maybe someone can shed some light?

zoe25 · 07-09-2008, 01:18 PM

Bought a 9 week old doberman that was shaky on her front feet when we picked her up. We questioned the breeder and was told that it was probably from the ear crop and that to give 100mg vitamin c and it would resolve itself. Took pup to vet three days later as we were concerned over the shaky limbs and clumsiness of this puppy. Of course the day we take her she is fine. Four days later she is limping on front paw and not interested in eating or drinking much. Called vet and she was out for two days. Explained the symptoms to vet receptionist and she said just monitor and wait for vet to return. THat night pup went down and wouldn't get up. Took her to different vet as we were getting no help from our vet hospital. Symptoms were not wanting to walk, not eating or drinking much, shaking all over and painful shaky standing if made to stand, and low grade fever. Vet ran full blood panel as well as a neurological eye test. Blood panel came back with raised white cell count. Meantime pup was on iv antibiotics and emergency care at the vet hospital. No improvement for two days (we were going crazy) We demanded full xrays with current vet hopital after speaking with our vet upon her return. At that point puppy was nosediving if she was made to stand and attempt to walk. Xrays showed inflamed neck vertibrea and inflammed bone growth joints. Wobblers syndrome and epthicitis were his diagnosis on the puppy. We were devastated snd with all our research had never heard of wobblers in a puppy this young. THe breeder gave us a replacement puppy and said she had never had this problem before. Just wondering what you guys think of this diagnosis. We are devastated at the loss of this puppy and even given the replacement puppy feel that this breeder knew this puppy had something wrong with it as she was quick to replace no questions asked. Vet bill was almost cost of original puppy.

I would appreciate some answers as this is my first dobe having had german shepherds exclusively before this.

Thank you for your replys

Zoeberry · 07-09-2008, 01:27 PM

I don't have any advice but I want to tell you how sorry I am for what you went through

Poor you and poor puppy.

Julie W · 07-09-2008, 01:29 PM

This is so sad and I'm so sorry this happened. That poor puppy

I have no first hand experience with wobblers so I can't offer any words of wisdom there. I would be concerned with getting another puppy from the same breeder though, especially out of the same litter.

zoe25 · 07-09-2008, 01:42 PM

yes, we are concerned about new puppy yet weren't offered our money back. I am hoping that this is just an anamoly as all of what I have read doesn't show dobie puppies getting wobblers. Wish we had researched breeders more carefully as we paid way too much for this puppy in hind sight. This is our first dog in 5 years since our old german shepherd died and we were in love with at first sight of litter. Paid deposit in advance and didn't really get to pick our puppy as breeder was keeping one for herself so we just saw them at 4 weeks and kind of said which of them we liked best. I am not even sure that is the puppy we received as it would have been easy to switch collars and give us any female puppy she had. I don't want to think that this breeder would do that though. We didn't even get a firm price till after deposit was paid. We were gullible obviously!!!!!!!!!!

aquaholic · 07-09-2008, 03:22 PM

I am soo sorry to hear this.

Hmm, it's probably wrong for me to ask, but..... who is this 'breeder'?

Lexxsmom · 07-09-2008, 03:30 PM

i've never heard of a pup getting wobblers this young...i'm so sorry

DobeGirl07 · 07-09-2008, 03:37 PM

Poor puppy, I really hate to hear this. I would be VERY hesitant before getting another puppy from this breeder. I am sure the breeder knew she was shaky when you picked her up. Where do you live and who is this breeder?

**lolonurse** · 07-09-2008, 03:43 PM

I am so sorry for you - and for the puppy. But let me ask you this - they gave you a sick puppy - and they didn't pay all the vet bills, as well as replace the puppy? You wouldn't have had those bills, but for the fact that they gave you a sick puppy. I wouldn't be at all comfortable with this. Lois

**Doberdog** · 07-09-2008, 04:07 PM

Poor little puppy. I'm scared to ask what happened to it. This just makes me sick for that poor creature. I'm also very sorry for the suffering and fear and cost you have been put through. Please don't let this color your opinions on Dobermans, they are awesome dogs.

zoe25 · 07-09-2008, 04:49 PM

I am hesitant to name the breeder as we were really not smart about this and let our hearts rule our heads. I have had many German Shepherds and dealt with many good breeders and I had hesitancy after we had given her our deposit and then went and saw the puppies as she didn't seem to know anything about the puppy's personalitys. I was very specific about what we wanted personality wise yet when we showed up and asked her which females looked like possiblities for us, she claimed that all her puppies were outgoing but laidback. In other words, I did not want to get a high drive dog that needed constant work. After we gave her the final payment for the puppy and were ready to take her home, she hit us with the fact that she hadn't been able to register the litter yet as the dad is from Brazil and this is his first litter and they wanted a DNA test first. Has anyone heard of this or are we just being fed another line. I won't have the papers on the present female for another month as least if the DNA test results are good. Please don't tell me what an idiot we were as we already realize this. I feel like if this breeder knows I am blogging about her she won't give me my papers. I know you guys are going to be shocked but we paid 2000.00 for this puppy and I am sure we way overpaid for a companion pet. I have no good reason for being this stupid except we were eager to get a puppy and she was the only breeder at the time in California with puppies!! I emailed several other breeders but didn't get any replys from them except they didn't have puppies at this time. One said she would steer me in the right direction of a good breeder, then I never heard from her again.