Been sold a poorly puppy

[bluepuppy2026]

Would really appreciate some help / advice here please

We recently got a puppy. We bought from a licensed breeder (or so I think) but a hobbyist.

We travelled quite a distance and paid a little above many other available pups as we thought it would ensure a good pup. Cocker spaniel for reference.

We collected pup, with a clean vet check the day prior done by the breeder.

Within a few days it was clear that she had weepy eyes. They are also very narrow/almond shaped vs other cocker puppies. In pictures, it is clear that they were a little teary on collection day so not sure why this wasn’t further investigated by the breeders vet. We took puppy to our vet for a checkup and it looks like she has rolled eyelids, with a couple of lashes on the inner corner irritating her eyes. Hard to know how much as it is not clear if she’s squinting/just has slightly unusual eye shape and heavy brows. Dye test showed no damage to eye and anaesthetic drops didn’t cause the eye to open more which makes it more difficult to confirm squinting.

Vet gave us eyedrops and confirmed to monitor.

How could the breeders vet have missed this?

I’ve also noticed today a swelling on her tummy. A tiny red ish lump. Not painful for her. Looks like a histiocytoma but google tells me it’s an odd location for one.

We’ve bonded with her, and her with us but we’ve had more issues in her first 2 weeks home than we had our old dogs entire life.

Please any advice welcome.

If you know who the vet is ring them
and ask for a copy of the vet check they did

anything they noted would be on the puppy’s history

@Ylvamoon i mentioned show because workers have higher ears that’s the only reason. When sleeping they sit more low where you’d expect for a show cocker.

No breeder did not ask for us to vet check. She’s 10 weeks.

We had a Golden retriever who had the same eye issue, a bit of overgrowth of skin. In the end she didn't need surgery, but she did go to the vet to get it checked. We didn't blame the breeder for this as they wouldn't necessarily know it was going to happen.

@Isobel201 i agree mostly. I suppose the reason I am questioning is because I noticed it within a few days of having her home so the vet check done by the breeder had only happened few days prior

If the insurance is related to the good health check, then everything you have noticed should be covered by it if anything needs doing , but make sure you carry on with that insurance when renewals due, don’t cancel it and start a new policy.
it doesn’t sound likes she’s very poorly, just got a few issues, some vets are much pickier than others and it may be a really minor thing that she will grow out of .

@Anonyalphamom thank you! I hope she grows out of it - she’s a lovely pup! If feisty 😂

An ex work colleague had this. So called breeder off a Gumtree advert. Travelled 4 hours away to pick up pup a daschund aged 3 months. All its siblings had been snapped up and this was the only one left (red flag alert). Was only with them at home a few hours when pup was yelping in pain and in considerable distress. Cue trip to vet. Vet said severe hip dysplasia and disc issues and puppy should be pts there and then, nithing could be done for it. Think this person had paid £1500 for it.

But as my ex colleague was so concerned about getting her money back rather than going through the correct channels after having puppy pts, she took it back to the breeder to get a full refund. I was very annoyed and saddened about the fact this poor puppy had to suffer and no doubt would continue to suffer in agony for sometime to come. She did get her refund but I was disgusted with her attitude and disregard for the puppy.

Hoping it is minor and she will grow out of it. Sounds like the breeder won’t want to know tbh. Can we see her but understand if too outing

@HangryBrickShark oh gosh that’s just so sad.

Pup is ours now and we’ll be making sure she’s taken care of regardless bless her.

@Empress13 id love to share a pic but yes think maybe too outing

We got our dog from a KC-registered breeder. Properly did our homework, travelled 200 miles to get to Cb peen breeder. Was able to view breeding pedigree, hip scores, health tests etc all online through the KC, able to view dam with pups and given the opportunity to visit the sire. All perfect. Still ended up with a dog with a genetically inherited skin condition common in the breed but not so common it forms part of the routine health checks for that breed. Breeder was mortified and offered to have him back but we refused (only let them know to prevent further breeding from the same pairing). The skin condition is negligible with regular grooming and has no impact on his quality of life. He brings us so much joy every day and other than this (and a random accident where he broke his foot) he’s the healthiest dog ever.

Somestimes you can conduct all due diligence and still get stung. That’s life. The only thing you can do is decide how much you’re prepared to manage it.

Cocker spaniels having weepy eyes is very common. They produce excess tears when teething as well. She could also indeed have Entropion. Also allergies, she's in a new home with new dust etc which could exacerbate it. What diet do you have her on? Have they advised you go over her eyes every morning with a damp cloth? For allergies it would also make sense for the redness on her belly-.

Bits of puppies grow at different rates too. My pup from a very good breeder had a considerable undershot jaw on her first vet check with us. It corrected itself and her bite is now perfect.

A friends pup died in his sleep at 4 months from an undiagnosed heart defect. Fully tested parents from working lines.

It happens.

@Resilience glad pup was ok and condition not too bad

@OneCheeryGoldMoose yes we clean her eyes once a day. Have eyedrops now too. She’s on the same kibble she was weaning on at the breeders

@survivingunderarock glad her jaw corrected itself. So sad about your friends dog - you just never know do you. I do think she’s a late developer as she’s a touch on the small side (not worryingly so!) and still had that smushed up cute puppy face at 8 weeks that made her look more like 6 weeks, so I am hoping there’s a good chance she’ll grow into her face a bit and that’ll help the eyelid problem

I haven't read all the posts, but could the swelling on her tummy be an umbilical hernia?

Just wanted to update that if I compare pictures over the last week or so her eyes do seem a bit less squinty each day so I’m hoping there’s a possibility she’ll outgrow the eye issue 🥰