Sick Puppy
purchased a puppy from Todd on 10/24/26 in the evening. Approximately 65 hours after bringing him home, he was diagnosed with pneumonia. Later that week, PCR testing confirmed canine distemper virus and canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV-2).
His paw pads had a thickened, leathery appearance consistent with what is described in dogs affected by distemper. I have photographs documenting the appearance of his paw pads.
Todd had the nerve to tell me that he did not know if the dog got sick during the 65 hours he was in my possession, so he wasn't responsible for any of the $12,000 worth of veterinary bills.
My understanding of California's Puppy Lemon Law is that there are specific protections for buyers, including reimbursement of veterinary expenses up to the purchase price under certain circumstances.
I will say that Todd refunded me the money for the puppy. I had to return the puppy, and my heart is broken. The almost 2 weeks of watching this puppy suffer, multiple days in an oxygen crate at the emergency vet, rapid breathing, having to keep a puppy quiet and not able to play just about ripped my heart out. Not to mention the time off work needed to provide constant care on the days when he wasnt in the er.... Again, heartbreaking. This poor puppy.
What makes this even more heartbreaking is understanding the long-term consequences of canine distemper. Dogs that survive can still suffer permanent neurological damage, including muscle twitching, seizures, impaired coordination, weakness, and even paralysis. Neurological symptoms can develop weeks or months after the initial illness. Distemper can also cause permanent damage to developing teeth and thickening of the paw pads and nose. Not every dog develops these complications, but the risks are very real.
Look up the incubation period of distemper in dogs and make your own decision as to whether or not this puppy was infected before he came home with me. A pneumonia diagnosis approximately 65 hours after purchase, followed by PCR-confirmed canine distemper and canine adenovirus type 2, raises serious questions about when the infection occurred.
I would also encourage anyone considering purchasing a puppy from Todd Howard to look him up through a Yahoo search, not just rely on the Google and Yelp reviews. I sure wish I had done this. Look beyond the positive reviews. You will find older online consumer complaints and accounts from other buyers that paint a very different picture. Read them and make your own decision.
Again, my heart is absolutely broken. I fell in love with this puppy, and having to return him because of this illness is something I will never forget. I would never want another family to go through what we have.