jfletcher

Thank you, will get it a try :)

Hey, we are in Sydney, around the Parramatta region. Happy to travel if hours are flexiable. Between work & pregnancy, just takes me twice as long to get places at the moment.

Hi everyone, I have two Shih Tzus, that are nearly a year old. Hercules was the runt of the litter and had a cleft palate issue, he had his first surgery three weeks ago where they did work on the soft and hard palate, thinking all was good. After some serious sneezing and congestion, today's vet visit has confirmed that the palate didn't completely close up and still has some airways where mucus is getting stuck. They are suggesting surgery again, this time using a mesh to help close the palate that is custom made for his made or Hercules staying on medication for the rest of his life to thin out the mucus. I don't know if I believe this to be the best option and am thinking of getting a second opinion, I am basically looking for a recommendation for a good vet that is familiar with the breed and cleft issues, any suggestions? Thanks, Janine

I didn't mean to spark a debate by any means, and to clarify when we picked up Hercules we weren't aware of any of the defects til we got him home and observed him, and realised something wasn't right, also the weather conditions the night we picked him up didn't help in taking time with the breeder when collecting them. Also, we did know he was smaller and may have some issues being so small, but we accepted that, we just found issues sooner than we knew it. Also as a customer and not a breeder I happily admit that I am not as well-informed about pups when making a purchase, and probably make silly decisions, but I don't regret taking him and happy to deal with the medical issues when they come and intend to do whats best for him. Unfortunately, the breeder isn't easy to talk to, I notified her of the issue with the pup, I didn't bother asking for a refund and don't expect her to help with the medical side of it either. Nor would I ever ask for a replacement, I don't see pups as a new car purchase with 21 day cooling off period and a three year new car warranty. He's family now, he was the moment we got him. Appreciate all the feedback and in the far future when a pup might be on the cards again, I will be choosing a breeder very carefully rather than trusting a recommendation. Thanks for the support guys :)

I did speak with the breeder and told her the scenario, she didn't know he had it and wasn't overally concerned, she said she is not having any more litters and will no longer breed pups. I didn't ask for the refund, it would of been a pointless conversation and I don't like conflict, and that's fine with me. We want Hercules, perfect or not, so it's not going to matter what the breeder says. Hercules met with the specialist yesterday, they said it isn't as severe as most cases, actually best case scenario for this condition, he needs more time to develop and in a couple of months have a look again for surgery. His heart & lungs are all good, he is healthy for his size, he just needs to catch up. Thanks guys :)

No, not only boiled chicken, he has kibble and some wet food as well, we mix it up as much as we can. The chicken just goes down the best without complications. :)

Hi guys, Thank you for all your replies, I really appreciate the feedback. We are going to the specialist tomorrow to see what they can do for Hercules, and how severe it is. I am yet to talk to the breeder, honestly I wouldn't mind the refund because it could go towards his surgery, but I wouldn't want to give him back or get another puppy in exchange, I chose him for a reason, and I am a sucker for the little ones. We have been boiling chicken breast and he seems to eat that a lot easier, less sneezing, less runny noses, overall more happy from what we have gathered. I think his diet will play a big part, and depending on what the specialists say tomorrow we will decide what's best for him, not for us. We are already in love with him and attached, so fingers crossed & positive thoughts! Thanks again :)

Hi, Just looking for some advice, we picked up our now 9 week old Shih Tzu pup last week. He was smaller than the rest of the litter and most likely to be the runt, which we knew. We understood that his breathing was a little heavy & he was congested but after a trip to the vet last night, we found that he has a case of Cleft Palate at the back of his mouth/throat. It took three attempts with a Torch to find it. Based off images of other cases, his doesn't seem as severe, the split is quite small in comparison. He is underweight but he seems to be fine for whats expected of his size and breathing circumstances. We are going to bottle feed him, and attempt different foods. We are waiting to here back from the vet to find out about surgery, but just wanted to see what the general opinion is about whats best for the pup. Most cases I have read, the pups are only days old & PTS, Hercules is already 9 weeks old and no one has picked up on it til now, he plays, eats(not enough but eats), sleeps and has a beautiful personality. Please help me and share your opinion and advice. Thanks.