Maybe we need to be more clear with our buyers....calls US first before you go to the vet. It's great the pup is OK, but sad the family is out $700 and if I were them, I wouldn't trust that vet again. It's not vet bashing, but who wants to work with that kind of vet. I've had experiences with vets who were GREAT but charged too much for what they wanted to do, so I dumped them. Pure economics.

Even if the family does call you first and even if you suggest a line of treatment, if the treating veterinarian says otherwise, what is the poor dog owner supposed to do. If you have been breeding dogs for many,many years, and if you have half a brain, you learn a lot. Our experience and expertise in many aspects of veterinary medicine should not be underestimated. I am sure that starting the first year of breeding dogs, you, like me, researched everything medical that came up with your dogs. When you are about to put your bitch through a labor and delivery, you make yourself very,very prepared. When you had your first experience with a limping puppy, you researched that, etc.,etc. many veterinarians have no reproductive experience. Many have little experience with any but boiler plate dog problems. And sorry to say, when a breeder suggests a benign treatment for the first occurrence of a problem, that can be very threatening to a veterinarian . . .Which is why many vets don't want to have breeders in their practice. With that said, I have had positive experiences working with wonderful veterinarians over the many years I have had dogs. The best are dog breeders themselves.

I am very thankful for my own vet. He asked to have the initial x-rays and report sent to him. He told me the placement for initial the hip x-rays was done incorrectly, but even so, the hips looked good or excellent to him. He looked at all the other x-rays and saw no issues at all. He suggested the initial x-rays be sent on to Michigan State(their comment - x-rays normal for age) for a second opinion and to get pup in to him to do OFA's. He was polite and respectful to the family when they finally drove the 1 1/2 hours and brought pup in to him. They even commented how much they liked him. My own vet deserves a reward for how well he helped in this situation. I'm also very thankful that most vets are not like this pup's . The family refuses to switch vets which I kindly suggested they do. I agree that the best vets are breeders themselves, all the vets in my office show, compete in performance and breed. It does make a difference. I'm so thankful the hips came out excellent. I now realize not all vets are the same.

Story Time! A true story from a very, very reputable Akita breeder who happens to be a good friend of mine. A young couple had recently lost their Akita who had suffered from Pemphigus his entire life. They approached Lynn who sold them a puppy.

Tra la la, the young couple (as instructed) conducted a health check on their wonderful new puppy (8 weeks old). Horror, the pup was severely Dysplastic and needed surgery immediately. Fortunately the couple called Lynn.

Hold the presses. Bring me that puppy. Lynn paid for their gas and one night in a hotel, she also paid for the x-rays. So off they all go to Lynn's vet. The pup was x-rayed. The vet spent an hour explaining to the couple what hip dysplasia was, and used x-rays to show the couple photos of dysplastic hips. After an hour, he put up the x-rays from their pup. They gasped and changed vets.

Fast forward 2 years - OFA Excellent!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Moral of the story? "Greed Happens"