A grandmother has described the pain of being told to put her puppy down a day after she bought it from a breeder, saying it “broke her heart”.
Beverly Monteith’s beautiful new £650 Dachshund puppy started vomiting the day after it was picked up from a breeder in Leeds.
10-week-old Honey was rushed to the vet, where doctors put her survival chances at 25 percent.
They suggested to 55-year-old Beverly, from Liverpool, that it might be easier to just put her down – given the £2,000 it would cost to treat her.
The reason for the expensive treatment was Honey’s diagnosis with parvovirus, an aggressive infection that stops a dog’s intestines from being able to absorb vital nutrients, leaving them very weak and dehydrated. Parvovirus is often fatal.
“She was perfectly healthy when I saw her and we paid £650 on Saturday (August 27). On Sunday she became unwell and started vomiting,” Beverly told the Liverpool Echo.
“I thought it was because she was away from the pack but Monday she was vomiting and passing blood. We took her to the vet, and she could not stand or lift her head. They did a Parvo test on her and it came back positive.”
After staying the night, Honey went home – but was dramatically rushed back hours later.
Beverly explained that the vets gave Honey Calpol to bring her temperature down. After a few days in and out of the vets “she finally pulled through – but it was a hard slog”.
The puppy is now recovering and getting her weight up. Beverly described the ordeal as “terrible and a nightmare”, adding “it was so scary and she was taken away from us within 24 hours of getting her”.
With Christmas approaching, Beverly is now intent on getting the warning out to people who might get a dog as a gift, urging people to check “the background of puppies” before buying a dog from an unregistered dealer.
“Ask to see the parents of the dogs and make sure you go to registered and reputable breeders. I would not want to go through the heartbreak we have.”
