12 October 2023 , 14:50
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A grandmother was left heartbroken after being advised to put down her new puppy just a day after she bought the animal.
Beverly Monteith paid £650 for her Dachshund puppy, Honey, from a breeder in Leeds, West Yorkshire. However, the next day, 10-week-old Honey started vomiting and was diagnosed with parvo, a highly contagious virus. The vets gave Honey a 25 per cent chance of survival and suggested it might be better to put the puppy down.
Despite the grim prognosis, Beverly decided to fight for Honey's life, even though the treatment would cost £2,000 with no guarantee of success. Beverly, 55, told Liverpool Echo: "They had to give her baby Calpol to bring her temperature down and she was in between the vets for a few days. She has finally pulled through but it was a hard slog.
"It has been terrible and a nightmare, I have not really left the house because I've been looking after her. I broke my heart crying at the vets, it was so scary and she was taken away from us within 24 hours of getting her."
Parvovirus (also known as canine parvovirus, CPV, or parvo) is a highly infectious disease that can be fatal. The virus attacks cells in a dog's intestines and stops them from being able to absorb vital nutrients. This means that a dog or puppy will become very weak and dehydrated.
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Lucky Honey is on the mend and Beverly, originally from Hunts Cross, Liverpool, is working on helping her gain weight. The grandmother-of-five is now issuing a warning to all those considering buying puppies this Christmas.
Beverly, who now lives in Nantwich, Cheshire said: "I wanted to raise awareness and there are some things I should have done before I bought Honey. Anyone getting a dog from a breeder should make sure to check the background of the puppies. Ask to see the parents of the dogs and make sure you go to registered and reputable breeders. I would not want to go through the heartbreak we have."
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