One of my new puppy owners has just taken it to the vet for an initial check and has been told that the puppy smells of worms!!!  Has anyone else ever heard of this?  She has been wormed with Drontal from 2 weeks every two weeks so would be very suprised if she did have worms.  Quite understandably we are all a bit concerned.

only thing that comes to mind is the digestive disturbance with Tapeworm producing a nasty breath, but you'd think they'd have distension/ bloat, were any other signs mentioned? (not that signs are that obvious in pups)

No nothing.  She has been given more worming medication - yet she was only wormed on 27th April.  Pup does have dry skin and has been given a mild shampoo but owners warned she may have serious skin problem which may cost thousands of pounds during her lifetime and to return her!  I am more than happy to take her back as per my contract but occasionally puppies do have dry skin when they grow so quickly.  All this advice was given to owner by a vet nurse!  She also thought she was a bit lethargic - not trying to jump off table etc - my puppies have been raised within my home and constantly handled - including by my granddaughter - many of the puppies lay in our arms like babies and are very calm and relaxed - am I wrong in giving them so much attention! I am waiting to here how she is this morning.  Any advice on how to reassure a worried owner?

Some Vets practices do a wonderful job of undermining a new owners relationship with their breeder.  I think Vets think all breeders are puppy farmers, as sadly so many of the pups they see will be from such places.

Both vets I have used have commented on the wonderful nature of my puppies because they were both so calm they just laid on the exam table (2 years apart, not 2 pups together :-D). Comments I got were "good breeding" and "nicely raised".

Is there any chance the pup can go and see your vet?  (I'm assuming you trust your vet!!!) for a "second opinion"?

Personally it sounds abit dodgy there's afew problems with the pup yet your sure it's fine?

To be honest with the relaxed pup, I've had pup's tired at the vets due to that being their nap time, now take them at playtime and it's a whole different story!!!!  Infact there's many things to explain why pup was so calm and not jumping off the table....car sickness for one!

Unfortunately pup is now 150 miles away.  I am reluctant to ask them to bring her back to see my vet because of the travelling involved.  They have actually seen the vet today and he was much more positive.  Given them some oil to add to her food for her coat and will see her again on Friday for innoculations.  Apart from all this she has settled in really well - quiet all through the night, eating well and playing and sleeping normally. 

Apparently the vet nurse has apologised for scaring them - she learnt about the smell of a dog infested with worms at college but none of the vets have ever heard of it - I think she should be reprimanded - not the sort of conduct one should expect from a professional. 

To be honest if I were you I would write a letter of complaint to the Vet and ask him/her to discipline the Nurse invovlved...she had absolutely no right and obviously no wisdom to express such misjudged thoughts!

I this was a pup not old enough for vaccinations she was probably commenting on puppy breath which stays with a pup while it is nursing and for a short time after.

As well bred pup are likely to have not been prematurely weaned this puppy breath smell that many breeders love ( I don't) as it is rather pungent.

Puppy left here at 7 1/2 weeks as she was doing so well - so could have had 1st innoculation.  I started to wean them at 3 weeks as mum was looking very tired - she did have 10 - they all took to solid food extremely well and have been totally away from mum since six weeks.  Sophie really didn't want to know by then and I wasn't going to make her.

Mine usually don't at to know after 6 weeks, except for the odd stolen suck, but the breath smell doesn't go away overnight, and is usually apparent to some extent until about 10 weeks, to be honest I have never mad a not of it, just notice that one day it is no longer there.

To be honest if I were you I would write a letter of complaint to the Vet and ask him/her to discipline the Nurse invovlved...she had

Personally as the breeder, I would also take this action, this nurse's actions on proberbly trying to show off and look more knowledgeable than she was needs sorting out, she could have caused a perfectly healthy pup to be returned, not to mention worrying the owners and yourself for no reason.

The problem seems to have sorted out, but otherwise I would have actually offered to pay for a second opinion from another vet in their area it is only the cost of a full check up which is usually under £10 it would have been worth it to put their's and yours mind at rest.