Veterinary Secrets Revealed - Treat Your Pet At Home With Over 1000 At-home Pet Health Remedies.
Dog Breeder Checklist
Use this checklist to help you recognize a reputable dog breeder among the many possibilities available. This list is meant to be a companion resource to 5 Star Dog’s Reputable Breeder article. Be sure to read the article before you use this checklist in order to get the most out of your interview with the breeder. This checklist is to be used as a guideline only. Some of the questions may not apply to you or the breeder you choose. Remember that you are selecting a pet that will be with your family for many years to come. Expect the process to involve research and planning, and you will be delighted with how well your new puppy fits in with your lifestyle.
1. Ask to see the sire and dam of the litter.
May I see the sire and dam of the litter? (Expect to only see the dam, as the sire is usually off-site.)
What is the temperament of the parents?
What flaws do the dogs have?
Are the kennels clean?
Are the dogs happy and healthy?
How much time are the dogs in the kennel?
Do outdoor kennels lead to a climate-controlled area?
Does the breeder interact with the dogs both in and out of the kennel?
Are the dogs allowed into the breeder’s house?
Are the parents shown competitively?
What titles do they have?
What breed clubs is the breeder involved in?
May I see the pedigrees of both parents? The breeder should explain the pedigree to you.
2. Ask about any genetic diseases or congenital defects that may affect the breed.
What genetic diseases or congenital defects affect the breed? What, if anything, are you doing to lessen the chances of common defects in your line?
Are the parents registered with the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) Hip Dysplasia Registry? What are the OFA numbers and ratings for both the dam and the sire?
Can I see the paperwork for the parents’ tests on hips (OFA or PennHip), eyes (CERF), and thyroid?
What inoculations have the puppies had? If none, will they have their first set of shots by the time they are placed? Can I see the paperwork from the vet?
Can I have my own vet examine the puppy prior to making a commitment?
3. Learn more about the contract and guarantee.
Can I see the contract? Can you explain the details?
Does the contract include terms in case the puppy develops a genetic disorder?
What happens if the puppy dies or must be euthanized due to illness or disease?
Does the contract include a spay or neuter clause?
What if I choose to breed my dog in the future? Are there special guidelines for potential breeders regarding testing and show requirements?
What kind of AKC registration is available with the dog – regular or limited?
Do you offer a return policy in the event that I am unable to keep the dog?
4. Request the names of previous puppy buyers and other references.
How many litters a year do you produce?
How many litters are on site?
Where were the puppies raised?
How much interaction have the puppies had (or if they are younger than 4-weeks-old, how much socialization will they have?)
Can I have a list of names and phone numbers of other buyers?
How many previous buyers do you still talk to regularly?
How long have you produced this breed? Have you worked with other breeds?
5. Find out if the breeder will help you in selecting the perfect pet for you.
Will you help me pick the right puppy for my lifestyle?
When will the puppies be ready for placement? How old will they be at this time?
Can I call you with any questions or concerns after I bring the puppy home?
Can I expect you to call and check on the puppy?
Will I be notified if any of the other puppies develop unexpected temperaments or disorders?
Find The Right Pet Breeder To Fit Your Needs Using The Links Below:
Dog Breeders Directory, Puppies For Sale, AKC Registered Breeders ... - Find quality dog breeders in your area for every breed recognized including German ... Simply select the state or breed of your choice from the menus above! ...
American Kennel Club - How Do I Find a Breeder? - Breeders can list AKC-registered litters on this web site. You can search for AKC-registrable puppies by breed and state OR by breed and zip code radius. ...
Kitten Stork Cat Breeders Listings - Cat Classifieds - Select your US state on a map to view a listing of Cat Breeders by state. ... Most of our ads are posted by registered Cat Breeders....
The Cat Classified - the place to find and sell pedigreed cats - Cat Breeders, rescued cats, show cat / kittens and pets are found in the this cat ... All cats and kittens listed here should be registered with TICA ( The ...
Help Us Build The Largest Pet Breeder Advertising Network... - EntryID=240 State=AZ. We are a small up and coming breeder in Arizona. Our cattery is a TICA registered cattery. We have beautiful cats with loving ...
IMPORTANT PET RELATED NEWS!
Food Recall Worries Dog and Cat Owners
By DORIE TURNER
AP
ATLANTA (AP) - A recall of potentially deadly pet food has dog and cat owners studying their animals for even the slightest hint of illness and swamping veterinarians nationwide with calls about symptoms both real and imagined. "It's like we're on pins and needles," said Brian Paone, a 27-year-old loan auditor in Knoxville, Tenn., who scheduled a blood test with his vet after realizing both of his cats had eaten brands on the recall list.
"You kind of sit there and wonder - it's terrible to say this - you wonder if this is going to be your last moments with your pet. It's not pleasant."
Some of the 60 million cans and pouches of food have been blamed for kidney failure in scores of animals and killed at least 16 pets. Neither the manufacturer nor authorities have been able to determine why the pets died.
Atlanta veterinarian Will Draper received so many calls and e-mails about the recall that he drafted a newsletter on it and e-mailed his customers.
"That helped tremendously," Draper said. "It has calmed clients."
Since Friday, nearly 100 brands of the "cuts and gravy" style food have been recalled by Menu Foods of Canada, including popular labels sold at Wal-Mart, Kroger and other large retailers.
Veterinarians are directing most questions to the Food and Drug Administration's recall Web site. Some have agreed to run blood tests on pets, even though many of the animals have not consumed any of the recalled brands.
Pet owners with animals showing symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy and extreme thirst are being told to bring them in for immediate examination.
"The recall is huge. It's unprecedented, and people are seeing their dog food is on the list and picking up the phone, wondering if there's anything they can do or what to do," said Tim Hackett, who runs a small-animal clinic at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. "Fortunately, most of these animals are absolutely fine."
Julie Benesh of Chicago brought her cat, Truffle, to a vet's office Wednesday after realizing the animal had eaten some of the contaminated food. The cat was lethargic and had been drinking an unusual amount of water.
"That's my baby," Benesh said of the black-and-white cat she's had since the animal was a kitten. "We've been through a lot together."
The Animal Medical Center on the East Side of Manhattan has tested 143 animals for renal failure since Saturday. Of those, 10 were confirmed to be diet-related cases, and one cat died.
"I have people coming in who haven't even said their pet's eaten the bad food, but they're worried that maybe the recall has not been broad enough so they want their pet tested to be sure," said Ann Hohenhaus, a veterinarian at the clinic.
Los Angeles County officials have confirmed at least nine cases of kidney failure in dogs and cats exposed to the recalled food, said Jonathan Fielding, county director of public health.
The recall has led to at least three lawsuits against Menu Foods from pet owners who allege their animals got sick or died after eating recalled food.
Menu Foods CEO and President Paul Henderson said Wednesday that the company is still investigating the cause of the kidney failure because the food linked to the deaths has shown no signs of contamination. He apologized for the worry that the recall has caused.
Denise Tracy of Milford, Mass., said her first thought after hearing about the recall was, "Oh my gosh, I killed my cat." Fluffy's health deteriorated after Tracy fed her Special Kitty brand food, one of the recalled labels, and she had to euthanize the 11-year-old cat last week.
She said the family, including her five children, are heartbroken. Her husband contacted a lawyer, and she plans to contact her state's attorney general.
"They're killing animals because of somebody's mistake," Tracy said. "They should be held accountable for that."
In California, a Yorkshire terrier named Pebbles has been battling kidney failure since eating Nutro dog food. Even hooked to an IV, she attempts to wag her tail. The dog's owner, Jeff Kerner, said he has called and e-mailed Nutro, and hasn't heard back.
"I want to give them an opportunity to do the right thing. Money can only do one thing, which is pay bills," Kerner said. "I don't want to end up with my dog not surviving and then owe $10,000. Or that she survives and I owe $10,000."
The FDA has sent inspectors to Menu Food plants in New Jersey and Kansas. Most complaints stem from products made at the latter factory, though both received shipments of wheat gluten, identified as a possible source of contamination, from the same supplier, said Stephen F. Sundlof, the FDA's chief veterinarian.
The ingredient is a protein source used to thicken the pet food gravy. The FDA is screening pet food samples for substances known to harm the kidneys, like toxins produced by molds.
Dr. Robert Davis, a veterinarian in Ashland, Mass., said most customers have remained calm - in part because of detailed information available online.
"There's been no panic that I've seen," Davis said. "I think a lot of people, rather than becoming more nervous and concerned, they go to the Internet."
Associated Press writers Daniel Yee in Atlanta, Jay Lindsay in Boston, Don Mitchell in Denver, and Frank Eltman and Karen Matthews in New York contributed to this report.
NOTE: This article was published on March 22, 2007 on AOL News. For updated news of the FDA's ongoing investigation and findings on pet food recalls, click on the link below.
On the Net:
Updated FDA pet food recall information: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html and http://abcnews.go.com/search?searchtext=pet%20food%20recalls&type=feature