Update on Louie's heart murmur...saw cardiologist

Hi. I'm sorry it took so long to give everyone an update on Louie's heart murmur. I've been quite upset. Louie saw a cardiologist and he was diagnosed with a pulmonic stenosis grade 4 of 6. The dr. said he has an approx. lifespan of 2 yrs. without surgery. He definitely does not have failure to thrive. I contacted my breeder and she told me to send him back (per her breeder info. page regarding health guarantee/exchanging for another puppy). I told her he is not on deaths door and he could have a quiet stress free life with me. I asked her to refund SOME of my money. I paid $3300 plus shipping. I haven't heard back from her asking whether he is staying with me or to ask me if I am still sending him back. I'm dealing with lots of communication runaround or lack of communication. I did fax her the cardiologist report.

When Louie got off the plane we went right to the vets office. The vet said he had a high white cell count (probably upper respiratory) and demodectic mange. After clearing up the congestion with Amoxicillin drops, the vet was able to hear the heart murmur. That is when we saw the cardiologist. By the way Louie is just over 4.5 months old now and was diagnosed by the cardiologist with the heart murmur at about 3.5 months.

I really did my homework with this breeder and this stuff still happens. There is no way I am sending my Louie back. Thank you to everyone for your prayers. I am going to take the best care possible of my sweet little bully.

There is no way I am sending my Louie back.


I don't blame you. She should definetly send some money back to you and let you give him a wonderful life. Good luck with your baby.

This must be really tough for you but at least Louie is with someone who actually cares for his well being. I'm glad you have chosen to keep him and give him a good home. Hopefully she will do the right thing and at least give you some of the money back. Your untitled to that. I hope everything works out for the both of you. Louie will be in my prayers.

So sorry to hear about your babies diagnosis, but I think it is so awesome that you're giving Louie a great life. There should be a whole lot more doggie owners like you!

I hope she gives you some of your money back. We decided the same thing you did - to keep our Kank & give him a good life even though he has the murmur. Luckily our breeder found out about it before we got him and so she let us have him for just the cost of his plane ticket.

Sorry about Louie

I know 'this stuff happens' and can happen to the best breeder ever, but....

Louie should have had a health certificate prior to being shipped (or sold.) A grade 4 murmur would have been discovered - that or his upper respiratory infection, and the demo would have been suspected. I know you love your Louie, but I do question your breeder for selling you a sick puppy with an easily detected genetic defect.

I know you feel the breeder should cover vet fees or refund some money, but if their guarantee only covers replacing Louie provided you return him... well, its not a good guarantee for the buyer, and only covers the seller's behind because most count on you being too attached to want to return a pup once you have bonded with him.

How much would surgery be for Louie? Would it give him a normal life span if he got this surgery?

There are only pet lemon laws for a few states - I didn't see one for KY, so I am not sure if you are covered:

Pet Lemon Laws


Unfortunately, the risk of purchasing an unhealthy animal from a
pet store is very high. Pet lemon laws give pet store customers
the right to return a sick or dead pet (most laws apply to dogs,
sometimes cats) for a refund or replacement.
Most also give customers the option of retaining the pet, having
it treated and getting some level of reimbursement for veterinary
expenses (the amount of reimbursement is usually limited to the
purchase price of the pet plus sales tax).

In most states, the owner has one to two weeks to return the
animal, with a certificate from a veterinarian stating that the
dog has a serious disease or congenital defect that was present
when the dog was sold. If the dog suffers from a congenital
disorder, the owner may have up to a year to return it to the pet
store and/or get a refund.

If the pet store refuses to refund or reimburse a customer within
a certain number of business days following receipt of the
veterinarian statement, the customer can file an action in court
to resolve the dispute. The prevailing party in the action is
usually awarded reasonable attorney fees if the other party acted
in bad faith in seeking or denying the requested remedy.

Pet stores do not have to pay reimbursements if the animal's
illness or death resulted from maltreatment, neglect, or injuries
that occurred after the sale; or if the veterinary statement
received at the time of sale discloses the disease or condition.

Parasites are not a qualifying illness for compensation in most
states.

States with pet lemon laws:
Currently, 17 states have pet lemon laws:


Arizona - Title 44, Chapter 11, Article 17 of the Arizona Revised
Statutes "Pet Dealers" section. Covers contagious or infectious
diseases for 15 days; congenital or hereditary defects are
covered for up to 60 days.
Arkansas - Section 4-97-105 of the Arkansas Code. Applies to dogs
and cats only. Health problems are covered for 10 days.

California - The Polanco-Lockyer Pet Breeder Warranty Act (HEALTH
AND SAFETY CODE, SECTION 122045-122222). Covers contagious or
infectious diseases for 15 days; congenital or hereditary defects
are covered for up to 1 year. This lemon law is for dogs and cats
only.

Connecticut - Section 22-344b of the CT Code. Dogs and cats are
covered for health problems for 15 days. Reimbursements for
veterinary bills can not exceed two hundred dollars.

Delaware - Section 4005 of the DE Code. Covers contagious or
infectious diseases for 20 days; congenital or hereditary defects
are covered for up to 2 years. The animal can be either returned
for a full refund of the purchase price, exchanged, or retained.
Reimbursement for reasonable veterinary fees can not exceed the
original purchase price of the animal. Parasites are covered if
they make the animal clinically ill.

Florida - Florida State Statute 828.29. Covers contagious or
infectious diseases for 14 days; congenital or hereditary defects
are covered for up to 1 year.

Maine - Title 7, Part 9, Chapter 745: SALE OF DOGS AND CATS.
Covers contagious or infectious diseases for 10 days; congenital
or hereditary defects are covered for up to 1 year.

Massachusetts - 330 CMR 12.05. Health problems in dogs and cats
are covered for 14 days. Requires a refund or a replacement
animal - no veterinary bill reimbursement.

Minnesota - Section 325F.791 of the MN Code. Covers contagious or
infectious diseases for 10 days; congenital or hereditary defects
are covered for up to 1 year. This lemon law is for dogs and cats
only.

New Hampshire - Section 437.13 of the NH Code. Refunds or
substitutions for up to 14 days; does not cover vet bills.
Includes dogs, cats, and ferrets.

New Jersey - NJ Statute 56:8-93. Contagious or infectious
diseases are covered for 14 days; congenital or hereditary
defects are covered up to 6 months. The consumer has the right to
return the dog or cat and receive a full refund or replacement
plus reimbursement of veterinary fees; or retain the dog or cat
and receive reimbursement of veterinary fees plus the cost of
future veterinary fees.

New York - Article 35-D Section 753 of the General Business Law.
Health conditions in dogs and cats are covered for 14 days.

Nevada - Section 574.490 of the Nevada Code. Covers health
problems for up to 10 days. Provides refund of purchase price,
replacement of equal value, or reimbursement of vet bills, in an
amount not to exceed the purchase price of the pet.

Pennsylvania - Contagious or Infectious Diseases are covered: 10
days; Congenital or Hereditary Defects: 30 days

South Carolina - Section 47-13-160 of the SC Code. Covers
contagious or infectious diseases for 14 days; congenital or
hereditary defects are covered for up to 6 months. Pet store
liability for veterinary fees must not exceed fifty percent of
the purchase price, including sales tax, of the animal.

Vermont - 20V.S.A. sec. 4302. Covers contagious or infectious
diseases for 7 days; congenital or hereditary defects are covered
for up to 1 year.

Virginia - 3.1-796.80. Health problems are covered for 10 days.
Must return the pet to recieve refund or exchange.


Unfortunately, most lemon laws are written strictly with the
consumer in mind, with the attitude that the animals concerned
are merchandise. Nevertheless, these laws provide an incentive
for pet stores to obtain their animals from responsible sources,
rather than from puppy mills and similar outlets.

Hi Theresa. Thank you for all of the lemon info. I'm from Illinois and Louie came from Oklahoma. I have almost spent $1000 for vet stuff and the cardiologist. Louie will also be having another ultrasound by the cardiologist in the next few months. I didn't want the breeder to pay my vet bills, but atleast refund some of my money. Louie did have a health certificate when I got him. The only thing it said is that he was on Zithromax, so I am guessing the Oklahoma vet knew he had some respiratory stuff going on. I knew about it too, but the breeder told me he was fine and back to normal. The impression I got is that the surgery would be $2000 plus. The vet and the cardiologist said the surgery is very risky because of a certain artery. That artery would have extreme pressure put on it while trying to balloon in another artery which could cause instant death. They both said they don't recommend doing it. I guess I learned about what a "good" health guarantee is. The breeder not once has even sounded sad for Louie or has said she is sorry this happened to me. It's all so sad, but boy do I LOVE LOVE LOVE this doggie. The money part sucks, but I wouldn't trade him for anything is this world. Thanks again!

Hello Everyone~

Thank you for all of your kind words and prayers. All of the encouragement means so much. I'm so glad I found this board. Take care :)

Hi Mary
My heart goes out to you, my puppy also has a grade 4 and is seeing a cardiologists next month and i would not trade him for the world! Good luck

Hi Mary in Green Bay! Prayers and hugs to you and your baby. I hope everything goes well for you both next month. Please post on the board and let me/us know how everything goes.