Don't know what to do......
 

I am going to start from the beginning.....My neice bought Chloe,she is in college and didn't have enough time for her. I took her,fell in love and the story begins.... I noticed Chloe limping,took her to the vets after a month of back and forth,she had surgery,she had legg-perthes.I took her back to the vet on Saturday to get her staples out,told the vet I was worried because she wasn't using it.They examined her and said her knee cap was moving and crunching when they moved her leg!! How could this be?? She just had surgery the 27th of October. Does this just happen? They didnt really answer me,could they have done it? She is the first Yorkie I have ever had and I love her,but I think she will be my last.I can't take this heart ache!! She is only 15 month old and she is going threw too much already! Does this have anything to do with the breeder??? Sorry this post is so long,I could really use some advice!

Sounds like luxating patella. A common congenital defect in yorkies, unfortunately. :( I doubt that the vets had anything to do with it if she was already limping previously.

I'm sorry that your dog is going through so many problems...:animal-pa

Should the breeder have known?? Wouldn't the vet have seen it on the x-ray or the exam from the legg-perthes?? Thank you for your advice

Luxating patellas are usually genetic, but can also be caused by traumatic injury from jumping on and off furniture. Since she has been recuperating from surgery, I'm sure her patellas were slipping before. Your vet should have checked her knees early on.

To answer your question, yes, it has everything to do with the breeder. Both luxating patellas and Legg-Perthes are inherited conditions in Yorkies. If Chloe's breeder wasn't carefully screening for genetic problems and health testing the dogs she was breeding, conditions like these are passed on to puppies and then to their new owners. I suspect your niece wasn't careful who she bought a puppy from since she obviously didn't think the responsibility through.

Look under the paragraph "Genetic Defects":

Yorkshire Terrier - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Thank heavens Chloe has you to take care of her. It sounds like the poor thing will need another surgery.

The breeder told my neice he tested for genetic conditions,I find no proof in her papers though. Her breeder's name is Dennis Miller of Applecreek,Ohio,,anyone heard of him??

Unfortunately, it looks like the Millers are a whole chain of puppy mills in Ohio. :(

Justice for Dogs Sold during the Buckeye Dog Auction Petition

http://prisonersofgreed.org/ListA2006.pdf

Dennis Miller has a USDA Class A dealers license so I apparently he is brokering the puppies from these mills.

Ohio 36212 31-A-0271 Miller, Dennis

No wonder little Chloe has so many genetic conditions. :mad:

Thank you for the info,,,my poor little girl!! I am so sad and pissed off at the same time!! So can I do anything ??? How did you find this info?

I just Googled his name, state and the word "puppies". After I got those hits, I checked the USDA "puppymill" list.

Sadly, there is nothing you can do as these commercial breeding facilities are perfectly legal. It's buyer beware when buying a puppy. I suspect your niece didn't research breeders before buying Chloe. Did she get her from a pet store? 99.9% of all pet store puppies come from midwest puppy mills.

I suspect the Millers are Amish. They are notorious for their family puppy mills in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. There are a lot of Amish in Ohio, too.

She bought her from an add in the paper.She got Chloe for 400.00 because supposedly she was the last one and they didn't want to get to attached! Yes, I just looked up his name to and his address is Millersburg! That is Amish country in Ohio! Oh am I mad and nothing you can do? Legal?? I don't think I have ever felt so helpless!!

I am so sorry that little Chloe and you are going thru this. I am just glad that she has found you to be her caretaker. Give her a great big hug and may she get well quickly from all these physical problems. :(

Thank you and we love her dearly and will do whatever it takes

ARGH!! So upsetting. My Ella Bean was from a puppy mill raid and she almost died she was so sick. These puppy mills don't care about the wellbeing or health of our dogs! Unfortunately, there is nothing you can do legally regarding Chloe, but, you CAN get involved in supporting anti-puppy mill legislation. And no matter how one feels about the election, Obama is aware of the problem and hopefully will help enact changes in laws that will put these psychos out of business.

I am SO sorry Chloe is going through so much and that it is taking such a toll on you and your family. Don't write of Yorkies! Just make sure your next Lil one is from a responsible breeder. There are plenty right here on YT. I think the best way to meet a trusted breeder is to go to a dog show and talk to breeders. They happen all over the country...

Regarding Chloe's current situation, please keep us updated...You may want to get a second opnion, since your vet didn't notice the luxating patella before the last surgery.

The good news is most Luxating Patella surgeries have good outcomes!

Those "bargain" puppies are no bargain in the long run, are they? My Lady is a rescue, but poorly bred. She has so many health problems ... epilepsy, diabetes, hypothyroidism, arthritis, just to name a few. Her medications, diabetic supplies and routine vet checkups run about $5,000 a year. We usually have at least one major illness that requires hospitalization and runs between $500-$1,000 more. She's had two this year. :eek:

I'm so glad Chloe found her way to you and you will take care of her. Can you imagine if she had ended up with someone who wasn't able to care for her? So many purebred dogs are given up or euthanized because their owners can't afford to take care of them. Lady was abandoned by her first owner when she started having seizures.

You might find this article interesting:

Humane Society video report links Petland stores, puppy mills - Metro - cleveland.com

My Ella Bean is a puppy mill rescue and she just turned one year. Her first few months, she was so sick, I think I must have spent about $3,000 between vet visits and other therapies. Honestly, I did use a lot of alternative care, like acupuncture and homeopathy, but it worked! She is here! I had her knees and hips checked at 6 months and again at a year and so far, all appears to be well. The bloodwork is normal...but I wont be surprised if issues pop up.

I am diligent about taking her for wellness checkups every 6 months instead of a year because I am hoping to catch anything BEFORE it becomes an issue. I know I can't prevent everything, but Ill do whatever it takes!!!!!:aimeeyork

You are so smart to be proactive with Ella Bean's health. Poorly bred dogs from puppy mills and backyard breeders can carry genetic time bombs that may not go off for years. That was the case with Lady. She was perfectly healthy for the first four years, then those ticking bombs started going off.

I often wonder if some of her diseases/conditions could have been prevented if she had had good quality food and regular vet checks right from the start. I didn't adopt her until she was 4.5 years old. At thirteen my vets are amazed that she has lived as long as she has and I am convinced it is because of what I feed her, all the supplements I give her and excellent vet care.

If you keep Ella Bean's immune system strong, she may stay very healthy despite being from a puppy mill.

Thats exactly what I believe! My Cavalier, Louis has chronic gastritis and IBS. By feeding a raw diet, working with a holistic/integrative vet and being proactive about BOTH dogs health, I have two happy healthy pups. I am very focused on maintaining diet and health standard for them because it is SO effective in maintaining health!

I do the same thing for myself, I have a chronic immune disease and diet and lifestyle has far more impact on my health and how often I get sick then any medication.

Louis started showing some signs of thyroid disease and one of his levels was at the low end of normal and my vet put him on Chinese Herbs that made his levels get normal again! By maintaining and treating slightly high or low functioning systems, I hope it will keep them healthier for the long haul.

My dog's holistic lifestyle inspired my own changes and together, we three are healthy as larks!:p

I am getting involved,I plan to be at the next Buckeye dog auction and just pray that I don't end up in jail! I really hate to admit it,but the truth is I have been ignorant to the whole puppymill thing and never heard of a dog auction in my life! I have had her at 2 vets and neither one seen it! It's all just so frustrating,I can only imagine what she went threw,my neice didn't get her untill she was 5 months old! I just talked to her and she said the lady had her meet her at her moms house because her house was "out in the country and hard to find"!!! Thats a major red flag!! I hope Ella is doing good,there is something majorly wrong with the people that run these things! They all need shut down!!!!!!!!

Your right"the cheap comes out expensive" !! I pray this is it,but with what I have read,it looks like we may have a road ahead of us! I can understand how people can't afford it,vet bills are outrageous! There is no such thing as a "free" puppy!

Good for you! :thumbup:

I am a big believer in the power of one. I try to educate everyone about puppy mills and they in turn educate more people. If enough people are aware of puppy mills and stop buying from them (pet stores), these places will go away. When there is no demand, the supply stops.

The Humane Society of the US is trying to stop Ohio puppymills. Maybe you can get involved.

Campaigns

I have been reading everything I can about puppymills and looked at the videos on you tube! Boy oh boy are my eyes open now! I couldn't take seeing those poor babies suffer! My 9 yr old daughter and 10yr old son have already began writing letters! Goes to show you are never too young or to old to try to make a difference!

Thats wonderful, you really can make a difference and you are already making a difference for Chloe. Ella Bean is doing great, but she was SO SICK. It made me sick, thinking of what they must have done to her, she was about four months when the puppy mill got raided. AND breeding for a dog so small? she is full grown at 2 lbs. I know teenie dogs happen, but to BREED for that is SICK and TWISTED.

She has started making little noises in her sleep - she finally sleeps deep enough to have REM sleep!! And she just started rolling over and requesting belly rubs, LOL. Every day she makes more progress.

Your kids are awesome. Keep that spirit alive! You CAN make a difference. I am a writer and I use my tools to spread the word...Supporting these puppymills and buying from petshops and brokers is supporting an industry that perpetuates cruelty. Its SO hard to resist that puppy in the window...Its a double edged sword because the puppies deserve loving homes...What to do??? Contact your local Animal Services unit and report unsanitary conditions in any pet store you see and get involved! We can make a difference and we MUST speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Please let us know whats happening with Chloe. She is so lucky to have you as a Momma! As for the cost, if its really prohibitive, I am certain there should be some assistance programs...or maybe you can get Pet Insurance?? I don't know...But I am sure we can find out! I'll be thinking of you and Chloe. I know she will be ok...:)

Thank you guys you have been tremendous support:)Just what I was in need of!!! I felt terrible after watching those videos on you tube.My kids were watching them with me and we were all crying! It got to be too much for my little girl so we turned them off! So Sick! I want to share with you the letter my daughter wrote: Listen puppy mill people..I saw your nasty videos ! I saw huge piles of dead dogs and a dog howling because his friend was laying beside him dead! And I also seen the dogs in the trash cans,that is so mean! Do you people know how to feed ,water and take care of your dogs??I saw on the video that you only have tiny bowls to feed those poor dogs,do you eat that little? You have so many people complaining right now everyone knows who you are! Why would you want these puppies to die? Me and my family are watching you and we will shut you down! I love dogs and every animal and we will get you all! I am writing president Obama too he will help us!--Caitlin I just thought that was great of her! She is my little "fight for what you believe in" girl! :thumbup::thumbup:I always tell her the world is hers and its up to her to make it what she wants it to be one step at a time. Again thank you ,,,and I will let you know how things go and keep you posted

Go Caitlin!!!

Hooray for Caitlin!

This is an excellent video about puppy mills. It was featured on Dateline and is narrated by the actress Charlize Theron.

PETA TV:Charlize Theron's Puppy Mill Investigation

I am so sorry that you are having to go through this, but thank God your niece was responsible enough to find a loving home in the family for Chloe.

You know, with the recent "uproar" on YorkieTalk about several of us being "mean," this revitalizes my passion to educate others about puppy mills, purchasing from a reputable breeder and leaving petstores along.

Thank you, PrincessChloe, I am sorry you and your family have to go through this, but thank your for re-inspiring me. :bravo:

Awww Amanda you are so sweet! I was alittle hesitant about posting but I figured whatever anyone has to say,I need to hear. I was and still am grateful for all the help.I was frozen in my tracks to find out Chloe was from a puppymill but it explains alot now.It really shed the light on me and inspired me to do whatever it takes to help.My kids learned alot too,they are so eager to help those poor puppies.It also showed me how much I need to learn!Chloe goes to the vet @ 5 today,,wish us luck,,,I just pray their wrong.But Im ready to deal with whatever she needs!

What a great video, a sad video,but educational. Thank you

I just wanted to udate the post:::Chloe went to the vet and the specialist came into see her.He was checking her out and said its not the knee,its just because she's holding that leg up from surgery and has it kinda stiff! YEAH!!!!!!!!She doesn't need surgery!!! I am so over the moon happy!!! We are putting a castlike thing on her good leg,so she uses her bad leg and so far it's working!

:bravo:

What wonderful news!!!!!!!

YAYYYY!

I am so happy! As a previous poster and I briefly discussed, a holistic diet and preventative care can go a long way with these pups...it may be worth looking into...