health guarAntee
Each breed has its own particular hereditary problems and Labrador Retrievers are no exception. However, the risks for many of this breed’s significant health challenges are greatly reduced through Top Notch Silver Labs’ careful breeding practices, beginning with screening the parents of each litter well before the decision to breed them is made.
Our goal is to insure, to the best of our abilities, that every puppy from Top Notch Silver Labs has the greatest likelihood of living a long, healthy life – not one that needs extensive veterinary care, surgeries, medications, or special household accommodations, all of which can be costly and time consuming. Completing health clearances assists us in choosing the dogs that are the most physically sound for our breeding program. It gives us have the best chance of producing healthy puppies that will live happy lives in loving, forever homes. And, that is our ultimate goal!
Your Top Notch puppy has been selectively bred for excellent quality, health, soundness, intelligence and good temperament. We guarantee puppy’s health against any genetic or viral illness for 72 hours (three days) after purchase. We must have a statement from a licensed veterinarian verifying the illness. If the illness is life-threatening and will not recover, the puppy must be put to sleep by a veterinarian. We will replace the puppy with another puppy of same value.
Top Notch Silver Labs continues to research and guard our breeding program against as many health issues as possible. While there are some conditions over which a responsible breeder has some control, i.e. adequate hips and eyes, for some of these issues (such as allergies, cardiac problems, epilepsy, incorrect bites), there is not a genetic marker or data base of affected or producing Labradors.
As well, some health issues are significantly impacted by conditions in the dog’s environment or there is only a suspected genetic basis but no clear-cut genetic pattern. For example, elbow problems do not have a clear genetic basis and elbow x-rays are not always easy to read, even for the OFA. As well, elbow problems may be due to minor puppy injuries, hard play or running, jumping off steps or furniture, leaping on unstable surfaces, etc., all of which may appear harmless, but are not at this early stage of development.
The issues mentioned above, without clear-cut genetic basis and a test and/or database for the condition or those significantly affected by environmental factors, cannot be covered by Top Notch Silver Labs’ health guarantee. Even so, for those items that we do not cover, we would under nearly all circumstances accept return of the dog, without compensation.
Our general health guarantee is for 72 hours (or three business days) from the date of delivery, meaning that you are guaranteed to receive a healthy puppy.