wa a bit of a pain to keep it dry to start with but worked very well with him.

Hi Guest,

As everyone has said you will not be covered by the KC insurance :( It doesn't start until you register the change of ownership. I had a similar situation last year where by the KC documents hadn't come before the pups were ready to leave but luckily this was before the change in legislation and as such our breeder could give us the 6 weeks free pet plan insurance (she phoned up from her home before the pups left to ensure they were insured the minute you walked out of he door).

Sorry that you will have to pay such a large vets bill :(