From: rasmussenc@vaxb.gbus.virginia.edu
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs
Subject: Dobe puppy horror story (so far) (longish)
Date: 4 Sep 92 21:27:02 GMT
Article-I.D.: vaxb.rasmussenc.30.0
Organization: Darden Center, University of Virginia

Hi everyone -
	I thought I would share with you what I have been going through for 
the last couple weeks since I bought a doberman puppy.  After being an 
active member of this group for awhile, I had heard about various health 
problems to be on the lookout for regarding dobermans.  A litter right down 
the road from me was ready to go just about the time I was looking, and it 
just seemed like fate that there was a pet quality boy with a sweet 
temperment for half price. ($250)  The litter was bred for health, with both 
parents free from any of the normal dobe maladies (thyroid, cardiomyopothy 
in the pedigree, and VHD)  When I went into my Vet's office with my new 
puppy for it's 10 week shots, he said, "Oh here comes one of the puppies 
from the litter from heaven -- two perfect parents!".  Within five minutes, 
the mood was quite different, as he found a heart murmur the size of Texas.
	He went on to say that this was a heart murmur that wasn't normal.  
Other dogs have slight murmurs which don't affect them, but this sounded 
quite odd.  The breeder is a vet tech, so my vet called her boss and they 
spoke briefly before I took Ahndo over there.  X-rays were taken and they 
showed the heart already making changes to adapt to the problem.  The next 
stop involved going to a cardiologist with an echo cardiogram machine.  The 
results of that were bad; the dog was born with a defective heart.  If this 
were a child, the boy would be put on a list for a heart transplant.  We had 
had Ahndo for two weeks, and were absolutely heart broken.  The breeder 
exchanged the pick of the litter for Ahndo and had her vet listen to Abby 
several times before making the change.  The breeder also insisted I bring 
Abby to my vet for a listen, and also to show him that I had a healthy, 
happy puppy.
	Well, guess what.  I just got back from my vet's office.  Abby also 
has a heart murmur.  Not as bad as Ahndo's, but definitely a murmur.  He 
said that if he hadn't heard the first one, he would probably think this 
would be something to check in another 4 weeks.  Based on our recent 
history with Ahndo, he said to take Abby back as well.  
	I took Abby back directly to the breeder's vet hospital, where sure 
enough, her vet heard the murmur as well.  So, as these puppies are growing, 
this murmur is becoming evident. (by the day)  The breeder is now going to 
take all the puppies she can get her hands on, and take them to the 
cardiologist's for an echo cardiogram reading on Tuesday.  If the only two 
puppies that have this problem are the ones who came to live in my house (
Ahndo for two weeks, Abby for 36 hours), I will think that either my house 
or myself is completely jinxed (terrible english there - sorry) or somehow 
unhealthy for puppies.  Whether they decide that Abby's problem is the same 
as Ahndo's or not, and whether any of the other puppies have the same 
problems is yet to be determined.  But, I must say, I am having feelings 
that what I should do is get my money back and begin again later.  I have 
now had two puppies spend their "first" nights away from the litter with me, 
and have been trying to housetrain two puppies from scratch.  I am beginning 
to feel rather run over now, but I keep thinking about this poor breeder.  
She has 6 other families to call and inform of the possible impending doom.  
What about those people who already have had their puppy's ears fixed?
	Well, thanks for listening.  I'm sure this kind of stuff happens all 
the time.  What a nightmare!

-Chris R
Newsgroups: rec.pets.dogs