puppy vaccines

[liz2001]

My puppy Biscuit is 11 1/2 weeks old. The vet told us to not take him to the park yet, just our backyard and sidewalk walks because he could get sick. So that is what we have been doing. But he does run up on people's lawns and sniffs plants, etc. The other day we met a woman with a dog who thought Biscuit was very cute and wanted to pet him but she said she wouldn't because he is just a puppy and doesn't want him to get sick. Can other dog owner's petting him make him sick? I also read about the Parvo scare. Can he get sick just from going for walks? How careful do we need to be? Also he had his first shots at 7 1/2 weeks. The schedule say he is due for his next shots at 12 weeks but our next vet appointment is not for another week and a half. Do I need to reschedule that visit for sooner?

[Michael Romanos]

Hi Liz
Once Biscuit has had his final vaccination ( in NZ, pups have an initial four-in-one vaccination at 6 weeks, an optional but recommended second at 9 weeks and the third at 12 weeks and then from there it's an annual thing), he will be ok to go anywhere and everywhere. There are no hard and fast rules - a week here or there is nothing to worry about. In other words you don't have to be on the dot - just close proximity. Parvo and the others are not raging problems in NZ so while one has to be cautious here, there is not any great panic situation. But I guess it's different in the USA. But once your fellow has had his final inocculation as a puppy at 3 months or thereabouts - he will be at liberty to smell the roses next door, down the road and in the park. If you don't like that answer, here is another - the sooner Biscuit has his next vaccination round ( the 3 month job) the sooner he will be more secure from possible infection and disease and the quicker you'll be able to take him on outdoor jaunts.

[glencorgi]

Liz,

Short answers to your questions of "Can other dog owner's petting him make him sick?" And "Can he get sick just from going for walks?" is "potentially" yes the risk does exist. Now before there is a panic and the temptation to put all the puppies in plastic bubbles , keep a little perspective. A dog owner would have to have a sick dog with something that was spread via saliva, not washed her hands after her dog had licked her and then have Biscuit lick her hand for example. Not a most likely scenario, but I think it was very courteous that she was conscientious enough to resist the temptation of Biscuit <G> just in case. Where you are walking him is a pretty safe zone. By the same token you could walk through an area where a parvo dog has been, pick it up on your shoes and bring it home. It is just one of those things in the realm of possibility that could happen, but not with high probability. Biggest aid in puppy raising is common sense. High risk zones would be taking him to a dog park or to PetsMart or Petco or the park and letting him run around the store on the floor, doggie areas at rest stops for example and you're not doing that. Vet offices are higher risk than the sidewalks in your neighborhood. So you're doing good.

Stay with the vaccination schedule recommended by your vet (which is line with the one Michael gave). More and earlier is not better and can be riskier. Puppies get their initial immunity to diseases from their vaccinated mothers through the colostrum in the milk. At six weeks it begins to wane, so that is when the first puppy vaccination is given to booster the immunity to the diseases. Think of them kind of like flu shots. The second is given at 9 weeks and then again at 12 weeks. There can be some variations in timing, but most breeders are following this basic protocol. Too many vaccinations too close together doesn't give time for the immune system to build up antibodies against whatever one is trying to protect from and can make them more vulnerable to disease.

Debbie

[liz2001]

Thanks for the advice and reassurance. Biscuit has only had one set of shots at 7 1/2 weeks. He did not have one at 6 and one at 9. But I'm assuming that the breeder did what she thought was best.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by liz2001

Thanks for the advice and reassurance. Biscuit has only had one set of shots at 7 1/2 weeks. He did not have one at 6 and one at 9. But I'm assuming that the breeder did what she thought was best.

Liz,

A lot of breeders are doing the first vaccinations later - and it sound like she may be going on an 8 week (give or take), 12 week and 16 week protocol. Absolutely within the range of responsible puppy vaccinations. So Biscuit is okay.

Debbie

[Michael Romanos]

Ah-ah, just as I thought. A lot of breeders are 'cheating' the recommended system by innoculating their puppies later so that they can avoid some of the costs. They're leaving it up to the new owners for the second and third if not the first round of vaccination. Obviously 6 weeks, 9 weeks and 12 weeks is superior to any system that occurs later.

[glencorgi]

Originally Posted by Michael Romanos

Ah-ah, just as I thought. A lot of breeders are 'cheating' the recommended system by innoculating their puppies later so that they can avoid some of the costs. They're leaving it up to the new owners for the second and third if not the first round of vaccination. Obviously 6 weeks, 9 weeks and 12 weeks is superior to any system that occurs later.

In some cases maybe, although there is a core of Breeders who are seriously concerned with ramifications of over vaccination as more and more auto-immune issues are being seen. Additionally the efficacious timing of vaccinations is also being closely looked at.

Debbie

[glencorgi]

Here are a few links for some further reading about vaccines and puppy vaccinations:

<http://www.aahanet.org/About_aaha/About_Guidelines_Canine06.html>
The report there is a downloadable .pdf file.
<http://www.caberfeidh.com/HHC.htm>
<http://www.doglogic.com/vaccination.htm>
Dr. Jean Dodds is one of the leading researchers and authorities on immunizations.