When Can I Walk My Puppy

[Mason_Gibbs]

A lot of people dont do the 16 week one, i will do it as my area is bad for parvo in summer

[mymatejack]

The following is now the accepted from the AVA (Australian Veterinary Association - This has come about because of the problems of overvaccinating - bitches used for breeding was recommended every two years during their breeding life. They also believe that vaccinations are not required after 11 years of age.

Vaccination Guidelines For Small Animals

The Vaccination Guideline Group of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association announced its international guidelines for canine and feline vaccinations at the WSAVA congress which was held in Sydney in August. The VGG categorised vaccinations into core vaccines, non-core vaccines and not recommended vaccines.

DOGS

Core vaccines: Parvovirus, Distemper and Adenovirus.

Non-core vaccines: Parainfluenza, Bordetella and Leptospirosis

The group does not recommend vaccination for giardia or coronavirus

Vaccinate puppies at 8, 12 and 16 weeks with a booster 12months after the last vaccination. After that dogs should be vaccinated with core vaccines not more often than every 3 years.

Annual vaccinations for Kennel Cough (Bordetella & Leptospirosis) for dogs that are in contact with other dogs are a good idea.

CATS

Core vaccines: Panleucopaenia (FPV or feline parvovirus) herpesvivus (FHV) and calicivirus (FCV).

Non-core vaccines: Leukaemia virus (FeLV) and Chlamydia.

The group does not recommend vaccination for feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), Feline infectious peritonitis (FIV) or giardia.

Vaccinate kittens at 8,12 and 16 weeks with a booster 12 months after the last vaccination. After that cats should be vaccinated with core vaccines not more often than every 3 years.

The question of socialising - there is a great amount of research that indicates that pups should be out mixing from 8 weeks. However it is also worth considering whether the mother was vaccinated.

Before 8 weeks of age there are still a large number of maternally derived antibodies (MDA) in the circulation from mum to protect the newborn.

These natural immune proteins override the effect of the vaccine, so vaccination is wasted and will only add extra stress to an already overwhelmed puppy (being weaned, taken from mum, new owner, new home, new diet with worming and flea/tick treatment pesticide cascade).

My dog was vaccinated at 6, 12 and 18 weeks, then again at 12 months and i was told(by the vet) he needed vaccinating yearly. Is my vet telling me porkies?

edit : just in case that came across wrong, i am genuinly interested and can see some logic behind the "over vaccinated" argument - i assume it is like the over prescription of antibiotics in humans?

Edited October 8, 2011 by mymatejack

[Chris the Rebel Wolf]

Wow Elise, new info for me (I must say your signature and its subject is absolutely stunning... lovely merle Aussie!)

So M&G, you would advocate the 16 week for any parvo prone area? Because up here in the tropics parvo is particular rampant unfortunately, and to my knowledge most of my customers with new pups get the three-course of injections.

I too, am interested in knowing about this suggested three yearly vaccine after the last puppy vaccine is complete. Is anybody sticking to a three-year plan? Has anybody had problems with this? Is this another instance of some areas being more parvo/disease prone than others?

[Elise+Hudson]

I live in a high parvo area here unfortunately, but I have never seen a pup which was vaccinated at 12+ weeks come back with parvo, only those who have the 6-8 week and never have another.

There is a 3 yearly core vaccine which is advocated by the AVA, this requires a slightly different vaccine which is registered for this purpose. We did not use this protocol in our practice, we have been sticking with the yearly vaccinations. I think yearly is great from a vets perspective, as many dog owners (unlike the majority who use this forum) that would never bring the dog into the vet unless it is due for needles, so we miss 3 years of health checks with an owner like that. Also a good way of trying to get heartworm protection done too, as we can use the yearly proheart needle in these dogs.

I will be using yearly vaccines with Hudson, but he will also be getting the kennel cough vacc, and this is still required yearly. But we were taught about the 3 yearly vaccines at university, and by all studies they are effective.

[Mason_Gibbs]

Yup IMO i would vaccinate again at 16 weeks if parvo is rampant in your area but thats just me i gave my older dog his vaccines at 10 weeks ( diff brand) and he gets titred yearly and still has immunity so it is a hard decision..

[Mystiqview]

RE 16 week shot - I think the best thing for anyone reading this forum is to talk to your vet about it - whether they need the 16 week booster or not. I don't need it as my vet has given me enough information about the vaccines and the one I am doing (C3 @ 6 weeks, C5 12 weeks, with the C5 up the nose) is fine for the protection of my animals.

Parvo is not just limited to the tropics. It is everywhere. As others have mentioend, you can walk it into your place from just walking in it from outside. A vaccinated dog can still carry the virus and not show symptoms.

A vaccinated dog can still get parvo. Hopefully not the deadly strain. Just like humans who are vaccinated for measels etc can still get it.

You can limit the chance of affecting your dog with parvo/kennel cough by being sensible. If there is a parvo outbreak in your area, extra measures may be required. I relieved in the pound at work for 6 weeks while someone was on holidays. Parvo came through there as often it does in pounds. I had two sets of boots, I scrubbed off at the door, laundered my clothes before going near my dogs and scrubbed myself in the shower. I did not bring Parvo into my household, by following some pretty basic hygeine rules. We had to do the same when Horse Flu was around, but much more. The vehicles had to be scrubbed as well...Not to mention scrubbing down each and every time I wanted to leave the property.

As for the 3 yearly vaccination and vet checks. I hear you, however the only time my dog sees a vet is if they are sick.

I do the 3 yearly vaccination program. Even if someone does only see a vet on a yearly basis, it may still not be enough for that owner. (Sometimes people just should not be allowed to have animals). As for the Proheart SR12, not every dog can use it, and it is not a drug I would ever recommend to be used on Collies. I know too many who have had adverse reactions despite the manufacturer claiming it is safe to use on collies.

[Elise+Hudson]

Mystiqview - I undertand the Proheart SR12 is not for every dog, similarly with the annual vaccines compared with the 3 yearly protocol.

From my point of view as a vet who sees the 'average' pet owner most commonly, it is nice to be able to at least do a general check every 12 months as a minimum. :D

[suziwong66]

we vaccinated c4 at 6 weeks, c5 at 10 weeks & booster at 14 weeks. We took Wilbur out and about (including puppy school), but carried him. Now at 16 weeks he's good to go out & about on all fours - thank gawd because he's way to heavy to carry now

[Mason_Gibbs]

Mine has had his 12 week vacs and Im taking him out now, he is a bit timid of other dogs so he really needs the socialisation.

[Chris the Rebel Wolf]

I live in a high parvo area here unfortunately, but I have never seen a pup which was vaccinated at 12+ weeks come back with parvo, only those who have the 6-8 week and never have another.

There is a 3 yearly core vaccine which is advocated by the AVA, this requires a slightly different vaccine which is registered for this purpose. We did not use this protocol in our practice, we have been sticking with the yearly vaccinations. I think yearly is great from a vets perspective, as many dog owners (unlike the majority who use this forum) that would never bring the dog into the vet unless it is due for needles, so we miss 3 years of health checks with an owner like that. Also a good way of trying to get heartworm protection done too, as we can use the yearly proheart needle in these dogs.

I will be using yearly vaccines with Hudson, but he will also be getting the kennel cough vacc, and this is still required yearly. But we were taught about the 3 yearly vaccines at university, and by all studies they are effective.

Thanks so much for that info Elsie that is really interesting! I would still do yearly health checks even if I opted for a three year vaccine of course; I had just never heard of them up here yet. I don't use the proheart needle with Zeke since I prefer to use Interceptor

I think I am worried enough about parvo that unless my vet assured me that mine was a minimum-risk area, I would still go for the 16 week. I am getting my next pup probably next year, so this is all really useful info for me.

Mystiq I had read a few accounts of collies and ivermectin sensitivity, is that what proheart vaccine uses?

From this stage when I get my pup, I am thinking I'll be walking from 12 weeks after the second vaccine, though sticking to less dog-dense areas. And before then I'm planning all sorts of visits to friends and family of course, socializing is one of my favourite things with getting a new puppy