Our Comprehensive Health Guarantee
At Scottish Terrier Breeder California, we are committed to breeding healthy, well-adjusted Scottish Terrier puppies. Our health guarantee reflects our dedication to responsible breeding practices and our confidence in the quality of our puppies.
What's Covered
1. Genetic Health Guarantee (2 Years)
We guarantee that your Scottish Terrier puppy is free from life-threatening genetic defects for a period of two (2) years from the date of birth. This includes but is not limited to:
- Congenital heart defects
- Liver shunts
- Severe hip dysplasia
- Von Willebrand's Disease (if not disclosed)
- Other life-threatening hereditary conditions
2. Initial Health Guarantee (72 Hours)
We guarantee that your puppy is in good health at the time of delivery. You have 72 hours from the time of pickup or delivery to have your puppy examined by a licensed veterinarian. If the veterinarian finds a serious health issue that existed prior to delivery, you may:
- Return the puppy for a full refund (minus deposit), or
- Keep the puppy and receive reimbursement for reasonable veterinary expenses (up to the purchase price)
3. What We Provide
Every puppy comes with:
- Complete health records
- Current vaccinations appropriate for age
- Deworming treatments
- Veterinary health certificate
- Microchip registration
- AKC registration papers
- Written health guarantee document
Health Testing of Parent Dogs
We conduct comprehensive health testing on all our breeding dogs, including:
- Hip evaluations
- Eye examinations (CERF)
- Cardiac evaluations
- Von Willebrand's Disease testing
- Thyroid testing
- General health screenings
Health testing results for parent dogs are available upon request.
Your Responsibilities
To maintain the health guarantee, you must:
1. Veterinary Examination
- Have your puppy examined by a licensed veterinarian within 72 hours of delivery
- Maintain regular veterinary care throughout the guarantee period
- Keep all veterinary records and receipts
2. Vaccinations and Preventive Care
- Follow the recommended vaccination schedule
- Provide monthly heartworm and flea/tick prevention
- Maintain regular deworming as recommended by your veterinarian
3. Proper Care and Nutrition
- Feed high-quality dog food appropriate for your puppy's age
- Provide adequate exercise and socialization
- Maintain a safe living environment
- Keep your puppy at a healthy weight
4. Spay/Neuter Requirements (Pet Puppies)
- Pet puppies must be spayed or neutered by 18 months of age
- Proof of spay/neuter must be provided to receive full AKC registration
- Early spay/neuter (before 12 months) may void certain aspects of the health guarantee
Claim Process
If you believe your puppy has a condition covered by our health guarantee:
- Contact Us Immediately: Notify us as soon as you suspect a problem
- Veterinary Diagnosis: Obtain a written diagnosis from a licensed veterinarian
- Second Opinion: We may request a second opinion from a veterinarian of our choice (at our expense)
- Documentation: Provide all relevant medical records and test results
- Resolution: We will work with you to determine the appropriate resolution
Guarantee Options
If a covered genetic condition is diagnosed within the guarantee period, you may choose one of the following options:
- Option 1: Return the puppy for a replacement puppy from our next available litter (you keep the original puppy)
- Option 2: Return the puppy for a refund of the purchase price (minus deposit and delivery fees)
- Option 3: Keep the puppy and receive reimbursement for reasonable veterinary expenses (up to 50% of purchase price)
What's NOT Covered
This health guarantee does not cover:
- Conditions resulting from injury, accident, or abuse
- Parasites (worms, fleas, ticks, etc.) acquired after delivery
- Viral infections (parvo, distemper, etc.) contracted after delivery
- Conditions resulting from improper care, nutrition, or housing
- Conditions resulting from failure to follow veterinary recommendations
- Cherry eye, umbilical hernias, or other minor correctable conditions
- Allergies or skin conditions (unless severe and genetic)
- Scottie Cramp (a non-life-threatening condition specific to the breed)
- Conditions that develop after the guarantee period expires
- Veterinary expenses incurred without prior notification to us
Important Notes
- This guarantee is non-transferable and applies only to the original purchaser
- The guarantee is void if the puppy is bred before 2 years of age
- The guarantee is void if the puppy is sold, given away, or transferred to another party
- The guarantee is void if you fail to maintain proper veterinary care
- We reserve the right to request a necropsy in the event of death to confirm cause
- This guarantee is in addition to, not in place of, any rights you may have under state law
Lifetime Support
Beyond our formal health guarantee, we provide lifetime breeder support. We're always here to answer questions, provide guidance, and help you give your Scottish Terrier the best possible care. We consider our puppy families part of our extended family and are committed to supporting you throughout your dog's life.
Our Commitment to You
We stand behind every puppy we produce. Our health guarantee reflects our commitment to:
- Responsible breeding practices
- Comprehensive health testing
- Proper puppy care and socialization
- Transparency and honesty
- Long-term support for our puppy families
Questions?
If you have questions about our health guarantee or would like to discuss any aspect of it, please don't hesitate to contact us. We're happy to explain our policies and address any concerns you may have.