Puppy needing surgery - would you pay?

[Kijaji]

Our current situation is we have a 12 week old puppy who has a grade 4 heart murmur (picked up at 8 week vaccinations, was checked at birth and everything was fine), he’s awaiting further tests but worse case scenario it could cost us £5K to operate, if you had the money would you do it for a puppy you’ve only had 5 weeks but mostly everyone’s attached too and loves?

You don’t have insurance?

You took on a puppy with a confirmed heart murmur

so yes… I would pay for the surgery

mind you… I would have walked away once the breeder told me confirmed heart murmer

A reputable breeder would cover this. Do you have insurance?

Well, yes, if it’s going to save his life. You couldn’t exactly do anything else? But why did you take him on knowing this?

What's the alternative?! Surely your insurance will cover it?

The heart murmur wasn’t detected until we took him for his first vaccinations(breeder didn’t vaccinate him as each area needs different vaccines) he was born via c section at a vets and was checked over and it’s wasn’t heard then. Yes we do have insurance but because we had him and took him for his first vaccinations a few days later we are within the 14 day period for illness.

How old was the puppy when the breeder passed to you?

I wouldn’t judge you for making the difficult decision, that doesn’t put £5,000 down the drain.

Yes I’d pay, whatever it took if it was going to save his life.

He was 7 weeks old

Yes, I would. But early heart murmurs can resolve without treatment.

Will he definitely need an op? My nephews golden retriever had a heart murmur detected when he got his first check up, they said just to monitor it as loads of dogs have a murmur and it clears up. My nephews dog is fine now and didn’t need an op.

This is what happens when you don’t go to reputable breeders - and reputable breeders provide insurance as part of the sale and don’t let puppies leave their mums until they are a little older.

I’d spend some money on asking the vet to fully check the puppy over because there is a good chance there are a lot more health issues going on and the current surgery will just be the first of many.

I would but it's quite likely he won't even need an operation. Heart murmurs are very common especially in puppies and often only need monitoring as many clear up with age.

Of course.

Wow that was very young
my breeder doesn’t let any go until 10 weeks earliest

I think you have to pay.

I cannot understand why you picked up a puppy that was only 7 weeks old. Poor little pup. It's too young.

Pay the £5k, save him and love him for the rest of his life.

I think you've been caught not being savvy. When I insured my dog and knew there was this 14 day exclusion window, I steered well clear of the vet in case anything got picked up. Registered with vet once the time expired.

What's the pup's name? Farm?

7 weeks? Who did you get this puppy from? Did you see the puppy with the mum? Why didn’t the breeder sell with insurance?

This is what happens with backyard breeders and you’ve encouraged it by giving them your money.

Are you asking whether to pay for this surgery or let the dog die? Or put it down? What’s the outcome if you don’t do the surgery?

So you took home a 7 week old unvaccinated puppy?

Puppy was born by Caesarian and given to you at only 7 weeks old with a heart condition?

French or English Bulldog, by any chance?

Dodgy as hell.

What did the breeder say when you told them?

Yes if they needed it but I have the luxury of having a credit card I can shove it on and pay it off over the next 2 years

Can't answer the question because I wouldn't be in the position of having taken home a seven week old, unvaccinated puppy born via C Section (FFS) from a puppy farm.

I've owned 3 dogs in my life and they all strayed with the breeder till 12/13 weeks.