What would YOU do?? Import with heartworms? - Page 5

You know, Blitzen and all others who have posted and agreed with these posts, I don't think the OP thought we would all start digging into her story and Kimmi's story.  The OP perhaps came looking for sympathy and validation for her issue with Kennel Boghaus. Well, too bad for her that the truth has a way of coming out.  Poor Kimmi. I too wish I could help that dog and others like her. But Susie said it best..."we" need to stop this kind of thing at the source...so-called breeders need to stop importing dogs from questionable breeders in East European or other countries just to buy cheap and make a buck.  And puppy buyers in the USA need to do a better job of seeking out truly responsible and ethical breeders.

I looked up one bitch that was in Europe and advertised for something on this forum; she had 8 litters...was bred to be a producing machine.  Very sad...and not any respect for the bitch or the breed. 

I imported a dog with heartworms, when she came she was damn near dead. Less than one week after receiving her, I took her to the vet - blood test revieled stage 3. Xray showed they had already filled a chamber in her heart (it was buldging) and lungs shows signs of them too.  I immediately contacted the person whom sold her to me and his reply was "We don't have heartworms in Slovakia, she was fine when she was here." 
Basically, you're screwed, you should take the her back, treat her and if she recovers decide what to do next. 

Word to the wise.........
check every dog that arrives as soon as possible -
complete blood panel, heart worms, thyroid, tick panel, intestinal worms and more.......
AND completely check every dog you sell prior to putting it up for sale in the same way. 

'Basically, you're screwed,'
No, the person isn't screwed, after all, she got 11 puppies out of the dog.....the female puppy machine is the one screwed.

And why in hell would you breed that bitch again, ever??  Beyond me.  Very very pathetic.  I feel for the bitch, a producing, mechanical, breeding money maker.  So very sad.  WAKE UP PEOPLE. 

I wondered about the origins of heartworms being from Slovakia, when I

first read the OP.  Heartworm isn't something we are used to dealing

with in Europe, so dogs aren't treated routinely & prophelactically  as in

America.

However, a little Googling around and I found that the Danube areas -

including Slovakia -  have experienced an increase in all the four types

of mosquitos involved as vectors ( in Heartworm,  and in Nile Fever &

Malaria)  in 'recent' years (ie since the 70s !).  Because the climate,

despite the 14 degree threshold still obtaining frequently enough to

suppress the number of cases of disease, is clearly warming enough

to allow swampy areas all over Europe to attract a greater number of

mozzies, we all ought to start taking this problem into account in the

breeding, medication and export of dogs.

I can't imagine that "breeders" in that area are going to spend money on  h-worm preventative when  people who buy their dogs don't care and don't ask for proof of a negative check (as if that would matter anyway). They only buy those dogs because they are cheap. "titled", proven and often pregnant. They get what they pay for. I have problems mustering up any sympathy for any North American who tries to breed GSD's from cheap breeding stock. It's sad for the dogs however. To many they have no more sentimental value than a ktichen appliance that will be kicked to the curb the second it stops working. It's a problem with no solution or end.

 Blitzen: "I have problems mustering up any sympathy for any North American who tries to breed GSD's from cheap breeding stock."

Well, then you've got no sympathy for about 85% of N.American breeders. The "I have no idea what I'm doing, but I want to breed GSDs right away, and I don't want to pay more than $3000 for my foundation" is just about my least favorite phone call or post to read.  And they do not want to be educated on what a truly breeding quality animal really is and what one must do to get one. Nope- gimme a $3500 import bitch from anywhere or a pair of pups (cause ya know, pups bought together are always the best complements to one another!)  and presto! We're in business! 

And that's why I would not buy a GSD from 85% of the breeders in the US, Jen .

Import purchases are virtually all "as is" sales -- with no warranty. I didn't know that HW was a problem in Europe--it didn't used to be, I thought. So I googled, and HW is indeed becoming more common. This research article gives a map: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3372948/#B42

Christine