INFECTIOUS-DISEASES AND THE ANNULMENT OF THE SALE GUARANTEE DUE TO LATENT DEFECTS IN THE CANINE SPECIES

Since the law of 22nd June, 1989, the inscription of certain infectious diseases of the dog on the list of latent defects which cause the annulment of a sale guarantee has forced veterinary surgeons to adapt their professional conduct to these new requirements, especially during a visit to buy an animal. The author recalls the legal basis for the annulment of a sale guarantee. He then goes on to indicate, when they are present within the legal delay, the criteria that cause suspicion of one of the diseases and the methods used for a diagnosis of confirmation. Using this information the samples which must be taken from the living animal or from the carcass by the veterinary surgeon are described. The veterinary surgeon who performs the visit to buy an animal has two major obligations: to establish whether the suspicion is warranted and to take the appropriate measures to prevent a degradation of the situation which will allow a diagnosis of confirmation at a later date. The last part of the article describes the practical procedural methods of action to guarantee against a latent defect.