Vets4Pets Best Start In Life questions

Midnight_Tboy

Hi all,

So after viewing, tomorrow or wednesday, we will be taking home a lovely 8 week old yellow labrador.

I was informed it had been microchipped, but still needs its first vaccinations

I'm considering taking out the 2 offers with Vets4Pets. The Vac4Life, but also the "Best Start in Life" pack, which is £49 with the PetsAtHome VIP thing I signed up for today.

I've rang up to see if I can just call in, but have to book an appointment (no problem there)

I'm wondering a few things however, mainly with regards to the "Best Start In Life"

1. It says "First vaccination course". Course to me implies potentially more than one jab, and from my understanding, they should get 1st at around 6-8 weeks, and then at 10-14 weeks the 2nd part. However, when I click on the Conditions of the Best Start In Life it says "a. Initial primary vaccination"

2. The "4 week free insurance"(on request), is it automatically applied at his first appointment during getting the initial vaccinations? It says "available on request following a health check at a vaccination, microchip, neutering or other surgery appointment.". It doesn't actually say they get a "health check" within the Best Start In Life bundle as far as I can see - so would that mean they then try and charge a hidden extra in order to get the insurance

3. Also regarding the "4 weeks free insurance" (as this is to cover the gap in me arranging insurance), does this involve me signing up to any continuing insurance plan where I'll be charged if I forgot to cancel, or will it auto expire? (I plan to take insurance out anyway over the coming days)

Many thanks, it's been a long time since owning a dog (about 12 years since the last one passed away, I'm excited but nervous about the new adventure with a pup at the same time

Red-Squirrel_2

The breeder should have had the first set of vaccinations done.

Where did you find the breeder? Are you certain they are ethical and reputable?

Midnight_Tboy

I found them on pets4homes (yes I know - can be a dodgy site)

I did plenty searching around on there, and I was genuinely shocked at just how many puppy farms were immediately obvious, even reported a few (multiple listings, different names and numbers, just slightly different photos), who also when tried contacting, managed to find out they're on a "traveller community" site (but giving a postcode around a mile away)

The person has said they are microchipped, but did say they will still need that first vaccination doing. He is not KC registered, though the parents are, (so presuming endorsed) and I'm sure if it was the vaccine would of likely been done, but my searches did seem to be a common result of no first vaccinations when i searched on it. It seems some breeders don't unless they plan on having for 9weeks+.

I've been over, seen them with their mother (though as they're 8 weeks now she is trying to keep the mother apart a bit to reduce them taking milk as they've been weaned onto "Skinner's Field & Trial Puppy Food" (which I've ordered the same of to reduce chance of any upset tummies)

I'd be lying if I said I had zero reservations about paying relatively large amounts of money for any dog to any breeder, but things do seem ok, but obv want to make sure I get the vaccines sorted correctly. I will of course also be asking (when getting the Best Start package) for them to check to ensure there is indeed a microchip

Presumably, I will be able to have the existing chip read, and then confirm if it matches the number given etc

Red-Squirrel_2

Hmm, Pets4Homes is not a good place to get a puppy. At all.

Have you seen the KC registrations for the parents? Does the breeder own both parents? That's not always a good sign. If both parents are registered what reason has the breeder given for not registering the pups?

What questions did the breeder ask you?

donnac2558

Sorry but sounds so dodgy.


I have a friend with Kerry Blue Terriers, she only bred one litter but had to register the litter with KC. It is then up to the new owner to register the puppy with them.



She got the puppies microchipped and had to get them their first vaccinations at the same time. In fact, she got them done with second vaccinations before letting them go at 12 weeks.



Recently a documentary on the puppy trade. Nice couple lovely house all looked well, but all their puppies bred elsewhere at a puppy farm with false documents. Oh and showing a !!!!! that was not the puppies mother is well-known trick but saying it is.

suki1964

The only safe way of finding a reputable breeder imo is to go through the breed club

If your pup is from KC registered parents there is no reason for the "breeder" to have not had the litter registered

You are paying big money for something that isn't what it seems

Walk away

sheramber

It costs the breeder to register the pups and many people wanting a pet are not interested in KC registration.

However, you should see the hip scores of the parents. Low scores are not a guarantee that your pup will not have bad hips but high scores or no scores would raise alarm bells.

You must be given the microchip registration papers which the breeder has to sign for the change of ownership.

I do not vaccinate my puppies until after 12 weeks old ( my personal choice) so would not be concerned that the first had not been done at 8 weeks.
Also, another vet may not use the same vaccine so he would have to start from scratch again.


I would expect the 'primary vaccination' to be both injections as it is one course. Your vet practice would be able to confirm that.

Vaccination includes a health check so you would be covered for that and in the category' another surgery visit'. In other words you cannot just go into the surgery and request the cover. You need a vet appointment for something.

If you are unsure about what you get ask the vet practice who will be able to explain it fully.


Be aware that with the 4 weeks free insurance anything that occurs during that period will be covered with a new policy from the same company. However, if you change to a different company it will be excluded as a pre existing condition.

There is an exclusion period for a new policy , often 14-21 days- so you need to make sure you have a new policy in force for that period before the free one runs out or your pup will not be covered for a time. That is not a problem if you continue with Petplan, who are a very reputable company, as you are continuing the same policy.

Finally, enjoy your pup. It is a shock to the system just how much work a pup causes but they are not pups for long.

Merlin's_Beard

Initial primary vaccination I would take to be the initial primary vaccination course - one vaccination to a puppy doesn't really do much so it's a bit pointless to offer it.

The "4 week free insurance" - every animal getting a vaccination needs a health check to make sure it's healthy and able to get the vaccination. So there'll be a health check included. But you may have to activate it yourself on the website so double check that. If it's like most free four week insurances, they don't auto-carry on, they just send you quotes.

Some breeders don't get the first vaccination because it can cause hassle if the new owner's vets stock a different brand of vaccine. Some breeders give the first vaccine because they want the puppy protected ASAP. Both have a point, neither approach is wrong.

Some reasons that a breeder might not register puppies belonging to two KC registered parents:

- haven't had the parents undergo the relevant health checks (for labrador retrievers this is: mandatory - BVA/KC hip scoring and eye testing. strongly recommended: BVA/KC elbow scoring and prcd-PRA DNA test. and there's four optional DNA tests)

- mum has had four litters before - for welfare/puppy farming reasons, the fifth litter and above are automatically banned.

- mum was under 1 year at time of mating, or over 8 at time of whelping (welfare of mum)

- mum has had 2 x C-sections with previous litters (welfare of mum)

- parents are father/daughter, mother/son or brother/sister (welfare of puppies and breed in general)