Did I do the right thing? (PLEASE RESPOND)

[Yorkie_Love]

I bought a young Yorkie female earlier this week. She is ADORABLE. She is almost a little rescue, but I feel calling her that is a bit unfair to the people who bred her. She is VERY underweight, skin and bones under her long coat. She has LP pretty bad in her right rear (her breeders did know about this and it was one of the first things that they told me about. It didnt show its little head until recently, she was going to be a dog that they were going to show....so they said....and then she started limping. Her dad is from a very well known breeder who OFA's, but I am not sure they OFA'd her mom). I was sold her on a strict contract, which I am totally ok with, that I would never breed her. They didnt give me her papers, or even a copy of her pedigree (they have been burned with people taking puppies on a contract and then breeding them anyway). But they did show me her papers when I picked her up. I paid very little for her, only $300. I am having the surgery done on her LP next week.

So my concern, even though it is slight, is that I paid even ANY money for a dog who needs surgery (and a pretty expensive surgery) right away. She is getting some baby teeth pulled as well. She is SO underweight too.

Opinions???

[Nancy1999]

Originally Posted by Yorkie_Love

I bought a young Yorkie female earlier this week. She is ADORABLE. She is almost a little rescue, but I feel calling her that is a bit unfair to the people who bred her. She is VERY underweight, skin and bones under her long coat. She has LP pretty bad in her right rear (her breeders did know about this and it was one of the first things that they told me about. It didnt show its little head until recently, she was going to be a dog that they were going to show....so they said....and then she started limping. Her dad is from a very well known breeder who OFA's, but I am not sure they OFA'd her mom). I was sold her on a strict contract, which I am totally ok with, that I would never breed her. They didnt give me her papers, or even a copy of her pedigree (they have been burned with people taking puppies on a contract and then breeding them anyway). But they did show me her papers when I picked her up. I paid very little for her, only $300. I am having the surgery done on her LP next week.

So my concern, even though it is slight, is that I paid even ANY money for a dog who needs surgery (and a pretty expensive surgery) right away. She is getting some baby teeth pulled as well. She is SO underweight too.

Opinions???

Hi welcome to YT, sometimes even good breeders have dogs with this problem. At least they are trying to make certain no one will breed her, and maybe charging something so they can ensure themselves the animal won't be used for unethical research or bait for dog fights. I hope all goes well with the surgery, is that the little girl in your avatar, she is a cutie.

Btw, what is "OFA's"?

[TLC]

Ahhh....she sounds like a doll. And after LP surgery she is going to be a brand new girl - enjoy her.

As far as $ - Alot of people charge a small fee to *weed* out bad people. Not to say your are bad, but that's what a lot of people do.

You may want to call them back and explain the LP cost and that she is having the surgery and you were hoping to be refunded or partially refunded to use that towards the cost of the LP surgery.

Best of luck

[ProfessorPeteZa]

Originally Posted by TLC

Ahhh....she sounds like a doll. And after LP surgery she is going to be a brand new girl - enjoy her.

As far as $ - Alot of people charge a small fee to *weed* out bad people. Not to say your are bad, but that's what a lot of people do.

You may want to call them back and explain the LP cost and that she is having the surgery and you were hoping to be refunded or partially refunded to use that towards the cost of the LP surgery.

Best of luck

i agree with this. i dont think they should just give her away for free because it might end up like one of the posts from earlier this (not saying you would do this). where the dog was given to someone who seemed to genuinely care for the dog but then turned around and tried to make a profit on the dog.

best of luck. i hope the surgery goes well

[chattiesmom]

First of all, Welcome to YT! I am so very glad you joined our family. I can't wait to see pics of your little one and watch her grow up.

If you knew about the lp before you purchased you purchased her and chose to go through with the deal, I think you should be responsible for the vet bills. From what you have said, the breeder was very up front with you about her health issues. The amount of money required by the breeder was just a token fee -- perhaps like one of the other posters mentioned -- just to make sure that you were serious about taking care of this precious wee little one. As far as being under weight, once again, you were well aware of this when you agreed to purchase her. Before you have the surgery, you should have a full blood panel taken and ask the vet to pay special attention to the liver levels.

It is very common for a Yorkie to need to have some teeth pulled.

Good luck with your baby, and the surgery next week.

[yorkie mom-3]

I realize you bought her from a breeder, but I don't think the fee was wrong. In rescues dogs that are saved are taken to the vet right away and health issues dealt with. There is a cost involved with this and so they need to recoup costs as well. And like what was said before it does weed out the "wrong kind of people". Congratulations on you new baby and welcome to YT. Wonderful people here and alot of knowledge.

[Yorkie_Love]

First of all, thank you for the welcomes!

I dont want the $300 back, and I dont feel like I over paid her or anything. I TOTALLY understand them wanting the money to "weed out" possible bad people. And I TOTALLY understand them wanting to keep her papers and such from me.

I guess my question was more beacuse I dont know much about the breed, I did do a lot of reading on the interenet and asking questions before I bought her. I kinda just meant more that because of her LP problem should I have bought her at all? Kinda like me asking should I have bought a horse with a broken leg? You know? Will she even have quality of life? How serious is LP? One of you girls answered these questions a bit.....saying she will be a brand new girl after. But I just wanted to explain more about what I was asking. I really do understand her asking the $300 for her. Her littermate who, besides the LP, was not even near as nice for her sold to a pet home for $2800.

[yorkie mom-3]

Hang in here and you'll find knowledgeable people here that have gone through LP with their babies and they will be able to tell you.

[patty58]

Welcome to YT. Congrats on your new baby. I am sure that you are already totally in love with her. I will keep her in my prayers that her surgery works wonderfully and she will be healthy and with you for years to come.

[peanut]

I haven't had to deal with LP, but what I have read and have seen others that have they can have a quality of life, I think she will be fine, have you had her evaluated by a vet and found out how bad it is, and most all yorkies have to have some teeth pulled. Congratulations on her and welcome to YT

[Saleswman]

You got a steal....300??? Even so, teeth, that is not unusual....just start learning...and reading...and enjoy it here...

YOU will get a wealth of info here and a lot of friends too!!!

Good luck with you new family member

[TLC]

Roxy had bi-laterial LP surgery - it cost $3000 for both legs. It is totally worth it. LP doesn't get better or fix itself over time. There are 4 grades of LP and IMO Grade 3 and Grade 4 should get surgery to stop the luxation. There quality of life is amazing, and YES she will be a brand new girl Please make sure to have a Cert. Ortho Specialist do the surgery. LP can be tricky and may require an experienced, craftey and artistic hand.

I think you did and are doing the right thing, I promise you that you won't be disappointed.

P.S. Roxy cost $800

[Sugar's Mom]

i think you are almost a saint for buyingthis girl.. i do not feel the breeder owes any money towards the vet bill as she made you well aware of the problem before you bought her. you more or less bought her 'as is". there are several people on the board that have purchased special needs babies and then had surgery on them. I think the breeder really put her trust in you. So many people would have bought this girl, had her legs fixed and then went right ahead and bred her. i think once the surgery is done, you will have a wonderful pet.

[Yorkie_Love]

I did NOT say, or even hint at, the breeder needing to pay ANY of the vet bill!!!

I know I am 100% responsible for it. It never even entered my mind that the breeder pay ANY of it.

I dont know where that even came from.....

[SueNCricket 2]

She may have been destroyed if you had not paid for her.
I'll bet she will be your BFF from now on!
Kudos to you for taking in a dog that you know would need costly surgery.
Sue & Cricket