My mother's pensioner neighbour does some occasional backyard dog breeding, her last litter being about a year ago.
I've been around there on occasion and have not been concerned, however...
recently this neighbour went around to my mothers house with the remaining Shih Tzu that she had decided to keep (?couldn't sell) but was having problems because it was supposedly being bullied by another dog so thought the win win solution would be for it to move into mums to keep her company, as she lives alone.
At the time this woman did mention briefly to her that it has the occasional 'minor' limp but it was born with it and generally didn't give the dog problems. Mum thought little of it.
Anyway this did ended up being the case... a slight limp every now and then, but mum thought this was no biggie because it would rarely last long, it could weight bear, and the dog was always playful and in good spirits. She's not owned a dog before.
Yesterday mother brought to my attention that the dog has not been able to weight bear since early yesterday. She was very concerned and so was I.
What we've worked out is this dog has probably had hip dysplasia since birth and this woman couldn't sell it but she wasn't prepared to take it to a vet either .
Now mum has warmed to this little dog but at the same time would be prepared to give it back, but is concerned this woman wouldn't take it to the vet - to complicate things further mum was in two minds about keeping it before yeaterday.
Now I'm entertaining thoughts of seeking treatment for a dog I don't particularly want, but looks like I might end up with.
How much does this surgery cost? What would others do? It's a gorgeous little thing.
I've been around there on occasion and have not been concerned, however...
recently this neighbour went around to my mothers house with the remaining Shih Tzu that she had decided to keep (?couldn't sell) but was having problems because it was supposedly being bullied by another dog so thought the win win solution would be for it to move into mums to keep her company, as she lives alone.
At the time this woman did mention briefly to her that it has the occasional 'minor' limp but it was born with it and generally didn't give the dog problems. Mum thought little of it.
Anyway this did ended up being the case... a slight limp every now and then, but mum thought this was no biggie because it would rarely last long, it could weight bear, and the dog was always playful and in good spirits. She's not owned a dog before.
Yesterday mother brought to my attention that the dog has not been able to weight bear since early yesterday. She was very concerned and so was I.
What we've worked out is this dog has probably had hip dysplasia since birth and this woman couldn't sell it but she wasn't prepared to take it to a vet either .
Now mum has warmed to this little dog but at the same time would be prepared to give it back, but is concerned this woman wouldn't take it to the vet - to complicate things further mum was in two minds about keeping it before yeaterday.
Now I'm entertaining thoughts of seeking treatment for a dog I don't particularly want, but looks like I might end up with.
How much does this surgery cost? What would others do? It's a gorgeous little thing.