Parvo Rife In Melbourne?

[Joypod]

Hi All,

I've just come back from the vet where I was buying some Scourban for Gus (just to have in the cupboard) and was given a very stern warning about Parvo being rife in Melbourne at the moment.

Gus is going to be 14 weeks old on Tuesday and is due for his third vax in a couple of weeks time. I had planned on taking him into the city with me on Monday to have lunch with a friend but was told I shouldn't risk it by the vet.

He's also got his puppy pre-school at 4Paws in Diggers Rest tomorrow morning which I'm now in two minds about taking him to until he's had his third vax.

I just spoke to Trish from 4Paws and she said it would be safe but I'm just not sure if I want to take the risk now... especially if parvo is really prevalent at the moment. Apparently all the rain and hot weather we've had has brought it out of the soil. I'm really in two minds about taking him back until after his 3rd vax but also don't want him to miss out on the socialisation.

The vet also made me really worried about all the risks I've taken with him already! Knowing how important socialisation is between 8 and 12 weeks, we've visited all sorts of friends and family with other dogs (all healthy, vaccinated dogs... but still) and cats, we've gone for 10-15 minute walks around the block, we've been to the shops and we even went to the Vic Markets for a couple of hours. We also took him away to Harrietville with us for two nights and did short walks around town. I mean, if he was going to catch parvo, surely he would have by now.. or have I just been very, very lucky?

With that said, he had gastro (they tested for parvo) about a week and a half ago which landed him in the Werribee Vet Hospital over night on a drip so I know how scary it is to have a sick puppy and I don't ever want to be in that position again.

What would you guys do?

Thanks :rolleyes:

Vicki

This is the little man...

[gareth]

As you have already found, there are other bugs around that they can pick up.

I think you are taking too many risks and would keep him home till he is fully vaccinated. You NEED to be paranoid!!

[Ahona]

Hi Vicki

I have personally had many chats with knowledgeable breeder friends (hi GL and A2G!) and other experienced dog owners, because I will be bringing my dog home soon and he will just be 8 weeks.

All of the advice I have been given seems to boil down to the fact that I need to be careful of taking him to areas like dog parks etc, where there are large numbers of dogs of unknown vaccination status, but also that socialisation is really really important at this age. What you have been doing sounds fantastic and I will probably be doing that as well, taking him around parks (carried), to the shops, maybe Vic market and the Botanical gardens and to friends houses.

I will also be taking him to puppy preschool, because there has been no parvo at the vets where we are taking him (I checked yesterday) and no parvo this side of the city.

Apparently parvo can also be carried by birds and flies, into your backyard, so it seems to be a bit like an accident, you can do all you can to prevent it, but it may happen anyway.

Your dog is gorgeous :rolleyes:

a.

[Guest Tess32]

As someone who also just got a new pup and is paranoid about parvo, I wouldn't go to all the places you've been but I wouldn't put him in a bubble either. Don't take him to places you know are frequented by unknown dogs. Carry him to places like the market etc instead. Socialise him with dogs you know.

Re puppy school at vets, everyone has a different opinion. I decided against it because parvo is down this side of town.

[Staff'n'Toller]

I wouldn't be taking walks around the block or to dog parks/cafes just at the moment.

BUT I would still be going for play dates to other peoples houses with their vaccinated well-mannered dogs.

If you want to get him used to crowds and meeting other people I would just carry him.

He is about 95% covered 10 days after the second vaccination so we would expect a good level of immunity now.

We had one case of parvo in the inner east quite a few weeks ago and nothing since.

Be careful because Vets all have differing ideas of when puppy socialisation should start and there are still a lot more old school types around- I even know of a few younger Vets who advise do not take them out until 18wks etc. :rolleyes:

Mel.

[Dogsfevr]

taking him around parks (carried)

People need to remember parvo can be transmitted also by humans.You may carry the dog around the park but you can carry it on your shoes & still bring it home.

Kids who play sporting event on ovals & the family watch( dogs toilet & if owners dont pick up people tread in it or part of it & the bugs etc etc)

-" I even know of a few younger Vets who advise do not take them out until 18wks etc"

I see the vets as a catch 22 ,iif they say go out & about before the dog is fully vacc & the pup gets parvo they will be blamed.In this day of liability & people willing to sue no matter what .

Personnally for me vic markets isnt the type of place i would be taking a young pup to anyway .

Remember even if healthy vacc dogs can come in contact & one must always ask where do the people walk there dogs??

Our older dog got it many years ago & survived & iit started at our sports club(basketball,cricket etc etc & my school oval)

[Joypod]

I suppose I'm worried about pre-school because it's in a paddock. It's private land and apparently no unvaccinated dogs go on it (although i'm not sure how they can guarantee this) so is supposedly safe.

I'm in the Western suburbs and it's apparently really bad over here.

Seeing as he had so much socialisation up to 12 weeks of age and he's now in his first fear period, I doubt it will do him any harm to keep him home for a couple of weeks.

[Animal House]

Joypod, you've been taking him out for walks etc from 8 weeks on? :D

Hes a small pup, he can still do his socialising being carried until hes fully vaccinated.

I wouldnt take him to the Vic markets either, way too full on for a pup.

I carried my staffy (and she wasnt lightweigh :rolleyes:) everywhere for socialising, meeting people, getting used to trains, etc, or had her on my lap for a outdoor cafe.

I must say I think you've been darn lucky that he hasnt caught anything but Gastrto with all the risks you took. :D

[Joypod]

Joypod, you've been taking him out for walks etc from 8 weeks on? :D

Hes a small pup, he can still do his socialising being carried until hes fully vaccinated.

I wouldnt take him to the Vic markets either, way too full on for a pup.

I carried my staffy (and she wasnt lightweigh :rolleyes:) everywhere for socialising, meeting people, getting used to trains, etc, or had her on my lap for a outdoor cafe.

I must say I think you've been darn lucky that he hasnt caught anything but Gastrto with all the risks you took. :D

I got him when he was 10 weeks, 4 days old.

Actually, he loved the Vic Markets. Lots of different people wanted to pat and hold him and he enjoyed every minute of it. He was relaxed and confident and wasn't at all stressed by any of it. I don't regret taking him there. I think it was a wonderful experience for him.

He probably WAS lucky only to get gastro (although I'm pretty sure that was my fault), but I felt the risks I took were calculated. I had done a lot of research and received much advice about the pros and cons of socialising a pup when they've only had 2 vaccinations. I decided to take the risk to ensure I have a well socialised dog. With that said, I did consider carefully where I took him and avoided places that I felt presented an unacceptable level of risk to him.

[Sayreovi]

Too be honest, i did everything you have done Joypod, except for the Vic Market though thats mainly due to it being so far away.

When my dogs were pups they went everywhere, mostly were carried but were also put down so they could use their own legs and get used to things at their level (and also to toilet them ) Locking the pup up in the house until 16 weeks, has basically 'ruined' your dog to being happy and social.

I kinda thought like Settrlvr, you can bring parvo into your house by your shoes, clothes, your other dogs.....so i exercised a little caution and just avoided direct contact with strange dogs

IMO Vaccinations arent the be all and end all of protection, after all vaccinated healthy adult dogs get parvo.....there are some breeders who dont vaccinate their puppies at all or only give one much later at 12-16 weeks and their pups dont get parvo

Edited January 5, 2008 by tollersowned

[wherezaball]

Too be honest, i did everything you have done Joypod, except for the Vic Market though thats mainly due to it being so far away.

When my dogs were pups they went everywhere, mostly were carried but were also put down so they could use their own legs and get used to things at their level (and also to toilet them ) Locking the pup up in the house until 16 weeks, has basically 'ruined' your dog to being happy and social.

I kinda thought like Settrlvr, you can bring parvo into your house by your shoes, clothes, your other dogs.....so i exercised a little caution and just avoided direct contact with strange dogs

IMO Vaccinations arent the be all and end all of protection, after all vaccinated healthy adult dogs get parvo.....there are some breeders who dont vaccinate their puppies at all or only give one much later at 12-16 weeks and their pups dont get parvo

Have to agree with above. We can get very paranoid when it comes to this sort of stuff but you just have to to remember lack of social skills kills more dogs every year than parvo. It needs to be an educated balance. I tell puppy class people to let their puppies meet friends dogs who are vaccinated and well behaved and carry them to the shop for people to "goo goo" over but dont put them on the ground or take them where dogs go such as parks etc.

But then my pup who is now 14 ish weeks has been almost everywhere with me. He has been to 2 flyball comps, a couple of training days and multiple puppy classes. The only place I didnt take him was a popular dog beach here in Sydney that always has dog poo lying around as many people just leave it. So that was an unacceptable risk and I decided he wasnt going. But then I could have bought it home to him or so could one of the other dogs. So you cant protect them from everything, accidents happen.

Having worked in pounds and animal shelters I have seen too many dogs die from poor behaviour and lack of social skills. We really need to stop being paranoid and educate people on the pros and cons of taking your puppy out (in a controlled way) versus keeping it at home.

[Flaves]

I would take him to 4 Paws.

They are a training centre and live on teh property i think so they know who is coming and going.

[Joypod]

I would take him to 4 Paws.

They are a training centre and live on teh property i think so they know who is coming and going.

That's where he's enrolled. At Diggers Rest. He's already been once (missed last week because of his upset tummy) but because of the vet's comments today, I'm hesitant to take him back until he's fully vaccinated. I just don't know if I want to risk it.

It's awful not knowing what the right thing to do is and so far, no amount of reading on the forum has convinced me either way of what's best for him.

[Guest Tess32]

That's cos there isn't any "right" way or magic answer unfortunately. If it's not in your area I wouldn't worry too much excessively.

[Joypod]

It is in my area. It's particularly in my area. I'm in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne and apparently that's one of the worst places for parvo. Less people vaccinating their dogs over this side of town or something like that.

[Guest Tess32]

Well, it's in my area too so I'm basically not putting him on the ground. I'm carrying him everywhere and he still gets to meet lots of people.

Your pup has had the 12 week vacc and that's all most people give now, so he's mostly covered anyway.

[Joypod]

Well, it's in my area too so I'm basically not putting him on the ground. I'm carrying him everywhere and he still gets to meet lots of people.

Your pup has had the 12 week vacc and that's all most people give now, so he's mostly covered anyway.

I didn't know most people only do the two vaccinations. I thought they needed three before they were fully covered? Now I'm even more confused.

[Vizsla]

It is in my area. It's particularly in my area. I'm in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne and apparently that's one of the worst places for parvo. Less people vaccinating their dogs over this side of town or something like that.

I work and live in the western suburbs and have only heard of 3-4 cases of parvo this year in this side of town. I work with a few Vet Clinics and speak with many others and always ask about parvo etc

They guys at 4paws are very experienced in their field and would ensure their training environment is safe. All dogs that come into that environment should be vaccinated and they should check this before a class starts.

I really think that it is important to continue surpervised socialisation and I would continiue to take your pup to puppy school.

The chances of your pup picking up parvo in a controlled environment where all dogs are fully vaccinated or have received their 1st and 2nd vaccination is very unlikely.

If the classes were run in a park or something on grass, I would say don't take him. However, knowing 4paws and their training environment I wouldn't be too concerned about my pup contracting parvo, even though classes are run in a paddock.

Too many puppy owners are over paranoid and don't provide enough supervised socialisation, which can be detrimental on pup, especially when they are older.

Having worked in pounds and animal shelters I have seen too many dogs die from poor behaviour and lack of social skills. We really need to stop being paranoid and educate people on the pros and cons of taking your puppy out (in a controlled way) versus keeping it at home.

Exactly. IMHO, Far more dogs are PTS each year because of behavioural problems, mainly due to the lack or socialisation and training than those who die from Parvo.

I not a big fan of puppy classes that are run at Vet Clinics, I will reccomend some that I know personally know how their puppy classes are run. For example, the Yarraville Village Vet Clinic have puppy classes which are conducted upstairs in room designated for that purpose and not used at all by other patients. The floor is impervious and is cleaned after each class using an appropriate disinfectant and classes are held by an experience and qualified dog trainer, not a junior vet nurse like some Vet Clinics have.

You have only had your pup for two weeks and you are going too be paranoid about taking everywhere else until he has had his final vaccination in a few weeks, which IMHO could be detrimental for your pup in later life if you discontinue puppy classes. I would continue to take your pup to classes as its sounds like it is going to to be his only beneficial socialisation he will get over the new few weeks.

[Guest Tess32]

Well, it's in my area too so I'm basically not putting him on the ground. I'm carrying him everywhere and he still gets to meet lots of people.

Your pup has had the 12 week vacc and that's all most people give now, so he's mostly covered anyway.

I didn't know most people only do the two vaccinations. I thought they needed three before they were fully covered? Now I'm even more confused.

Yep, there are a few different vaccination protocols. My vet still advises the 3 shots, but MANY only do two shots now. Again, there's no "right" answer. Personally I am getting a Parvac shot this week (he's 9 weeks old), then his C3 at 12 weeks, and another C3 at 16 weeks.