Find your perfect pup by asking the right questions
By Kim Campbell Thornton
If you're buying a puppy for the first time, or if it has been a few years since you last acquired one, you might be unsure of where to begin. A lot has changed in the puppy-purchasing world in the past decade. Whether you are looking for a purebred pup, a "designer" dog or one from a shelter, you are no longer limited to your local classifieds, breeders, shelters or rescue groups. You may see available pups through social media, Craigslist, Petfinder.com, online pet stores or fliers at your veterinary clinic or pet-supply store, to name just a few.
What hasn't changed is the importance of asking the right questions before you plunk down hundreds or thousands of dollars for a puppy who will, in a perfect world, live with you for the next 10-plus years. Before you fall in love with the first cute pup you see (or even better, before you look at puppies), get good answers to the following questions.
-- What are the potential genetic or developmental problems that can affect this breed or crossbreed, and what is the incidence of these problems in your lines? What are the strong and weak points of the health, temperament and conformation of the parents, grandparents and great-grandparents? A reputable breeder will answer these questions honestly and thoroughly. Be doubtful of breeders who claim their dogs don't have any problems. That may be because they don't test for them.
-- What health clearances do the puppies' parents have? Whether you're buying a purebred or a hybrid (designer) pup, the breeders should be able to show you up-to-date proof that both parents are free of hereditary ailments. Depending on the breed or cross, these may include but are not limited to Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or PennHIP hip clearances; and OFA elbow, knee, eye, thyroid or heart clearances. Check the Canine Health Information Center (caninehealthinfo.org) to find out which clearances your breed should have. If you're buying a hybrid (one breed crossed to another breed), the breeder should have appropriate clearances for each breed. Hip, elbow and knee clearances are issued only once in a dog's life, but eye, heart and thyroid exams should be performed annually.
-- How old are the parents? Health clearances are not issued to dogs younger than 2 years old because those dogs are not yet fully mature and health problems may not be apparent.
-- Do you guarantee a puppy's health? A breeder who is confident in the health of her dogs will offer a guarantee against genetic defects for up to two years after the puppy is purchased. With exceptions such as epilepsy, which usually appears later in life, genetic problems typically surface by the time a dog is 2 years old.
-- How do you socialize your puppies? Choose puppies raised in a home with plenty of human interaction. They will be more confident and adaptable throughout life.
-- What does your sales contract include? Look for the following basics: the sale price; the pup's birthdate and parents' names; details of health guarantees; return policy; and any breeding restrictions, spay/neuter requirements or other agreements related to the sale. A great sales contract states that the breeder will take the dog back at any time in his life and that the breeder has first right to the dog or will provide assistance in placement in any situation in which you cannot keep him, such as a divorce, illness or death.
Making the right match when selecting a breeder and puppy calls for strong research and interviewing skills and plenty of patience to wait for the right one, but the effort pays off in puppy love for life.
Q&A
Hormone drugs
affect pets
Q: I noticed recently that my female dog's private parts were swollen. After some detective work, my veterinarian figured out that it was a reaction to my hormone cream. How does that happen? -- via Facebook
A: If your pet loves to lick, hormone products can make him sick. There have been reports for several years now that pets (and children) are inadvertently ingesting topical hormone sprays, creams and gels. Dogs and cats are affected when they lick or rub against the treated area or get petted after the product is applied by hand. Signs include fur loss, mammary or nipple enlargement, a shrunken penis in males and bloody discharge or a swollen vulva in females.
Estrogen and testosterone aren't the only hormones that cause problems. A psoriasis cream called Dovonex, which contains a synthetic form of vitamin D (itself a hormone), can cause unusual thirst, appetite loss and severe vomiting or diarrhea if pets lick it off the skin or chew on the tube.
To protect pets, wear disposable gloves when applying gels or creams, and toss the gloves in an inaccessible trashcan when you're through. The same goes for disposing of hormone patches. Apply creams or gels to areas your dog is unable or unlikely to lick, such as the inside of the thighs. If you're using a spray, wear clothing that covers the treated area. Even if you wear gloves to apply the product, wash your hands with soap thoroughly -- for as long as it takes you to sing "Happy Birthday" twice through -- before touching pets, children or food, including pet food.
Before you apply any product, prescription or otherwise, read the label or package insert to make sure it's not toxic to pets or children if ingested. -- Dr. Marty Becker
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.
THE BUZZ
Keep cats safe
from toxic plants
-- What's one of the times when cats beat out dogs? When they eat toxic plants. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals' Animal Poison Control Center received more than 9,000 calls in 2013 about animals eating plants. That's up from almost 8,000 in 2008, and cats led dogs in the number of exposures. Nearly 1,000 plants are known to be toxic to pets, so it's important to pay attention to what you have in your home or yard. If you are a gardener or simply love potted plants or floral arrangements, remember that the more beautiful a plant is, the more likely it is to be toxic. Lilies, in particular, can cause kidney failure and death in cats.
-- Would-be veterinarians and animal lovers with an appetite for drama won't want to miss the show "Vet School," which premiered in September on Nat Geo WILD. It follows first- and fourth-year students at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine as they learn to give injections, repair bone fractures, handle squirmy patients and deal with the emotional ups and downs of their chosen profession. Look for it on Saturdays at 10 p.m. EST, or binge-watch it at channel.nationalgeographic.com/wild/vet-school/.
-- Petting reduces stress and lowers the incidence of upper respiratory disease in shelter cats. That's according to a study published in the October 2015 issue of the peer-reviewed journal Preventive Veterinary Medicine. Cats in the study were petted, played with and groomed in four 10-minute sessions daily for a 10-day period. Cats who didn't receive positive attention from people were more than twice as likely to develop upper respiratory disease over time and showed more signs of stress. Our takeaway? Shelters need more volunteers to pet cats. Who's in? -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Kim Campbell Thornton. They are affiliated with Vetstreet.com and are the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Joining them is dog trainer and behavior consultant Mikkel Becker. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/KimCampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.
CAPTIONS AND CREDITS
Caption 01: Cuteness and convenience of purchase aren't the only considerations when looking for a puppy. Position: Main Story
Caption 02: Go behind the scenes at veterinary school and find out what it takes to succeed. Position: Pet Buzz/Item 2