Scribd Logo
Upload

Welcome to Scribd!

  • 53 views

    Puppyhealthguarantees

    Uploaded by

    api-320494979
    The document discusses various types of "health guarantees" often used in puppy sales promotions. It notes that these guarantees typically have many caveats and pose high risks to buyers while providing low risks to sellers. Common types include return-and-replace policies, replacement-only policies, and refund policies, but these may require giving back a beloved puppy or still leave buyers with potential vet costs. The document also distinguishes these sales guarantees from actual health clearances performed on parent dogs, which document the absence of genetic disorders and are a better indicator of a puppy's health risks. It recommends buyers seek documentation of hip, elbow, eye, and other clearances from the parent dogs when selecting a puppy breeder.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Puppyhealthguarantees

    Uploaded by

    api-320494979
    53 views3 pages
    The document discusses various types of "health guarantees" often used in puppy sales promotions. It notes that these guarantees typically have many caveats and pose high risks to buyers while providing low risks to sellers. Common types include return-and-replace policies, replacement-only policies, and refund policies, but these may require giving back a beloved puppy or still leave buyers with potential vet costs. The document also distinguishes these sales guarantees from actual health clearances performed on parent dogs, which document the absence of genetic disorders and are a better indicator of a puppy's health risks. It recommends buyers seek documentation of hip, elbow, eye, and other clearances from the parent dogs when selecting a puppy breeder.

    Original Title

    puppyhealthguarantees

    Copyright

    © © All Rights Reserved

    Available Formats

    PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Did you find this document useful?

    Is this content inappropriate?

    The document discusses various types of "health guarantees" often used in puppy sales promotions. It notes that these guarantees typically have many caveats and pose high risks to buyers while providing low risks to sellers. Common types include return-and-replace policies, replacement-only policies, and refund policies, but these may require giving back a beloved puppy or still leave buyers with potential vet costs. The document also distinguishes these sales guarantees from actual health clearances performed on parent dogs, which document the absence of genetic disorders and are a better indicator of a puppy's health risks. It recommends buyers seek documentation of hip, elbow, eye, and other clearances from the parent dogs when selecting a puppy breeder.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    53 views3 pages

    Puppyhealthguarantees

    Uploaded by

    api-320494979
    The document discusses various types of "health guarantees" often used in puppy sales promotions. It notes that these guarantees typically have many caveats and pose high risks to buyers while providing low risks to sellers. Common types include return-and-replace policies, replacement-only policies, and refund policies, but these may require giving back a beloved puppy or still leave buyers with potential vet costs. The document also distinguishes these sales guarantees from actual health clearances performed on parent dogs, which document the absence of genetic disorders and are a better indicator of a puppy's health risks. It recommends buyers seek documentation of hip, elbow, eye, and other clearances from the parent dogs when selecting a puppy breeder.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 3

    PUPPY HEALTH

    GUARANTEES
    BEHIND THE FINE PRINT
    By Mary Shaver

    Many commercial puppy merchants use impressive sounding puppy Health Guarantees as a sales
    gimmick to promote their puppies. READ and ANALYZE these carefully. These guarantees are often
    much less desirable than they appear at first blush.
    1. RETURN AND REPLACE: The most commonly offered type of guarantee, this allows you to return
    your puppy if diagnosed to be suffering from a congenital disorder covered by the guarantee. This is for
    a limited time period (usually 1 3 years) and normally covers things like crippling hip displasia. These
    guarantees also are usually riddled with many caveats (like environmental conditions which nullify the
    guarantee). This document requires that you must give your puppy back to the seller. Are you prepared
    to do this, after you have loved and raised your pup for a year or so? If you are, what assurances do you
    have that your replacement pup wont be from the same breeding or breeding line as the first pup, and
    the same hereditary problems wont be present in this pup as well? Also, some puppy merchants, when
    confronted with a buyer willing to return a crippled pup, will attempt to dissuade the owner with threats
    that they will take the dog back, but will immediately euthanize it.
    MOST PUPPY SELLERS CAN BE CONFIDENT OFFERING THIS SORT OF GUARANTEE SINCE
    THEY KNOW VERY FEW BUYERS ARE WILLING TO GIVE THEIR PUPPY BACK!
    This sort of guarantee represents a very HIGH risk to you as the buyer, and a very low risk to the seller.
    2. REPLACE ONLY: This guarantee offers you a new pup, sometimes at no charge, sometimes for
    price. However, now you have two pups, and are still facing potentially expensive vet costs for the first
    pup. Also, your second pup, if from the same breeding or breeding lines, is likely to suffer from the same
    hereditary problems.
    3. FULL OR PARTIAL REFUND: This is almost never offered, but some responsible breeders may
    amend their contract, if you ask. This means if your pup develops a congenital disorder covered by the
    contract, the breeder may refund you all or part of the purchase price of the pup.
    4. HEALTH CERTIFIED: All this usually means is that the breeder has given the pups their first set of
    vaccinations, worming, and probably had the dewclaws removed. This is so basic, only the worst
    possible breeders wouldnt supply this. Micro chipping may also be offered as part of the sales pitch.
    This is a small device inserted by needle below the skin between the shoulder blades. The device can
    then be read by a scanner. It provides owner information in the event the dog is lost. This costs about
    $15-50 and can be performed by any vet.
    5. 72 HOUR RETURN POLICY: This allows you as the buyer to return the pup (usually within 48 72
    hours) if the pup is sick. The pup must be seen and diagnosed by a vet. This is standard for all but the
    very worst breeder.

    HEALTH CLEARANCES
    WHATS THE DIFFERENCE?
    By Mary Shaver

    Many buyers are confused by health guarantees (which are supplied on the puppies
    being sold) and health clearances (which are tests done on the parents and ancestors of
    the puppy).
    Health clearances are documented proof supplied by breeders that the parents and
    ancestors do not carry genetic or hereditary diseases or disorders which can be passed
    on to the pups. ALL dogs, especially purebred dogs, carry these genetic disorders. If a
    breeder tells you their dogs are healthy and have no genetic problems, this is a BIG
    RED FLAG!! Make them back that up with documentation.
    Here are some examples of what a good breeder will provide you:
    1. Hip and Elbow Clearances: These are radiographs evaluated by qualified
    organizations, such as OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals). Most dogs in
    the pups pedigree should have clearances (see www.offa.org for more info).
    These clearances minimize the risk that your pup will inherit this crippling and
    debilitating disease. If a breeder tells you their local vet x-rayed the parents and
    said they looked good DONT BELIEVE IT. There are standardized protocols
    for making these evaluations. If a puppy seller wont send in the radiographs for
    certification, there is usually a reason. Also, dogs cannot receive OFA ratings
    until they are 2 years old. If the parents are younger than this, they WILL NOT
    HAVE OFA RATINGS. Some breeders will radiograph hips and elbows at 18
    months and can receive a preliminary rating at that time.
    2. Eye Clearances: This is an annual exam performed by board certified
    ophthalmologists on parents to verify that they are free from congenital eye
    disorders, such as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) and Entropion. The
    document is provided by CERF (Canine Eye Registry Foundation) and more info
    can be found on the OFA website listed above.
    3. VwD Clearances: vonWillibrands Disease (vWD) is a hereditary blood clotting
    disorder. Parents are tested and certified as clear, carrier, or affected.
    4. Other Clearances: Some breeders also test their dogs for heart defects, thyroid
    or auto-immune disorders, etc.

    Good breeders also usually offer health guarantees on their puppies, but that is backed
    up by documenting the genetic health of the pups ancestors. You must decide what
    level of risk you are willing to assume when you buy a pup.
    PLEASE NOTE: It comes as no surprise to you that these tests are pretty expensive.
    Yet the commercial puppy merchants are charging the same (OR MORE) for their
    puppies as good breeders are charging, without spending the money to test the parents.
    This is because the commercial producers are out to maximize their profit, whereas the
    responsible breeder is more interested in producing healthy puppies and improving the
    overall health of the breed. From whom would you rather buy your pup?!
    REMEMBER, YOU ARE BUYING A PUPPY, NOT A GUARANTEE. THE BEST
    GUARANTEE OF A HEALTHY PUPPY IS ONE WHOSE PEDIGREE OF ANCESTORS
    CAN BE PROVEN TO BE HEALTHY AND SOUND THEMSELVES!

    You might also like