Rat Terrier...no go!

Welcome to the forum!
 I wrote you a response once already and my AOL kicked me off so I will try and duplicate for you.
 
My concerns are with cardiac. In my experience with my breed many vets are not qualified enough to hear an issue with cardiac disease and can miss what they feel is a "simple murmer" that really could be a cardiac disease.
 Cardiac disease have been missed in my breed when certifying the breed by using vets and cardiologists have picked up on things such as Sub aortic stenosis where the dogs were previously cleared by a vet.
 
Lack of energy or drive in a dog this young really makes me think from what you are describing that you might have a cardiac issue.
 
Pleaae keep us posted and you might consider getting a second opinion from another vet/cardiac specialist
 
You and your dog are in my thoughts and prayers

Adressing her diet now....
What are you feeding your dog? concerns on her limping in the front I think of issues with growth plates, maybe too much protien at this young age along with possible damage from "jumping". The rear issues I think pattellas, its very easy for a small dog/puppy to damage their pattellas from consistant jumping up and down or on and off furniture.

I lost a wonderful shepherd pup to what was most likely a heart condition...and he'd gotten his health certificate two weeks earlier.  Sometimes the most serious heart conditions are the "unheard" ones.
 
That said, this could simply be something like pano....help me out guys with the REAL name?  This is a condition where the pup grows too quickly for the long bones to keep up.  I have a pup who was returned from his "forever home" and they fed him the worst stuff they could find and he grew WAYYYY too fast, and moves like an artritic old man instead of an 8 month old pup.  This is basically "growing pains" and the vet says he'll catch up and be ok.......
 
BUT, a vet check is absolutely in order, and I think I'd be looking into a specialist, just to be safe.  I'd also contact the breeder to let him/her know about the problems.  There may be genetic conditions that s/he needs to know about.....even tho s/he SHOULD have done the appropriate health testing before the first mating....

ORIGINAL: amstaffy

Adressing her diet now....
What are you feeding your dog? concerns on her limping in the front I think of issues with growth plates, maybe too much protien at this young age along with possible damage from "jumping". The rear issues I think pattellas, its very easy for a small dog/puppy to damage their pattellas from consistant jumping up and down or on and off furniture.

Well we are feeding her Science Diet puppy food, which she has been eating without fuss for about 2 months now.  Speaking of jumping, she doesnt and never has, nor have I ever seen her really run around at full gallop.  She has been a very docile dog from the get go, although she loves to beg and does her share of counter surfing.

ORIGINAL: glenmar

I lost a wonderful shepherd pup to what was most likely a heart condition...and he'd gotten his health certificate two weeks earlier.  Sometimes the most serious heart conditions are the "unheard" ones.

That said, this could simply be something like pano....help me out guys with the REAL name?  This is a condition where the pup grows too quickly for the long bones to keep up.  I have a pup who was returned from his "forever home" and they fed him the worst stuff they could find and he grew WAYYYY too fast, and moves like an artritic old man instead of an 8 month old pup.  This is basically "growing pains" and the vet says he'll catch up and be ok.......

BUT, a vet check is absolutely in order, and I think I'd be looking into a specialist, just to be safe.  I'd also contact the breeder to let him/her know about the problems.  There may be genetic conditions that s/he needs to know about.....even tho s/he SHOULD have done the appropriate health testing before the first mating....

I just got off of the phone with the breeder to give her an update...I have been in contact with them.  She has said that she hasnt had any other reported problems from any of the other owners that have pups from the same litter.

She will not jump or even come close to attempting steps like she did a month ago.

 
I felt in this statement you were saying she jumped in the past.
 
Science Diet is not a food I would suggest. Many people get it because either their breeder was feeding it, the store reccomended it or the vet did. There are many other brands of dog food out there that are better for a growing puppy with less fillers and more meat/better protein such as Solid Gold, Natures Variety and the Nutro line. You might want to check into one of those and I'm sure others can give you more info on other better quality dog food.
 
In my previously, gone post I also suggested you contacting your breeder..thanks Glenda, missed it in the re-post. Your breeder should know there is an issue with this pup and might offer some suggestions or verify if any of the other pups might have an issue, if she/he was notified of the same behavior in other pups they sold.
 
If this is a cardiac issue it is best to be identified to benifit your pup.

We were posting at the same time. I see you've contacted your breeder.
 
Next thing I would ask is what health testing he/she has done on the pups..were you offered a guarantee against genetic defects when you purchased this pup?
 
I cardiac all my dogs once they are one year old and they are listed on the OFA's site for varification to anyone who wishes to research the health testing I have done on the dogs I breed/produce, hips, hearts and patellas

I was in the breeding world for several years.  While I personally never lied to my puppy families, I knew a LOT of breeders who did.  And that is NOT to say that your breeder is not being honest, but it is always a possibility.  Mr. Ears was the only pup in my recent foster litter who developed a heart condition, so as a foster mom I could honestly say that none of the others had a problem......and fortunately he stayed with US so another family didn't suffer that heartbreak.  But, because of Mr. Ears I contacted every puppy family and let them KNOW so that they could have the pups thoroughly checked and so that they would have pre-op blood work done prior to spuetering.  Your breeder should be doing the same the instant that you have a diagnosis.  While it IS possible for cleared parents to throw a pup with a genetic problem, it is FAR less likely, which is why any breeding stock should be cleared for generations back, not just the mom and dad.
 
I agree with Jaime that SD is not a very good food.  I personally feed Innova and swear by it.  You can get a wealth of information on foods at [linkhttp://www.mordanna.com/dogfood]www.mordanna.com/dogfood[/link]
 
I also want to welcome you to idog.  You'll find a great deal of help and support here.
 
 

ORIGINAL: amstaffy

ORIGINAL: poorboy08
She will not jump or even come close to attempting steps like she did a month ago.

I felt in this statement you were saying she jumped in the past.

Sorry I sort of meant that in regards to the steps.  In the afternoon when I would let her out of her kennel and she would bolt to the steps and down she went and right outside to use the potty.  The past 2 weeks she has been going to the steps but will only look down and whine

ORIGINAL: amstaffy

Science Diet is not a food I would suggest. Many people get it because either their breeder was feeding it, the store reccomended it or the vet did. There are many other brands of dog food out there that are better for a growing puppy with less fillers and more meat/better protein such as Solid Gold, Natures Variety and the Nutro line. You might want to check into one of those and I'm sure others can give you more info on other better quality dog food.

Well the breeder was feeding her Black Diamond, we contintued to feed her that until it ran out, then we moved over to science diet because it was one that our vet suggested.

ORIGINAL: amstaffy

We were posting at the same time. I see you've contacted your breeder.

Next thing I would ask is what health testing he/she has done on the pups..were you offered a guarantee against genetic defects when you purchased this pup?

I cardiac all my dogs once they are one year old and they are listed on the OFA's site for varification to anyone who wishes to research the health testing I have done on the dogs I breed/produce, hips, hearts and patellas

I'm not EXACTLY sure what all had been done as far as health testing but she did mention that the sire and dame were checked to be in good health before they mated them for the litter she came from.  BTW, the breeder I'm dealing with is Anubis Kennels http://imageevent.com/anubiskennels) located on the Eastern Shore in Maryland.  I would have to check the paper work to see exactly how everything was worded, but every time I have spoken with them they say they will stand behind there dogs 100% weither it be with a replacement..................or I would hope monetary towards any type of related medical expenses.

ORIGINAL: glenmar

I was in the breeding world for several years.  While I personally never lied to my puppy families, I knew a LOT of breeders who did.  And that is NOT to say that your breeder is not being honest, but it is always a possibility.  Mr. Ears was the only pup in my recent foster litter who developed a heart condition, so as a foster mom I could honestly say that none of the others had a problem......and fortunately he stayed with US so another family didn't suffer that heartbreak.  But, because of Mr. Ears I contacted every puppy family and let them KNOW so that they could have the pups thoroughly checked and so that they would have pre-op blood work done prior to spuetering.  Your breeder should be doing the same the instant that you have a diagnosis.  While it IS possible for cleared parents to throw a pup with a genetic problem, it is FAR less likely, which is why any breeding stock should be cleared for generations back, not just the mom and dad.

I agree with Jaime that SD is not a very good food.  I personally feed Innova and swear by it.  You can get a wealth of information on foods at [linkhttp://www.mordanna.com/dogfood]www.mordanna.com/dogfood[/link]

I also want to welcome you to idog.  You'll find a great deal of help and support here.

TBH, this is the first time for me owning a purebread dog with papers and a contract and all that stuff.  Not to mention my wife bought the dog for me as a present for my bday (12/26).  She did her research and I think she well with the purchase but then again something may have been missed..................

On the other hand these breeders are supposedly the only Rat Terrier breeders in MD, so I would hope they would look out for there clients best interest

BTW, here is a picture of our baby getting her first bath.

She's beautfiul!

As the owner of a small terrier (my girl is a Jack Russell) with severe frame issues, I can tell you that it is NOT normal that she doesn't run full speed or jump. My Emma is two years old, and has a pinched nerve in her spine, and trauma induced arthritis across her lower back. She still races around the yard, full speed ahead, and leaps over the other dogs, into my arms, etc. I'd be getting that puppy to see a different vet. It sounds like there could be something seriously wrong with her.

Well we had a full blood screening (HW/LYME/EHRLICHIA TEST) done and everything came up negative.  No lymes disease or worms or anything of that nature.  They also listened to her heart and the vet said that they couldnt hear the murmur any more, so they are currently ruling out a hear condition.  Although she thinks that she may have some type of neurological problem and or some kind of growth problem.  But before we go get an appointment with a neruologist we are going to give her 12mg of Rimadyl 2 times a day to see how she reacts.

So far we gave her 12mg and it's been about an hour, but she already seems a little more spunky.  Moving around a lot better...etc, so we'll see how it goes!

I don't blame you for going this route, but please note that there are many dogs that have had problems with Rimadyl.  Please watch your baby very carefully.
See this link for more informationhttp://www.dogsadversereactions.com/nsaid/comparison.html
I believe that this drug given with prednisone can be even worse..so beware please.