Parvo In Vic?

[GoldD]

I think you might be right, I can never remember all my childhood pups being kept at home waiting for vaccinations - we do worry more.

All my dogs since I have grown up have been rescue dogs and I have never had an 8wo pup to stress over. But I must also say too that I would never have imagined in my wildest dreams that a pup couldn't go to the beach or be as restricted as they are. When you pay for a puppy and fall totally in love with them the thought of anything happening to them is awful. Paranoid I may be but at least I know I have done all I can to keep him well and healthy during the 8-16 week period. He is happy, well socialised and extremely laid back, and on the way to be well trained (thanks Cosmolo).

Edited December 19, 2007 by GoldD

[leopuppy04]

What I know - Parvo can stay in an area for around 7 years in ideal conditions. Parvo is killed off in direct sunlight and extreme head (so the middle of a soccer oval that is exposed to sun is unlikely to carry parvo).

Exercise caution (stay away from the PPS with the outbreak), but please still socialise your pup in one way or another.

Do you have an older dog at the moment? If yes, you do know it could bring the Parvo back to the puppy...... something a lot of people forget.

Take them out, socialise them, but just be careful, and avoid shady areas

[Guest Tess32]

Yep I have two older dogs.... They have been to the beach last week and just neighbourhood walks. I guess it should be ok to take my other two dogs around the block until Noah has final vaccinations?

What about concrete?

[GoldD]

Concrete is where our vet recommended - clean concrete....

Rain can wash away the virus so you are pretty safe on that the vet said. Keep an eye out for poo on the sidewalk and pick him up....just stay on the lookout. Don't let him wander onto the naturestip and keep away from trees and typical leg lifting areas (corners of fences etc).

All above came from my vet nurse in puppy class....

Pups don't like much exercise so a dawdle up and dowm your street for 5-10 mins usually is enough just to get him used to being on leash.

Hope that helps....

[leopuppy04]

Yep I have two older dogs.... They have been to the beach last week and just neighbourhood walks. I guess it should be ok to take my other two dogs around the block until Noah has final vaccinations?

What about concrete?

What I would do until your pup has it's final vaccinations is to take him around the main street shops or something simliar. The way I look at it is that they can get puppy social through (organised) puppy dates or PPS. Human/ weird sounds/ environmental social - what better place than the main streets of shops etc. And these are concrete that (if outside cafe's) are cleaned regularly! And think how many people will stop and ask to pat the puppy . When he is 16wks then you can venture to parks etc. That way - you are not missing out on critical social, yet still being cautious (given that you have grass in your yard so the pup won't be freaked by it ;))

As for your older dogs - on lead walks and off lead runs in open ovals (exposed to sun) away from other dogs would be pretty safe IMO

If you actually life *in* Frankston, i'd of course be more cautious - perhaps driving your adult dogs somewhere for a walk and driving pup somewhere for it's excursions

[Toohey]

I wouldn't put a puppy down anywhere that unknown dogs have been, and that includes concrete footpaths. Concrete can only be safe if it is sealed and disinfected regularly.

The nursing home visits is a good idea. My pup did that every weekend and was the life of the party

There was a great thread here a while back about the many safe ways a pup can be socialised - will see if I can find it later. It's more about them experiencing different sights, sounds, smells, people (including kids), car rides, different surfaces.... if you have freinds with vaccinated dogs, you could take the pup to visit in their yard.

I was super paranoid as well. I had bleach soaked bath mats laid down at all the house entrances for people to wipe their feet on. If I took my older dogs out for a walk, they got they feet washed with disinfectant before they were allowed to mix with the pup again!

How's this for super paranoia? I have even considered getting some bleach soaked foam rubber to lay down at the front of the driveway for the car tyres to roll over, everytime I drive in (this is for when I have my litter) Bit of overkill???? Other breeders laugh at me when I say that.

If you consider that many breeders run grooming salons and boarding kennels on their properties........

I guess it boils down to just using common sense.

Edited December 19, 2007 by Toohey

[KittyCat]

Congrats Tess on your new baby... Noah is an absolute sweety

Jorja was fully vaccinated when we brought her home at 14 weeks from the shelter. So i didn't hesitate taking her out at all.

For the first few weeks I carried her everywhere mainly because she was my lil baby and she was a terror on the lead

I took her to a vet puppy school about two/three weeks after she came home. She loved it and benefitted from it emensly. She went in there a growly little pup and 4 weeks later came out a little angel.

[helen]

In the past I have been taking my pups out prior to 12 weeks for socialisation, but in safe conditions.

The last litter one of the new owners was attending the Patricia O'Connell seminar so I kept her for another week or two. I took the pup to the supermarket and stood outside the doors with her in my arms and she met a countless number of people. This was a great way to socialise with many different people without having them on the ground. I also took her to the training club but it is not a public area and all dogs there are vaccinated.

This time around I am a bit more paranoid though, have a look at this thread http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=121662

Edited December 22, 2007 by helen

[Guest Tess32]

Thanks. Think I will also just do the "hold in arms" and get people to have a pat of him.

btw Helen there is a lovely young Brittany down my street, about 5 months old maybe. Very cute :rolleyes:

[alanglen]

Parvo confrmed in cases in the last month in Frankston, Narre Warren, Hastings, Bayside and Cranbourne (and that's only what I know of!). Parvo is alive and rife at this time of year. Very wise to be very careful.

[Animal House]

Congrats on your new boy Tess. :cool:

Parvo is such a horrible disease, I was paranoid too and carried Minty (not the most lightweight Staffy) everywhere as a puppy too. Took her to the train station, local school (no patting allowed, just to hear the noises etc) to the shopping centre, drives isn the car, sat at outdoor cafe's with her on my lap etc etc.

I was sooo glad to be able to let her walk once she was fully vaccinated, but I was still careful for a couple of weeks after that, avoided lots of high dog traffic parks etc.

I wonder how owners of large breed pups cope? Thinking about St. B's, Newf, Bull Mastiffs etc. Wouldnt want to lug one of them around for too long.

[chooky]

Have there been any known cases of Parvo in VIC lately?

I get my new pup on the 30th and still not sure what places to avoid when I take him out for socialisation.

ETA - also how safe are puppy schools at vets?

Hi

I just lost my pup to parvo on christmas eve. She was due for her injection and I let it ride 1 week thinking she was safe in our backyard. We are in Melton in the western suburbs in Melb.

Zoe had never been out of our backyard or near any other dogs, the vet said that birds can carry the disease or it can be carried on your shoes, I am not trying to scare you but please be careful as it is a truely horrible disease.

[Ahona]

So so sorry Chooky, massive hugs to you and your family

Thank you for sharing your story as well, as someone who is getting a goldie pup soon, it showed me what to be careful of.