HELP! Yorkie puppy suddenly ill resulting in death

[princesshalie]

I bought a 9 week old 2lb yorkie puppy from a breeder in Orlando for $800. ($200 deposit non refundable) We purchased her on Wed and brought her home. She seemed to be healthy and just a few hours after arriving at our house began to vomit and have diarrhea. I consulted the breeder and she said that it could be due to her shots that she had gotten on wed prior to us picking her up and to give her nutracal and pedialite This lasted till Thursday afternoon and the puppy seemed normal until Friday night when she began to do it again but worse. So Friday night I was up with her all night throwing up and on Saturday I took her to the vet to be inspected. The vet did all the normal parasite tests(including parvo) and they all came back negative. They gave her fluid under the skin to help with the dehydration that they said she had and sent me home with a broad spectrum parasite medication just in case after a $200 vet visit. From then on at home she just kept getting worse and worse. I held her on my lap the entire night and was noticing that she would not shut her eyes, but that she would just rest. Around 3am I laid down to go to bed and placed her on my chest for body heat. At 7:30am I woke up and pet her and she was barely warm. So I picked her up and realized she was dead. I was devastated. We had only had her for 4 days and we were already very connected with her. We placed her in a cooler and took her to the vet to be cremated so that we could keep her ashes. The vet closed at 5, but called at 530 to see if we wanted a necropsy done and I declined not knowing that I needed it to get a refund. So after I went through the paper work, I immediately called the vet back and only got a voice mail due to them being closed and left 3 vms stating I would like to change my answer and do the necropsy. They called me back at 9am and told me it could be done, but after paying $390 and the fact that they could come back inconclusive due to the fact that she had already been frozen for preservation I declined again. I contacted the breeder about the dog being ill and was in touch with her every day until yesterday when the dog passed. I called at 8 am after the shock had set in and no answer, then called again about thirty minutes later. Still no answer. So I proceeded with a text asking her to call me as soon as possible. This morning I woke up and was still a little distraught by everything and not receiving any communication with the breeder so I decided to try calling again, no answer so I sent another text requesting a phone call asap. The breeder still has not contacted me. I really would like some advice on what to do because I am at a loss for words at this point.

[lynzy420]

I am very sorry for your loss, really I am. Quite frankly I think the breeder gave you bad advice and this pup should have been "inspected" immediately upon symptoms. This is a pup that is too young and TINY to had been let go from its mother.

The delay in getting this tiny fragile pup treatment, regardless of cost is probably what ultimately caused her death. These pups go down fast, dehydration etc., from the symptoms you are describing can quickly lead to shock, organ failure or a host of other fatal problems.

When Mini was 2 months, 3 months and a couple of other times hospitalized for the same types of symptoms your describing, it was a couple days or longer with treatment and the cost was well over the amounts you quoted.

My point: You were given a pup that should not have been given to someone because her weight was too low, and her age too young. Additionally, you obvious have very little knowledge regarding these tiny pups and while your intentions were nothing short of loving a tiny little baby, a responsible ethical breeder would have prescreened you, educated you etc.,

I do not think that the death of this pup is your fault, how could you possibly know all these things? I fault the greeder you got her from. Chances are your not going to get far with this woman, you can try, and I wish you much luck.

In the future please, please, be sure that you are getting a pup from a reputable breeder, have educated from a to z and back again...most importantly make sure you have a bank roll of a few thousand dollars in case of emergencies, and you shuold probably look in to insurance.

I am very sorry for your loss. Your breeder was negligent in so many ways...I'm sorry.

[chachi]

My guess is she died due to dehydration. That much vomiting and diahrea in a pup that young is a death sentence and the vet should have kept her and put her on Ivs

[rubymoon2072]

i am very sorry for your loss.

[Lil Sis]

I am so sorry. I think I am in shock that the vet even set the puppy home.. but I don't really know a lot about treatments and such.

I hope you get this resolved.. I would keep trying to contact the breeder. what do you want from her? Your money back? A different puppy? Have a plan of action

[chachi]

I think the breeder should give you another pup since she told you to delay treatment it is on her but its also the vets fault for not keeping her and putting her on Ivs I hope you dont blame yourself you were just a new owner doing what the breeder and vet told you to do. Im sorry for your loss

[lynzy420]

Important question, what was the name of your breeder? Did she have a website? Those prices are very low for that type of pup? Please tell us where you got the pup.

[ladyjane]

Often if a vet gives subcutaneous fluids it is because the owner does not wish to hospitalize the pup. My guess is that funds were low and that was the option taken...clearly the op was concerned about money as she stated how much she had spent for the visit. A hospitalization for a sick pup like that would have really racked up some dollars.
Very sad story....it's a shame the OP did not seem to realize how fast these pups can go down.
If I were the OP I would not want another of that breeder's pups. I suppose you could stay on her for the money, but I would not want a pup from her for sure.

[chachi]

Originally Posted by ladyjane

Often if a vet gives subcutaneous fluids it is because the owner does not wish to hospitalize the pup. My guess is that funds were low and that was the option taken...clearly the op was concerned about money as she stated how much she had spent for the visit. A hospitalization for a sick pup like that would have really racked up some dollars.
Very sad story....it's a shame the OP did not seem to realize how fast these pups can go down.
If I were the OP I would not want another of that breeder's pups. I suppose you could stay on her for the money, but I would not want a pup from her for sure.

No thats not always true because my vet at the time gave chachi fluids under the skin for diahrea dehydration when he was 8 weeks old and his staying at the vet was never discussed. Im not saying what you said isnt a possibility in this case but it may not be either

[AngelFae]

If the breeder still hasn't contacted you by phone (my guess is she knows your number and is screening her calls KNOWING what happened) what is stopping you from going to her house? Find out if your state or city has some sort of "lemon law" for puppies and bring it with you. Make sure you have any and all paper work pertaining to the poor puppy and bring it with you! Know what you want to accomplish with the breeder- do you want your money back? All of it, including the deposit or just part of it? Money for the vet bills? A different puppy? Have a plan going in. I do think that the best course is to meet with her in person instead of over the phone. Especially if she is clearly avoiding your calls right now. Get your info set as fast as you can and get there. The longer you wait the worse for you.

[lynzy420]

Originally Posted by AngelFae

If the breeder still hasn't contacted you by phone (my guess is she knows your number and is screening her calls KNOWING what happened) what is stopping you from going to her house? Find out if your state or city has some sort of "lemon law" for puppies and bring it with you. Make sure you have any and all paper work pertaining to the poor puppy and bring it with you! Know what you want to accomplish with the breeder- do you want your money back? All of it, including the deposit or just part of it? Money for the vet bills? A different puppy? Have a plan going in. I do think that the best course is to meet with her in person instead of over the phone. Especially if she is clearly avoiding your calls right now. Get your info set as fast as you can and get there. The longer you wait the worse for you.

Again, let me reiterate...if you do get another puppy, prepare yourself for the care and costs of care that may or may not arise. Educate yourself in the proper care of a Yorkie or any dog for that matter. You were misled by the breeder and obviously had a piss poor vet...not to mention you obviously were not prepared for associated costs. I would without a doubt hold this breeder accountable, but you also, armed with the knowledge you now have must be accountable to any future pup you buy or adopt.

[horsnaround]

So sorry for your loss. I agree you may just want your money back and look else where for another pup. The breeder is being very rude not returning your calls or texts.

[ladyjane]

Most reputable vets would offer hospitalization to a severely ill pup. Since I was not there, I am not going to judge this vet. Sounds to me as if someone just did not know the severity of this puppy's condition. Very sad.

[AngelFae]

Originally Posted by lynzy420

Again, let me reiterate...if you do get another puppy, prepare yourself for the care and costs of care that may or may not arise. Educate yourself in the proper care of a Yorkie or any dog for that matter. You were misled by the breeder and obviously had a piss poor vet...not to mention you obviously were not prepared for associated costs. I would without a doubt hold this breeder accountable, but you also, armed with the knowledge you now have must be accountable to any future pup you buy or adopt.

Exactly.

[chachi]

My vet was reputable and none of us are vets to know to know what all vets do in this circumstance. Just because she did not want to pay for a necropsy does not make me conclude that she wouldnt pay for hospitalization. What someone would pay to keep a pet alive and what they would pay when its already dead are two different things. There isnt enough in the OPs original post to conclude they refused vet care