Is it safe to buy a puppy online without any health records?

Theoretically you may have endangered him. Practically, however, it is unlikely that he picked up any disease. I do not think it is advisable to bring your dog to a pet store, no matter what vaccination status or age, as you never know whether the dogs brought to the store are all healthy. It would be very easy to pick up kennel cough, a highly contagious upper respiratory disease. You do not have to be paranoid, but caution never hurt.

Hi Lou! Yes, you are correct that there is a concern about getting a puppy from parents who are siblings, even half siblings. This increasing the risk of the dog having recessive genes expressed which can adversely affect their health. Siblings should never be bred to each other, and a responsible breeder would never allow that to happen. In my opinion, I would not get a puppy from this litter, and instead find a breeder who does not allow siblings to be bred to each other. Also make sure the breeder does health tests on the sire and dam to make sure that genetic diseases which are common in this breed of dog are not present, thus making the puppies as healthy as possible. Good luck, I hope this helps!

They are likely safe, however it is difficult to say definitively. If the vaccines are not stored properly, they will be ineffective leaving your pet open to infection. When vaccines are shipped to a veterinary clinic from a supplier or manufacturer, they are shipped and stored under refrigeration properly until use. Furthermore, depending on sales, the vaccines in feed stores may be at or past their expiration date which may also affect efficacy. Lastly, it is always recommended to have your vet examine your pet prior to vaccination to ensure good health and proper administration of vaccines. A sick pet should never be vaccinated.

Since it is a "new" pup, he should be examined by your veterinarian to confirm good health or to diagnose and treat any preexisting conditions. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. If you have no record of any vaccinations, Finn should be vaccinated by your veterinarian to be safe. You can also discuss flea and parasite prevention with the vet.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding your puppy. It would be safest to bathe him at home until he is fully vaccinated. This would limit his risk of acquiring any infectious diseases. If you really want to take him, then I recommend carrying him into the facility. Place him in the tub, bathe him and then carry him out of the store. Do not allow him to interact with other dogs or go to the bathroom outside the store where other dogs go. Many infectious diseases are spread through the feces. I hope this information helps!

Yes, it is possible for 2 dogs from the same litter to mate and have puppies. However, this is greatly discouraged because the pups have a strong likelihood of having one or multiple birth defects. I would strongly recommend against mating siblings. If they are both intact you may need to keep them separated while the female is in heat to avoid an unwanted pregnancy. I hope this helps. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Best of luck.

While getting a new puppy can be an enriching experience for everyone, it does have the potential to cause behavior problems with the older established dog in the household. Here are a few great articles that outline the pros and cons and issues to consider. I hope you find them helpful! http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=2465. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1678.