Puppy health certificates contain important information about the health history of a particular animal.
When you purchase a puppy from a breeder or a pet store, the seller is required by law in most states to present you with a puppy health certificate. The certificate is used to disclose any known health problems and detail the vaccinations the puppy has received and any medical procedures it might have undergone. Puppy health certificate information must also be shipped along with any shipped puppies, both domestically and internationally.
Puppy Health Certificate Information
In addition to listing vaccinations and known health conditions, known congenital and hereditary defects must also be documented on the puppy health certificate by the seller to ensure that the buyer is making an informed purchase.
Puppy Lemon Law States
Several states have enacted puppy lemon laws, designed to protect puppy buyers from unscrupulous sellers and backyard breeders who attempt to sell sick, diseased, or defective animals. While the terms of these laws vary by state, in general, sellers have a certain amount of time to provide a health certificate to the buyer of a puppy. If they do not provide the certificate within the required time period, or if it later discovered that information on the certificate is inaccurate or falsified, the buyer is usually entitled to a new puppy, or a refund.
Shipping Puppies
Puppies that are old enough to receive the rabies vaccination must be accompanied by proof that they have been vaccinated, as well as a certificate of health from the vet. This can either be separate from, or part of the puppy health certificate.
Stores vs. Breeders
When it comes to ensuring that the puppy you purchase is healthy, keep in mind that both stores and breeders have been known to try to cut corners in an effort to sell puppies quickly, particularly if the breeder that you are dealing with is not a professional. Don't be afraid to ask questions: Ask the store where their puppies come from, and ask the breeder if you can meet the parents of the puppy.
Considerations
Acquiring a puppy with a known health history is important, and purchasing from a reputable breeder or a pet store is usually the best way to make sure that you can find the particular breed that you are interested in. If the breed of the puppy is not an important consideration, think about adopting or rescuing a mixed-breed puppy instead. This way, you will receive a puppy with a documented health and vaccination history, and will be saving a life at the same time.
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