Breeder concern

[concretegurl]

Originally Posted by HeathenFaerie

A little off topic but please tell me that debark is not what it sounds like

It is...sorry to elaborate but you can imagine some of the debarking procedures are done in less than standard surgical procedure conditions...

[tinalove]

what's debarking? I am curious.

[concretegurl]

Devocalization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Debarking - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
NAIA: Debarking* (Bark Softening) - Myths and Facts
Surgery to Quiet Noisy Dogs, or Debarking, Is Losing Favor - NYTimes.com
Barking dogs can be quieted through debarking surgery called a vocal cordectomy

[tinalove]

Why would someone do that to a dog? If they don't want noise they should get a rabbit.

[concretegurl]

Pup mills do it a lot, owners who fail to train or sometimes desperate people who have a resistant dog.

My Scoobers has separation anxiety he screams, devocalization was suggested due his issue. I put in effort in training, he gets 'medication' and I refuse instant bark stopping methods like shock collars.

Debarking can be a last resort for some with good intentions but it's so rare, most of the time its a lazy person's solution or that of unscrupulous individuals & vets whom take payment over animal welfare.

[HeathenFaerie]

My god why isn't that outlawed here? I see it is outlawed in the UK. That is mutilation *shudders*

[mercyme]

Originally Posted by Wrenee4

I think it's good that she went to the vet for flea medication. At least she is not buying something over the counter at the grocery store that can kill them. Fleas IMO are no problem and can be fixed asap. I am shocked that the vet would even give you info over the phone though? Vet records are like people records and they shouldn't give out info to just anyone. I know with ours we have to call in and give a specific name and they will note in the chart that they can speak with them. As for a parasit with a c? I would guess coccidia...could come from other dogs, birds etc.

Maybe the breeder gave the vet permission to give info. to people calling/inquiring RE: the breeder's pups (full disclosure) ?

Flea infestations can make a puppy very sick. Regardless if it's a regional problem I personally would be leery.

To me, some of what's been described does sound suspicious, (but then, I'm just suspicious by nature) visiting the breeder's in person is a good idea. Good luck.

[tinalove]

I decided to save my gas on that breeder. I will be visiting another breeder in that region but not her. I am leery about that also. A flea infestation bad enough for the vet to know of makes me wonder. We all deal with fleas but like I said my vet never had to tell me about it. Thank goodness my flea problem wasn't that bad and we have stray dogs in the yard all the time.

[Wrenee4]

We go to the vet for our flea meds. Good luck finding your new furbaby.

[concretegurl]

I use 1-800-pet meds and costco...but I'm cheap.

[backwardsrain]

Have you looked at this thread? http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/pup...uy-yorkie.html
Very useful info for telling the good breeders from the bad.
I personally would not worry about the flea issue unless the vet said she was not treating them for fleas at all. You can get fleas practically overnight even in indoor dogs. I live in TN and fleas have been terrible the past few years, my vet says they have developed a resistance to most flea medications and he often has people complain of fleas even when their dogs have been treated.

[Deuce]

Anytime I got fleas I had to take my cat in, he's super allergic to the bites and without immediate treatment he'd start tearing his hair out. It happened a lot in Naples (lots of strays with lots of fleas). I also would go to my vet to get the flea medication for both dog and cat. All I'm saying is don't discount someone instantly because they take their pet in for flea treatment options, sometimes the first prevention method doesn't work for every dog/cat in the house so you go to the vet to ask about other ways to prevent the fleas. Of course, you shouldn't go to a breeder that you start off leery of, gut instincts go a long way when looking for a puppy. Good luck in your search, I hope you find the yorkie you're looking for.

[concretegurl]

Poor Fatso!
Princess is the same way but we have a tubes of hydra cortisone (?is that it it;s like a cream benadryl to use with benadryl but generic for dogs) the vet gave us to keep on hand.

Princess get "hot spots" which look to me like giant leprosy sores I freaked when she got the first one, I though she hand been cut well impaled by something and yet another ER trip.