NEW PUPPIES

RE: NEW PUPPIES

Calli D — Sun, 03 May 2020 09:17:12 GMT

We have seen quite a few new puppies over the last couple of weeks since the protocols changed a bit. It does make you mad that a person can drive to the other side of the country for a puppy or kitten but you can't drive 30 minutes to go see your own mother. I can understand somewhat for people who planned prior to this crisis but an awful lot are people who have made the decision during lockdown because they think that as they have time on their hands it would be good company, or it would be good for the kids. I am pretty sure we will see an increase of behaviour issues, separation anxieties and an influx to the rescue centres when people realise the logistics of pet ownership and fulltime jobs etc.

For those collecting new puppies and kittens - Anyone sensible would not allow a stranger into their home or enter someone else's home so most people will not have had the opportunity to view the parents of check the puppy or kitten out beforehand. Especially for those born during lockdown. People are collecting puppies with site unseen, parents unseen, and collecting from carparks or 'somewhere in the middle'. It worries me that this has opened the way for many backyard breeders and puppy mills.

RE: NEW PUPPIES

Calli D — Sun, 03 May 2020 09:04:56 GMT

Our practice is very reasonable and as a result we have seen an awful lot of breeders over the last few years. Particularly brachiocephalic breeds. It was getting crazy, with owners/breeders trying to register from 2 to 3 counties over. They are willing to risk the dog and pups by driving 1 to 2 hours plus with a dog struggling in whelp just because we are cheaper. We were seeing so many that it was affecting our work and the service we provide to our existing clients that we have since therefore been forced to close the books to anyone 'new' joining that live over a certain distance away.. This has not affected existing clients whom have a long relationship with the practice. There are ways around a catchment areas and we know a few have done it but we can only do so much.

The client I previously spoke of is not a registered or licenced breeder.

RE: NEW PUPPIES

apache — Sat, 02 May 2020 22:06:01 GMT

Whilst I have my reservations about the whole situation, we do need to be pragmatic. It is our place to advise, but no one has to take any advice.

If the owner is a licenced breeder then this may well be their job. There is no specific reason that cannot continue under current rules. People will be wanting puppies in 4 months time when hopefully life will be getting back to normal.

Whilst I would discourage anyone from picking a practice solely on price, some practices do seem to ramp up the cost of a caesarean, and if breeding a bitch knowing the cost and arrangemetns in advance is responsible breeding. Had a client who had moved away quoted £1200 for an OOH caeser - they drove an hour to us. I respect practices views to charge reasonable fees, but that is taking advantage of an emergency situation.

RE: NEW PUPPIES

Calli D — Sat, 02 May 2020 21:05:46 GMT

I took a call this week from a client wanting quotes for a caesarian - in and OOH. When I asked when she is due etc he replied that she isn't pregnant yet but due to have 'another' premate test tomorrow with the view to go to stud imminently!! Now correct me if I am wrong but as others have said - are we not in flippin lockdown. And where the flippin heck is he getting the premate tests done because we haven't done any and certainly would not advocate breeding during a goddam worldwide pandemic! Turns out that he is getting the premate tests done somewhere at least 70 miles away minimum. He admitted was shopping for prices which is Typical! uses every practice going that offers the cheapest deal. Makes me mad. And what makes me even madder is that when I read the notes was that the bitch had palate surgery and stenosis correction just last year. The vet remembered strongly advising him not to breed her but 'Oh its ok as the stud is a bigger and older type bulldog'. Will def need a Caesar for sure then. I have tried to look up the RVC and Kennel club advice regards breeding at this time but can't seem to find any info. Someone at work recalls reading something about it but can't remember where. Anyone got any idea where it would be if its out there?

RE: NEW PUPPIES

Selena Carnell — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 17:47:42 GMT

We've had nasty emails from other local vets having a go at us for doing too much, this was before guidelines were released. We were only seeing genuine emergencies, which superlorin wasn't . Seems we can't win either way.

RE: NEW PUPPIES

apache — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 20:32:43 GMT

Sal - We've done primary vaccs throughout this. I will see anything that is unwell or suffering - including the poor dog with the full anal glands. A million miles from business as usual.

Also live in a small village where vets are part of the community.

RE: NEW PUPPIES

Sal the 1st — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 23:22:17 GMT

[quote user="apache"]

Imagine if the NHS refused to prescribe contraception with everyone locked up at home.

[/quote]

contraception or not I reckon next year will be one of record births. My nightmare the other night involved 2 of the nursing staff who are currently furloughed coming back preggers for a short time and then going off again on maternity leave

[quote user="apache"]

I don't think there are more people getting puppies, I just think there is less other work so they stand out. You can't produce puppies out of thin air - to be ready now they would be conceived before all this. No one could have predicted a rise in demand IMO

[/quote]

I think you are right . they do stand out more because there is less work coming in.

Perhaps I just see it slightly differently? If people can't get vaccines done locally then they are more likely to move even further afield and to me that is potentially increasing the area of spread. So for them to be able to get them done locally without having to hunt around is safer. After reading a lot of arguments on various facebooks groups (some very nasty) to me it seems like the loudest voices are those that aren't even working at the moment either through furlough or choice and it is those that are trying to dictate what everybody else will or won't be doing. To me if they aren't prepared to do something themselves then they shouldn't be bleating that somebody else who is working will.

I live in a small village - quite a few dog owners. Today somebody I know quite well in the village asked my advice on their beagle who has a sore backside.

She hadn't asked me before because she didn't want to bother me and was going to ring her vet again in the morning but wasn't sure if she should wait that long.

She rang her vets on Thursday and said that he had problems with his anal glands (a recurrent problem for him)and they weren't able to see him because it wasn't an emergency. She rang again on Friday and was again told the same. This morning I emptied the poor little buggers anal glands for him as a first aid measure . They were both huge, infected and painful, I have advised her to contact her vet in the morning to get them checked. Should I have emptied them? or should I just have said ring the emergency number which would probably have been a long drive to the emergency vets that her practice uses to rack up a bill that she could ill afford (she is furloughed) and could have been prevented. Yes we have to stay safe but we also have to provide a service

RE: NEW PUPPIES

apache — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 20:43:40 GMT

I don't think it counts as 'shopping around' trying to get a litter of puppies protected against infectious disease, normally we'd consider that responsible breeding. I also don't think we can criticise people for having puppies and refuse to place suprelorin. Imagine if the NHS refused to prescribe contraception with everyone locked up at home.

RE: NEW PUPPIES

Selena Carnell — Sun, 26 Apr 2020 19:58:43 GMT

We've had breeders shopping around, as their vets won't do the first vacs. We also told someone their suprelorin implant wasn't an emergency, boss has said we should be able to do it now, so we phoned them and they were suprise as they had got it done at another vets and apparently we had given the other vets permission... un no we haven't as we record all requests. Implanted with no previous history.

RE: NEW PUPPIES

Sal the 1st — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 17:46:53 GMT

the thing is I don't think anybody is ever going to stop somebody getting a puppy if they are intent on doing so. No harm in trying but the reality is that it just isn't going to happen.So the question is if they are an existing client would refusing a a first vacc cause them to travel further afield to get what they want and then potentially facilitate the spread of the virus over an even wider area? I know a lot of these puppies were not planned additions to the family but planned or not it has happened.

RE: NEW PUPPIES

FINNIGAN — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 15:27:21 GMT

a lot of these werent booked puppies, most have been because their kids are bored and they thought it was a good idea, if these were booked puppies before the lockdown then fine , but most have been purchased whilst in lockdown

RE: NEW PUPPIES

FINNIGAN — Thu, 23 Apr 2020 15:25:19 GMT

so its ok to go and collect a puppy but you are not allowed to drive to see your 80 yr old mother!!! sorry but i disagree with that

RE: NEW PUPPIES

apache — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 23:08:11 GMT

Anon - disagree with me. Debate. I'm happy with that, just don't go anon to dislike.

RE: NEW PUPPIES

Sal the 1st — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 19:53:52 GMT

we closed our books ages ago, long before all this started because we were short of staff so not taking any new clients. This person wasn't particularly pleasant and started the call by telling me how useless his regular vet was and then dangling the carrot that if we did the blood test for them they would transfer all their custom to us. Got shirty when I tried to explain I wasn't able to register him as we were not accepting new clients.Pointed out that he would be passing another 3 vet practices closer to him who might be able help, even offered to give him phone numbers at which stage he slammed the phone down from that I presume we weren't his first choice but his last. Breeder located nearly 40 mins away from us and stud 1hr 37 mins from them using fastest routes. I never even got into the length of his journeys.

The practice I work in is doing 1st and 2nd vaccs now with microchips done at time of vaccinations to try and limit the number of visits

RE: NEW PUPPIES

apache — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 19:19:07 GMT

I actually disagree. The puppies born now were planned maybe over a year ago and conceived before all this kicked off. If I had my name on a puppy before this then I'd still want it now. In 4 months time hopefully this will all be over when a puppy conceived now will be ready for a new home. In 6 months it may be too late for some bitches etc. A breeder may have space for puppies but not 10 adolescent Labradors. Staying with the breeder may well not be in the animal's best interests. Going out for a takeaway or a bottle of wine are 'essential' journeys.....

I don't think we should condemn people for the unfortunate situation we find ourselves in. Whether I Helped the person wanting the pre-mate would depend on the circumstances.

RE: NEW PUPPIES

Sal the 1st — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 18:00:56 GMT

I'll see your puppies and raise you breeders wanting a premate test because they don't want to waste money taking their bitch to the stud if she isn't ready - AND not registered with us but wanting to book in because their regular vet has said no. Well guess what sunshine we are saying the same!

RE: NEW PUPPIES

Ben Ogden — Wed, 22 Apr 2020 11:29:37 GMT

This sums up my feelings on the whole thing.