Health Guarantee

01What is guaranteed

At the time of handoff, the seller guarantees that the puppy is:

1. free of clinically apparent contagious illness;
2. free of any life-threatening congenital defect known to the seller or reasonably detectable on examination;
3. free of clinically significant parasite burden.

This guarantee runs from handoff and is conditional on the independent veterinary examination described below.

02The 72-hour independent examination

The buyer must have the puppy examined by a licensed veterinarian of the buyer's own choosing, at the buyer's own cost, within 72 hours of collection or delivery.

This is a condition, not a recommendation. It protects the buyer, because it produces independent evidence of the puppy's condition on arrival, and it protects the seller, because it fixes the point at which responsibility transfers.

Where the window would fall on a day when no practice is open, contact the seller in advance and agree an extension in writing.

03If the examination finds something

1. Notify the seller immediately — the same day the examination takes place.
2. Provide the veterinarian's written findings on practice letterhead, including the examination date and the practice's contact details.
3. The seller reviews the claim, ordinarily within 2–3 business days, and may contact the examining veterinarian directly with your consent.
4. Where the claim is accepted, the remedies in the refund policy apply and the choice between them is the buyer's.

Do not authorise non-emergency treatment or surgery for a claimable condition without contacting the seller first, unless withholding treatment would be unsafe. Emergency care always comes first; notify as soon as the animal is stable.

04Records provided

Each puppy travels with the vaccination and deworming records held for it, together with the recommended continuing schedule for the buyer's veterinarian. Records are per-puppy rather than per-litter.

AKC registration paperwork is included and handed over at the same time.

05What is not covered

This guarantee does not cover:

1. illness, injury or parasites acquired after handoff and unrelated to a condition present at handoff;
2. conditions caused or worsened by the buyer's diet, care, supervision, housing or training;
3. injury sustained during unsupervised time outdoors, or through escape from an insecure boundary;
4. normal breed characteristics: coat colour or pattern change with maturity, adult size within the breed range, minor bite variation, ear carriage;
5. conditions arising from the buyer's failure to follow veterinary advice, including vaccination schedules;
6. any condition where no independent examination took place within the 72-hour window;
7. consequential losses of any kind, including travel, boarding, time off work or emotional distress.

06Longer-term congenital cover

Many breeders offer a longer guarantee — commonly one or two years — against life-threatening congenital or hereditary defect, subject to a diagnosis by a licensed veterinarian and, frequently, a second opinion.

Whether such cover is offered here, for how long and on what terms, must be stated by MiniSchnauzerpups.

We extend this guarantee to one year against life-threatening congenital or hereditary defect, on the diagnosis of a licensed veterinarian and, where the finding is disputed, a second opinion at our cost. The remedies are the same as those in the refund policy.

07Breed-specific matters

Miniature Schnauzers have recognised breed predispositions, including raised blood lipids, pancreatitis, urinary stone formation, and certain hereditary eye conditions. A predisposition is not a defect and is not covered by this guarantee.

These matters are raised here because they affect lifelong care, particularly diet. Discuss them with your own veterinarian at the first examination.

08How to keep your cover

1. Attend the independent examination within 72 hours.
2. Follow the vaccination and parasite schedule your veterinarian sets.
3. Feed appropriately and maintain a healthy body condition.
4. Keep the puppy's records and your countersigned documents.
5. Report concerns in writing, early.