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Puppy looks thin after deposit. Should I get a vet check before buying?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Male | unneutered | 1 month and 6 days old | 5 lbs

We paid a deposit for a mini goldendoodle, the breeders shared the attached picture of them feeding yesterday, ours is the thin one on the left, they took the photo down 5 minutes later, now we are concerned as they obviously thought it looked bad. Should be insist on a visit to a vets before committing further?

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2 Answers

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Jeffrey Milner

Veterinarian

Published on June 4th, 2017

I don't think I would be concerned about anything based on a single picture. The picture could have been taken down for a variety of reasons. If you are even remotely concerned about the puppy's health though, I would think it is a great idea to have it vet-checked prior to a purchase. Some breeders have refund policies if the puppy turns out to be unhealthy within the first few weeks of purchase. These breeders that have these types of a policies are typically the most reputable ones.

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    Answered By Dr. Massimo Orioles, DVM, Cert AVP, MRCVS

    Veterinarian

    Published on

    Yes I would insist. If everything is all right, I cannot see any reason why they would say no. He definitively looks much thinner from the picture, and that could be related to some congenital diseases. Please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.

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