My 7 year old Boxer, Otto died from what I now know was a heart attack. The week before he died we bred him to our female boxer and she is pregnant. What is the possibility of these puppies getting the same thing? Had I known there would have been this problem, I would have never bred him. Should I disclose this info to the people who will be interetsed in these puppies? Or is this heart thing just a problem with this breed and would be expected regardless?
heredity of heart problem
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Debbie Magon
Boxer Pal
Reality Bites!
All heart conditions to my knowledge are inheritable.
There is possibly the odd one that isnt such as damage from heart worms but other wise you can expect a percentage of the pups to suffer and /or die from heart related problems.
Hence the need for every breeding bitch or dog to be health tested and good sound knowledge of the ancestors both sides..
Had you approached breeding from a responsible and informed angle , this could have been avoided.
As neither of you parent dogs have been tested you may possibly be looking at much more than just heart problems and if the bitch also has heart problems the pups will be even more compromised in their quality of life.
Ignorance or indifference has long been the cause of others suffering and these pups will be no different.
If the bitch is too far along to be safely terminated I suggest that you have every pups heart checked by a registered cardiologist to see how many have damage.
I take it you arnt aware of exactly which heart problem killed your male?
Boxers suffer a variety. I suggest you do some research via this site or the internet on "Boxer Hearts"
To not inform you prospective buyers that their pup may develope heart problems in its future, is tantamount to lying and the owners are well within their rights to sue you if they see fit!
Besides producing pups with questionable health, as you dont know anything about thier hip scores or eyes, thyroid levels etc , you have basically signed some of these pups up for a hard life.
Who wants to live their life suffering from heart disease, or bad hips because the breeders wernt informed or caring enough to get the parents health tested?
Everyday pet owners, animal shelters and vets deal with the reality of someone deciding to breed a litter or refusing to have a bitch spayed , dog neutered before "accidents" happen!.
Reality is this.
Many of the offspring from untested parent stock end up with one or more health related problems and will endure a life of suffering, be it often cut short!
How did you feel when your own beloved boxer dropped dead at 7 years old! Shocked? Destroyed?
Had his breeders done things correctly he may well still be with you.
History, simply repeating.
Reality bites!:mad:
All heart conditions to my knowledge are inheritable.
There is possibly the odd one that isnt such as damage from heart worms but other wise you can expect a percentage of the pups to suffer and /or die from heart related problems.
Hence the need for every breeding bitch or dog to be health tested and good sound knowledge of the ancestors both sides..
Had you approached breeding from a responsible and informed angle , this could have been avoided.
As neither of you parent dogs have been tested you may possibly be looking at much more than just heart problems and if the bitch also has heart problems the pups will be even more compromised in their quality of life.
Ignorance or indifference has long been the cause of others suffering and these pups will be no different.
If the bitch is too far along to be safely terminated I suggest that you have every pups heart checked by a registered cardiologist to see how many have damage.
I take it you arnt aware of exactly which heart problem killed your male?
Boxers suffer a variety. I suggest you do some research via this site or the internet on "Boxer Hearts"
To not inform you prospective buyers that their pup may develope heart problems in its future, is tantamount to lying and the owners are well within their rights to sue you if they see fit!
Besides producing pups with questionable health, as you dont know anything about thier hip scores or eyes, thyroid levels etc , you have basically signed some of these pups up for a hard life.
Who wants to live their life suffering from heart disease, or bad hips because the breeders wernt informed or caring enough to get the parents health tested?
Everyday pet owners, animal shelters and vets deal with the reality of someone deciding to breed a litter or refusing to have a bitch spayed , dog neutered before "accidents" happen!.
Reality is this.
Many of the offspring from untested parent stock end up with one or more health related problems and will endure a life of suffering, be it often cut short!
How did you feel when your own beloved boxer dropped dead at 7 years old! Shocked? Destroyed?
Had his breeders done things correctly he may well still be with you.
History, simply repeating.
Reality bites!:mad:
Last edited:
Alisha Mobley
Boxer Insane
Yes, any one interested in the pups should be informed of the sire's heart condition before ever looking at the pups. You need to learn as much as possible before these puppies are born (and continue to learn afterwards as well) so you can pass on the info to the new owners. They should know what they are getting into before hand.:(
If you don't spay/neuter each pup before they leave make sure they go on spay/neuter contracts and INFORCE them. Keep in contact with the owners and have a set date that all pups should be altered by...if no proof of altering is provided by such date then ownership of the dog goes back to you and *you* alter the dog.
We had a similar situation on our hands almost 2 yrs ago. We had an accidental mating *before* health testing was completed on mom and dad. After pups were born we took both parents in for heart exams...$400 later I find out the sire has AS. An inheritable heart condition. 3 of the 4 pups were sold (we kept one)...all were sold on neuter contracts. They had to be neutered by 1 yr of age or ownership reverted back to me. I had to be sent proof of neutering...you don't take somone's word for it. A month or so after the puppies first birthday I hadn't received any proof from anyone. I sent out letters with copies of the signed contracts. Within a week each owner had sent me their proof...vet statements. All pups had indeed been neutered before a year old...Thankfully!!
We had signed contracts stating that if the new owner could no longer care for the dog it would be returned to me no matter how old or for what reason. If I found out otherwise we'd be in court with all expenses being paid by the owner (this is also in the contracts). I had each dog microchipped before leaving...I have copies of their numbers. If any of my puppies were to be sold/given away I can prove the dog is mine (according to the contracts...if the dog was to be sold or given away ownership reverted to me).
Each puppy also went with a written statement from me saying once the dogs reached the age of 18 months I'd be making appointments to have hearts checked. I feel it is my place to have this done...I was the one who made the mistake of allowing the litter to be conceived, accident or not they're MY dogs and I'm responsible. We've already found out one of the boys was born with a bad heart...a birth defect . I must live with the fact that this guy that should never have been born in the first place, will be lucky to see his third birthday. I was beyond upset when the vet told me this, his owner was crushed to hear the news and who's fault is it? Mine!:(
The amount of money and time I'll have in this litter is unreal but mistakes aren't cheap...or fun.:(
If your girl is less than 4 weeks along she can be spayed and the litter aborted...
Sabrina Jay
Boxer Insane
You have a legal and moral obligation to tell the prospective puppy purchasers. As others have stated, you need to do written contracts and follow-up on the puppies, provided you allow her to have the puppies.
Many states have puppy lemon laws, and you could be held responsible for selling sick/defective puppies.
Many states have puppy lemon laws, and you could be held responsible for selling sick/defective puppies.
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