The best laid plans...

I recently purchased a puppy from a registered Pug breeder at a cost of £1,200. As I intended to show the dog, I took my time selecting the breeder and the litter. However, when she was just eight months old I noticed she had started to develop breathing problems and whilst I understand Pugs as a breed can have problems with respiration, due to their facial structure, my little Pug showed more symptoms than most, so I took her to my Vet. As I work as a Veterinary Nurse, I knew that this problem would not go away and would most likely require surgery.

After an examination at my local vet, who confirmed what I had feared, I took her back to have an operation. It turns out she had to have her soft palate shortened whilst under general anaesthetic. She recovered without any problems but a month later the symptoms returned. My vet removed more of her soft palate but was reluctant to do any further surgery and referred me to a specialist.

My Pug did ok for a few months and then again had a relapse, so I was forced to take her to the specialist. They admitted her to do some tests and perform an endoscope of her throat, which revealed a fully collapsed larynx and very narrowed hypo-plastic trachea. The vet called me and said there were not many options and she recommended a permanent tracheostomy. I agreed, as the other option was to put her to sleep, but the thought of her having a permanent tube sticking out of her throat was upsetting.

I was devastated that my little Pug, who is only 15 months old, would have to live with a permanent hole in her throat. I feel really upset and annoyed, as her life expectancy has decreased and I waited for months to chose a puppy. I thought I was buying from a responsible Pug breeder and as a veterinary nurse I really did my research before I purchased the pup, I guess alarm bells should have rang when I picked her up and she had fleas and ear mites.

My girl came out of hospital after two weeks and the surgery nearly broke her but she showed the determined Pug spirit and has come through and is straight back to being naughty.

The point of my story is that my little girl has been through so much at such a young age. Her short life has been filled with stress and pain. I have been through the same all because of poor breeding. Throughout all my dog’s health problems, my breeder has not shown any support, apart from saying she would have the dog back. I would never give her back now because we have been through so much and she is part of our family.

I want to prevent other people from having to go through this, all I want is for breeders to recognise this as a serious fault and to go back and re-look at her breeding stock. I have since been unable to get through to the breeder of my dog and she is still breeding Pugs. I have been disappointed with the response from my breeder as she is supposed to be an accredited Kennel Club breeder. I have had a disappointing reply from the Pug dog club who said she did not need the surgery and I have yet to receive a response from the Kennel Club. I just would like to highlight my story, to prevent other people having to go through this - it’s unfair and un-scrupulous.

Lucy Gunn, Pug owner.