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Originally Posted by Ladymom  You are right. That website seems to be a broker. Since reputable breeders would never sell their puppies though a broker, you can assume their puppies come from backyard breeders and puppy mills.
Unfortunately, the future health of a puppy can't be determined by one vet visit. Yorkies, like all purebred dogs, have certain genetic conditions they are prone too. Liver shunts, luxating patellas, Legg-Perthes are just a few. Most genetic conditions aren't apparent early on and take months or years to show symptoms. The best way to get a healthy puppy who is free from "genetic time bombs" is to get one from a reputable breeder who tests and screens her adults before breeding. Puppy mills and backyard breeders don't do any genetic screening so the odds of getting a puppy with a genetic condition are pretty high.
Yorkies are 36 times more likely to have a liver shunt than all other breeds combined. A bile acids test will tell you if your puppy has a shunt or liver disease, but he will be too young for the test when you get him. Are you getting any sort of health guarantee? Surgery to correct a liver shunt costs thousands of dollars.
Unfortunately, I think your instincts are right. The situation you are in is not good at all, as you said. |
They are giving me a ten year health guarantee.
But I'm also thinking pet insurance is going to be something I should carry on this little guy as well now. I feel horrible for this, but I'm just going to do all I can to make sure he is okay and that we are both protected and prepared if anything should happen in the future.