memrabull

Thanks everyone for your input......decided to bite the bullet and try the blue backed provided in the link....worth giving it a go :D

Does the rubber disintegrate? I always buy new bedding for each new litter, so if it only lasts out one litter before wearing down, that would suit me ok...... It does, when I take mine out of the wash the rubber is all through the plush pile reminds me of grated cheese Thanks......that solves that question....no rubber backed for me :)

I have thought of doing that, but our mums are usually super restless/klutzy so I figured they would probably be forever messing up the join and I would be constantly trying to flatten it back out.....I have the bedding go under each side of their box with about 30cm spare all round and that is the only way to keep their bed 'intact' :)

Does the rubber disintegrate? I always buy new bedding for each new litter, so if it only lasts out one litter before wearing down, that would suit me ok......

Thanks for the link....is this as good as vet bed?....as in, is it as thick a pile and as absorbent as the green backed bedding? It is the one I am having the fluff shedding problem with, not as good as the old soft backed stuff but I don't like green or rubber backed either........................some people are hard to please LOL Just needs heaps of washing and whacking!! Does putting it in the dryer help with the fluff problem? Is the pile as thick and does it absorb as well as the backed vet bed, or is it worth the multiple hot washes/dryers and still use the green backed instead? I have heard the rubber backed is softer but the rubber disintegrates (mind you, I do get a bit of green stuff on the floor and in the dryer from the green back but it never really worries me) so I have never tried it.

Thanks for the link....is this as good as vet bed?....as in, is it as thick a pile and as absorbent as the green backed bedding?

Hi, When I first started using Vet bed a number of years ago, I was able to get it without any green or rubber backing.......Does anyone know if you can still buy it? Our whelping boxes are quite large, so I need to buy the vet bed in pieces of 150x150cm and to get this into the washing machine is quite a chore (before I use it, I run it through the hottest wash twice then through the drier which helps to soften it up). Without the greenback, it was so much easier! I haven't tried the rubber backed yet as I figured it would be just as bulky? I love the vet bed and I wouldn't use anything else for my puppies, but I either need to get the unbacked bedding or a bigger washing machine :)

I have heard about a product called CellFood and was wondering if any DOLs use it for their dogs?

Thanks for that......I think I have been definitely convinced that 8 weeks is better for their first vaccination......& no more than a C3. I always thought I was doing the right thing by giving them the C4 or C5, but the more I read the more I am convinced that, especially for the first shot, less is better.

When you find this out can you please tell me the secret??? We always tell people up here to never take their pup outside their property until after their 3rd vaccine. Even people that have followed this advice to a T have ended up with a pup with parvo. Its a horrible virus, you have no idea where it is and when it will strike. You can take every single possible precaution and still end up with infections. Doesn't give us Dog Lovers much peace of mind does it......it's like a monster lurking in the dark, just waiting to pounce on poor innocent dogs. Do you find that the larger breeds are hit any harder than other types of breeds. The more research I have done (including ringing & emailing vets in Australia & overseas), the more I am being told that the Giant breeds are more susceptible to Parvo.....not necessarily at more of a risk catching it (although some think this also), but much more susceptible of dying from it. What has been your experience? My personal experience has been its all random. Off the top of my head the breeds which have died from parvo this year in our clinic are a Shar Pei (x2), Mastiff X, Chihuahua X, and a couple of mixed breed camp dogs. We have treated a very wide range of breeds for parvo - it doesnt seem like any particular breed is more susceptible. What is consistant though in all our cases is either 1. owners have taken their dogs out walking before their final vaccine - this is the biggest one 2. the dogs were not vaccinated as pups at all (my oldest parvo case was 8 years old) 3. the owners have recently moved into a new house (very common up here - being a mining town) and then got a new pup - in these cases there was probably a pup with parvo there before them. Thanks....... Now another question for you, & I know you probably don't definitely know, but in your experience, is Logan immune to Parvo now, or should I be worried he may contract it again if I take him outside into our Virkoned yard?? I have no doubt that he definitely had Parvo, but it was definitely a lot milder for him (reminds me, where he had his vaccination there is still a lump......could this mean that the vaccination didn't go through his system, therefore his immunity wasn't compromised as much as the other babies??). This one is really worrying to me......it is unhealthy for him to stay inside 24/7, but is it risky for him to go outside into our yard for some playtime & sunshine?? I really appreciate your imput, & you have obviously dealt with Parvo a lot......thanks for answering my questions.

When you find this out can you please tell me the secret??? We always tell people up here to never take their pup outside their property until after their 3rd vaccine. Even people that have followed this advice to a T have ended up with a pup with parvo. Its a horrible virus, you have no idea where it is and when it will strike. You can take every single possible precaution and still end up with infections. Doesn't give us Dog Lovers much peace of mind does it......it's like a monster lurking in the dark, just waiting to pounce on poor innocent dogs. Do you find that the larger breeds are hit any harder than other types of breeds. The more research I have done (including ringing & emailing vets in Australia & overseas), the more I am being told that the Giant breeds are more susceptible to Parvo.....not necessarily at more of a risk catching it (although some think this also), but much more susceptible of dying from it. What has been your experience?

Hi......Thank you so much for your answer......it has a double effect for me..... Firstly, it seems as if I have been doing things pretty much the 'right' way with my babies, so helps to put my mind at ease that I raised them the best way I could........but secondly.......it kind of makes me feel pretty isolated & questioning that age old question "Why Me!!"......not that I would want anyone else to go through it, but why did it have to hit my gorgeous babies?? Thanks again

Great question.......I would definitely love to know also!!!

Sorry.....another thing....... Even though I am doing everything to 'kill' the Parvo at our place........what stops it being 'dragged' in here again at a later date?? Are we to always use a footbath just to enter our property?? If Parvo is so prevalant, how are we to avoid it other than what we have already been doing as responsible dog owners - vaccinations, etc, etc? It is soooo frustrating to see so many dogs roaming the streets, never getting sick or injured, and we love & care for our dogs, & this happens. Sorry.......I am obviously getting in a frustrated & negative mood (which in itself is frustrating......I am usually a very Positive person!!)

I have been worrying about this all day.........and researching it, & I am more confused then ever!!! At what age does everybody have their puppies first vaccination & then what age do they let their puppies go?? Thanks for your reply Deb.....and if I am looking at the right part, yes, the vaccines are from the same batch. I have always let our babies go at 8-9 weeks old - usually 9 weeks as I used to get their first vaccination at 7 weeks, then waited 2 weeks before they were allowed to go to their new homes - but this time, listened to the vets regarding the new vaccination protocol starting at 6 weeks old. We had also recently bought in a new boy to be a future stud dog, & he was only 8 weeks old when we got him & he had been vaccinated at 6 weeks old. This is through a breeder who has been breeding Bullmastiffs for more than 20 years, and has been showing dogs for over 35 years, is a ANKC Champ Judge & has bred many, many, many litters over the years. I thought this was a pretty standard protocol, vaccinate at 6 weeks (I thought I was the odd one out usually doing them at 7 weeks old) & let them go to their new homes at 8 weeks old. BUT, I am definitely a person who wants to know other breeder's opinions & what has worked for them, especially now after this tragedy has happened! Also, does everyone let their puppies run in an outside pen? or are they kept inside until they leave for their new homes. I usually have my babies inside until they are 4 - 5 weeks old (when they start to escape from their whelping box) in a sunlit room, then they progress to their puppy pen - a separate yard just for our babies - with a large attached room. I couldn't imagine our babies not being able to run around outside, as they absolutely love it & I am sure it couldn't be healthy for them to stay inside?? This Parvo has definitely knocked me for a six, & I think the reality of what has happened is really clicking in now - I'm on a huge emotional rollercoaster & am always on the verge of bawling......& if you knew me, you would know that I don't show my emotions very often! If you are a breeder & have had something like this happen to you, I would REALLY, REALLY love to hear from you, as though I have received so much support from you all (and a BIG thankyou for that), nobody has said if they have lost a litter from Parvo........am I the only one?? How does a breeder come back from this & take the enormous risk of this happening again??