Fungus, What would you do!?

[Ashleigh]

It has come to my attention that when buying animals, how often do people tell a buyer that their herd or some of the animals within their herd was infected with fungus at some point? Or they do not disclose the information to you about the possibility of an animal which you want to buy might had been an infected one with fungus? Also if this happens and you purchase a supposedly healthy animal that was checked over by a vet and you get it home, and shortly after shows signs of fungus that can spread to other herd members? Shouldn't most vets ask fungus related questions or health issues piror to issuing a health certificate for a "healthy animal"?
Should the seller take full responsibility of the situation since they themselves were aware of the outbreak within their own herd and offer to pay for the vet fees and other expenses to treat the original animal and any others that it had infected untill cured? Or should the vet be at fault for letting an animal be shipped with a health certificate from a place where fungus had been broken out?

So what are your thoughts and views on a situation like this?
-Ashleigh

[kriskitty22]

I have never taken a chin to the vet with fungus. I purchased two chins from Mary Ann Holden that ended up with fungus, but she told me about it before I took them. She also told me what over the counter treatments I could use. However, I think that the breeder does have an obligation to disclose the possibility of fungs. But, I don't really think that fungus is that serious of a problem to warrant vet compensation. But thats just my opinion. I don't know if there is a fungus that is life threatning?

[JBBinTex]

I have a questiong and it may be stupid, but I am a newbie so be patient with me. Wouldn't fungus show up during quarantine? I mean if you quarantine, wouldn't you have some clue during that time that the chinchilla had it and then not introduce it to your herd till cured? Just wondering.

On a ethical note, if I was a breeder (which I'm not), I would tell buyers if there had been fungus recently. I am just brutally honest anyway...gets me in trouble all the time. Although, I am not sure what specific time frame would count as recently. I guess it would depend on how bad the outbreak was and how long it took to treat. I have read some horror stories on fungus. I think if the buyers were chin people then they would understand. If they freaked out, I don't know if I would want to sell to them in the first place. To me this would be a sign that maybe they needed to do a little more research into health issues and may not be totally prepared to deal with chin ownership. Just my opinion, but then I am a newbie....so not sure what it is worth...lol

[kriskitty22]

I had my white mosaic female in quarantine for 3 weeks, checked her all over, found no fungus. After introducing her to my other two chins, they all had fungus within the month. Grrr...She had her fungus in a very inconspicuous area, where the fur had to be pulled back behind the ear in order to see it. However, it must have been very small, if I didn't catch it when I checked her over. Anyway, my point being...it's possible to miss a fungus...

[daistarya]

I think that the vet issuing a health cert would be legally responsible for the situation if the fungus was present at the time of inspection.

If the fungus was recently aquired before inspection, then there would need to be proof that the animal was infected while in the care of the breeder. If proof could be obtained then the breeder is resp to a degree based on the severity of the situation.

As to how much or how little compensation there should be is tough to say. Fungus gets worse with time and spreads, so it is also the new owners responsibilty to detect the problem asap.

I think its a tough call. Every situation is different and there are factors that can drastically change who is responsible for the cost of treatment.

[dawn]

I say good luck trying to get a breeder to pay for any treatment on a chin that was sold with a problem-they will almost always say "not in my herd or I have never had that problem". JMOP

[Jessica21]

If people were to quarantine properly this wouldnt be an issue. I quarantine any new chin for 6-8 weeks and havent had an outbreak in my herd yet! I did have a chin that brought in ringworm but it never spread to the rest of my herd because he was kept in a seperate room in isolation and I disinfected the room several times a day and doused myself whenever I entered or left the room. It means I cant use them in my breeding program for a couple of months but the peace of mind is well worth it. Breeders that have a fur fungus outbreak shouldnt be selling chins until 4-6 weeks minimum (but 8-12 weeks is better!) after the fur starts to grow back in! This is how it spreads in the first place :rolleyes: If you dont quarantine properly and your herd is infected you only have yourself to blame in my opinion!

[FurryFriends]

Fungus isn't too big of deal, treat it and be done with it. It's a pain, but not life threatening. I worry about fungus occuring more during the rainy season around here.
I was told by a rancher a couple years back that fungal spores can come in on anything...Hay, shavings, ect. even stress can make it crop up. A couple years back I had a couple cases of fungus sprout up because my feed store was keeping the bags of shavings outside instead of in their building. It was winter and moisture was seeping into the bags. By the time I realized what was going on with their shavings and storage, I already had a couple cases of fungus. After that, I always make sure to buy my supplies from feed stores that keep everything inside their buildings.
I would tell a potential buyer if something was going on like fungus. I use tinactin in my dust as a preventative measure.

[foxbite2]

When I bought my mosaic the breeder was totally upfront about a fungus in her herd. Only (I think) 2 chins ended up with the fungus, (and my breeder had a large herd), one of the chins with the fungus was my little mosaic.... The breeder was very respectable.. she held onto the chin until she knew the problem was contained and my little girl was being treated... it was hard waiting for Bailey to come home, but when she finally arrived.. her fur was mostly grown in and the breeder also sent her home with special dust to continue treatment (as a precaution). I would not have expected my breeder to pay for any vet visits or treatment. The chin was my responsibility once I took her home and I knew her history, I could have backed out of the sale, but I didn't see the need. If the chin fungus had come back I would have lived with it.. and dealt with it.

[bear]

I'd expect the breeder to be honest about past problems. And I'd expect the breeder to keep the animal until it's fully recovered. But I wouldn't expect the breeder to take on medical costs. Everybody knows that the stress of going to a new home can produce fungus, wet poos, low appetite, weight loss, and all sorts of other symptoms in chins... whether the chin was healthy as a horse its whole life, or had a bout of something-or-other at some point.

As they say, it's a small world. MCBA and ECBC members promise not to misrepresent an animal, among other things. Not saying it doesn't happen, but it shouldn't.