Puppy with Entropion - what would you do?

[GinaGeo]

So long story short. I have a Cocker Spaniel. I’ve been toying with adding a second puppy for a little while.

An acquaintance has a Cocker Spaniel puppy remaining from a litter, I’ve previously met the bitch and the dog is well spoken of. I’ve enquired to be told the puppy was diagnosed with Entropion (in growing eyelashes) at his micro chipping and will require an operation to correct. The breeder’s vet has suggested that it is better being sorted by the purchasers Vet, and they’re offering a discount off the price.

I don’t have any experience of Entropion in dogs, whether it tends to be ongoing, how recovery tends to go, and how soon it can be done

I am contacting my vet on Monday when they’re open to discuss it with her. But I wondered if anyone had an previous experience they could share with me?

Thanks in advance ? He sounds like an adorable little chap. But I don’t want to get emotionally invested until I’ve got my head round this first ?

 

[rara007]

There’s plenty of healthy dogs out there... (not in Covid times anyway!).

 

[Auslander]

My parents had a welshie who had entropion surgery. She recovered quickly and was absolutely fine afterwards, but my dad didn't breed from that line again

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I would expect the breeder to organise and pay for the op, if the pup has already been diagnosed, I assume that it isn't too young for it to be corrected.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

I would expect the breeder to organise and pay for the op, if the pup has already been diagnosed, I assume that it isn't too young for it to be corrected.

Or get a quote for the operation and take that off the no doubt huge price. (I’m keeping an eye on puppy prices and I have no idea how a breeder can justify 2.5K per puppy, which seems to be common for spaniels currently)

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Or get a quote for the operation and take that off the no doubt huge price. (I’m keeping an eye on puppy prices and I have no idea how a breeder can justify 2.5K per puppy, which seems to be common for spaniels currently)

I would expect a responsible breeder to wantt o make sure that the op had been done before they let it go, unless the vet has advised that the pup needs to be older, which I doubt.

 

[SusieT]

plenty of healthy dogs out there. I'd walk away. And I would expect breeder to have sorted it and be healed etc before it leaves them. Any breeder who isn't doing this isn't one I'd buy off.

 

[Aru]

Depends on if you have the savings to do more eyework later on or not. Pup will be uninsurable for eyes and the other eye may also develop into entropian as adult features develop. Also if they are tacking(which would be common in pups) it may take multiple operations to correct as the pups face develops.

Personally I wouldn't buy a dog with an underlying issue like this even though its likely to resolve with treatment, as its sometimes a warning for ongoing issues.

If it was a pup id bred I would be keeping until eyes had been completely sorted out before selling and yes lose money to do so, because that's the responsible thing to do.. but I do work on worse case scenarios..and dont have a lot of time for profit only motivated breeders.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

As I understand it, a dog can develop entropion also later in life, and in those cases it sounds as if it usually is an easy, and one time procedure. But puppies with entropion can need more than one correction as they grow, and a final operation when they've finished growing. That sounds to me like it might end up costing more than the full price of the puppy, in which case a discount on the price isn't much to write home about.

Besides, there is also the question about how much discomfort the ingrowing hair causes, before the problem can be fixed permanently.

Sadly, in your shoes, I think I would look for another puppy. However your veterinarian might give you a more optimistic prognosis, and they're the professionals, not me.

 

[GinaGeo]

Thanks everyone.

Really helpful and was the direction I was heading myself, but nice to know I’m not being over cautious.

I will speak to my vet tomorrow and see what she says. But I think I will be walking away.

 

[Bellasophia]

Another vote for walk away from this pup..for all reasons above..
This is not a rare breed so you should be able to find a reputable breeder who Health tests and has lines free from issues that may well be recurrent and costly to treat..be sure any spaniel has fully tested parents..
eg
http://www.dogbreedhealth.com/cocker-spaniel/

 

[Bellasophia]

Finnish lapphund..in my prime breed the poodle,this is a common issue in “casually bred “dogs( not ethical breeders who do controL and test their dogs)
Entropion
..is painful,reoccurs,
...often treated with
..laser surgery,but the cilia regrow..
Or ..surgical removal of part of eyelid (drastic,deforms the structure of eyelid..)

entropion on the other hand is the rolling out of the eyelid which can more easily be remedied by a pulling up the eyelid and securing with stitches..often occurring in mollossoid breeds. After surgery ,unlikely to reoccur.

 

[satinbaze]

I would want to make sure the puppy has been seen by an eye specialist. Puppy eyes do change as the head develops so getting specialist options is essential. Check out the KC list of eye panelists and possibly have a chat with them. In my experience the Eye Veterinary clinic at Leominster are very helpful.

 

[GinaGeo]

I have told the breeder that I won’t be having the pup. She has said that is very understandable and they had decided that if I was no longer interested they would be keeping him themselves. So all is well that ends well.

Thanks folks ?

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Thank you for the update, and hope you find another puppy soon.