Dog Community

Posted : 8/15/2007 10:21:40 AM

It is a requirement in my contract that the pup see a vet within 48 hours excluding weekends. If they have an issue I would think they and I both want to know ASAP.

Jewlieee

Posted : 8/15/2007 10:31:07 AM

Yeah I did the combo ones. The only one I had a concern about was Lepto - it's not all that uncommon for dogs to have a reaction to this vaccine (especially aussies). Anyway, I still went ahead with it and he was fine.

I also got him vaccinated for Kennel cough (bordetella). I always keep my dogs up on this vaccine because they are around so many other dogs all the time. If you plan on taking your dog to training classes and/or doggy day care, you'll have to prove you are up on all the vaccinations - including bordetella.

janet_rose

Posted : 8/15/2007 6:56:51 PM

brandy76
Should I still take the puppy to the vet right away to get examined or should I wait for the 3 weeks when the shots need to be give again.

Any chance the breeder would keep the pup for another week or two? It would benefit with more time with the mother learning doggie socialization.

When you get the pup, take it directly to the vet if possible. I wouldn't even go home first. You don't want Parvo or worms in your house/yard, so if you have to go home first, keep the pup on easily bleachable surfaces, wear clothes that you can bleach, wash your hands after every time you handle the pup, and have the pup pee/poop on newspapers or puppy pads.

Has your breeder de-wormed the pup? If so, with what med? Worms can make a pup very sick very fast. See the post (below) for a gentle, inexpensive way to get rid of most worms and to get rid of Giardia (a "bug";). I would de-worm once a month until 1 yr and every 2-3 months after that.
http://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=424603

At the vet clinic your pup will be exposed to a little Parvo. As hard as they try, they just can't get rid of all of it. You and the pup should touch as little as possible - includes doors, wall, counters, etc. If possible, wait in the car and have them call you on your cell phone when it is your turn.

Carry paper towels for door handles. Take a bath towel with you and cover the exam table. Bleach the towel when you get home. Step in a low pan of 1:10 bleach solution to sterilize your shoes before you enter the house. Wash the clothes you wore to the vet.

Understanding puppy shots:
http://forum.dog.com/discus/messages/46/121233.html#POST405242

My suggested way of doing vaccines:
http://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=326568

While socializing your pup (until 3 weeks after the last puppy shot) keep his feet either
(1) off the ground (in your arms, a carrier, or a stroller),
(2) on bleached surfaces,
(3) on concrete, or
(4) in homes/yards where you know there has been no Parvo for 2 years.
Keep him away from sick dogs or dogs with an unknown health status. Make sure people wash their hands before petting him.

Socialization - primary socialization window closes at 12 weeks (secondary at 16 weeks):
http://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=296270

This post has my choices for heartworm and flea meds, plus info on the heartworm life cycle:
http://forum.dog.com/asp/m.asp?m=305506

glenmar

Posted : 8/15/2007 7:16:55 PM

Dr. Dodds vaccine protocal HAS recently been adopted by all the vet schools. She recommends parvo and distemper ONLY at 3 week intervals.

Combo shots are pretty awful. Please don't use them.

brandy76

Posted : 8/15/2007 8:41:16 PM

Thanks Janet Rose, those links were very helpful. Your puppy vaccination post was exactly what the holistic vet recommended.

Now I'm nervous about not taking her to the vet right away. I made the appt. for 2 days after her arrival. Since a stool sample is required I can't take her right away, but maybe I'll switch to 1 day after her arrival. Your post got me nervous about what she can & can't touch.

I'm going to call the holistic vet to see if they can give me their exact schedule & take it to the regular vet, I'm just so nervous about telling the vet what to do - doctors usually don't like being told what's best.

Everything is all set, since the dog is getting shipped & I already put in for my 2wk vacation from work

ottoluv

Posted : 8/15/2007 8:46:24 PM

Dr. Dodds vaccine protocal HAS recently been adopted by all the vet schools. She recommends parvo and distemper ONLY at 3 week intervals. Combo shots are pretty awful. Please don't use them.

It actually hasn't, check the other thread in that regards from earlier this week http://forum.dog.com/asp/tm.asp?m=424727). Combo shots are not horrible, they are the same shot you would get, but multiple antigens. Some like to give them separately so if you have a reaction you know which one caused it. Combo vaccinations are the standard in most vet's practices. I'm curious what evidence you have to the contrary, I'd be interested to see it. Here is the UC Davis current guidelines.....

http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/vmth/clientinfo/info/genmed/vaccinproto.html

Otto was vaccinated simmilarly

paulaedwina

Posted : 8/15/2007 8:49:51 PM

To expose or not expose your puppy; that is the question. True, until final vaccs at 12 weeks puppy is vulnerable to parvo and stuff. But also true that waiting til 12 weeks wastes vaulable socialization time. It is a risk vs return thing. I vaccinated on schedule and signed up for puppy classes right away, took Yoshi everywhere-most places, but took certain precautions. I didn't let him sniff poops or hang out where dogs had obviously gone potty, I didn't take him to petsmart, but we definitely went places.

It really is up to you.
Paula

brandy76

Posted : 8/15/2007 9:10:29 PM

ORIGINAL: janet_rose
Has your breeder de-wormed the pup? If so, with what med? Worms can make a pup very sick very fast.

Here's what the breeder does for de-worming:
- They use strongid.
- We also do 3 days of panacur
- We also send albon and flagyl with pups for bacterial parasite prevention

Is this okay?

losinsusan

Posted : 8/15/2007 9:32:32 PM

I had my puppy out and about within days of getting him at 8 weeks. I agree about risks but the socalizing him outweighted the risks. He went everywhere and anywhere.

janet_rose

Posted : 8/16/2007 2:55:15 PM

ORIGINAL: janet_rose
Has your breeder de-wormed the pup? If so, with what med? Worms can make a pup very sick very fast.
ORIGINAL: brandy76
Here's what the breeder does for de-worming:
- They use strongid.
- We also do 3 days of panacur
- We also send albon and flagyl with pups for bacterial parasite prevention

Is this okay?

This sounds very good. My compliments to your breeder!

Strongid-T(link) gets roundworms and hookworms. Panacur(link) kills roundworms(link), hookworms(link), whipworms(link), Taenia tapeworms(link), flukes, and Giardia. Albon(link) will take care of Coccidia. Flagyl(link) treats bacterial infections and protozoal infestations (like Giardia).

There are other types of tapeworms (including the flea tapeworm) that even this combination doesn't kill. See the tapeworm link above for a table of which meds kill which tapeworms.

Note that Safe-Guard (OTC) is the same as Panacur from the vet.

janet_rose

Posted : 8/16/2007 3:33:23 PM

brandy76
Since a stool sample is required I can't take her right away, but maybe I'll switch to 1 day after her arrival.

There will probably be poop in the crate, but with your breeder's de-worming, I wouldn't bother with a fecal right away. I would follow the breeder's instructions for the Albon and Flagyl and then wait until the next shot for the fecal.

Checking for Parvo and Distemper should be your first priority. Also check to be sure that they carry the Intervet Progard Puppy DPV.

brandy76
I'm just so nervous about telling the vet what to do - doctors usually don't like being told what's best.

[sm=rofl.gif] If your vet isn't aware of how controversial vaccines are right now, he is practicing with his head stuck in the sand. You get to decide the vet whose vaccine schedule you follow. It doesn't have to be the vet giving the shots.

brandy76
Everything is all set, since the dog is getting shipped & I already put in for my 2wk vacation from work

I think it is neat that you are taking off two weeks to take care of your new baby.

brandy76

Posted : 8/16/2007 8:25:34 PM

I feel releived that the breeder did good with the worming. I spoke to the vet and they administer the DHPP, do you think that includes Intervert? I'll call again tomorrow.

The vet also wants to give bordatella, which I know is good if dogs are around a lot of dogs. I do plan on taking my pup to puppy kindergarden, but not until he's 10-12wks. I think I can wait for that.

They're also suggesting a rabies between 12-16 weeks. Is that the normal age? I thought it wasn't until 6months

glenmar

Posted : 8/16/2007 8:33:47 PM

OK, in my personal opinion, and in my experience as a breeder and foster mom to new litters, big combo shots are pretty awful. Most of the stuff in them is not needed and when you give a zillion shots rolled into one you give the immune system one heck of a whallop and IF there is a reaction, it's hard to tell which one.

I ONLY do parvo and distemper and that is what Dr. Dodds advises. I know that her protocal has changed slightly, but it was modified live virus parvo and distemper at 9 weeks, 12 weeks and between 15-20 weeks, with rabies not before 24 weeks.

janet_rose

Posted : 8/17/2007 2:38:46 AM

brandy76
I spoke to the vet and they administer the DHPP, do you think that includes Intervert?

"DHPP" stands for "Distemper-Hepatitis (Adenovirus)-Parvo-Parainfluenza". It vaccinates for four diseases at once. The abbreviation does not indicate the manufacturer or whether the shot includes Thimerosal (contains mercury) as a preservative.

Intervet Progard Puppy DPv is the name of a particular shot by a particular manufacturer (Intervet). This shot does not contain Thimerosal and vaccinates for only two diseases. DPv stands for "Distemper-Parvo". "Pv" is used to differentiate Parvo from Parainfluenza.

You have to decide how many diseases to vaccinate for at this time. However, please be sure that you get a vaccine that does not contain Thimerosal as a preservative.

If you want to get just Distemper-Parvo, say "I want to get a puppy vaccination for just Distemper and Parvo. Do you offer Progard Puppy DPv made by Intervet?" If they say "no", ask "Do you offer any vaccine with just Distemper and Parvo which does not contain the preservative Thimerosal?"

If they say "no" again, ask "Does your DHPP vaccine contain the preservative Thimerosal?" If they say "yes", look for a different vet. If they say "no", then you have to decide if it is worth the effort to call another vet. Personally, I would keep calling.

When you get to a vet to get a shot, ask the vet tech to verify
(1) which vaccines you are about to get and
(2) that the shot does not contain Thimerosal.

janet_rose

Posted : 8/17/2007 3:17:30 AM

brandy76
They're also suggesting a rabies between 12-16 weeks. Is that the normal age? I thought it wasn't until 6months

The rabies shot is rough on a puppy. Dr. Dodds' recommends 20 weeks (or older) with no other vaccines 30 days before or 30 days after. Personally I would wait until 6 months.

Is it safe to wait? Well, when was the last time you heard of a rabid puppy or dog in your area? Do you plan to allow your pup around wild animals or dogs that you don't know?

Vets are operating more on legal requirements than anything else, but as emphatic as they might be, I have never heard of a vet trying to the rabies vaccine police.

I have heard of a vet refusing to neuter/spay if a pup has not had a rabies shot "to protect his staff", but never give a vaccine of any kind on the same visit where surgery is performed.

Vaccines should only be given to "healthy" animals (read the package inserts) and animals with holes cut in them should not be considered "healthy". Besides vaccines takes 10-20 days to be effective, so a shot on the same day as a surgery does nothing "to protect his staff".

I consider the biggest risk of waiting until 6mo for a rabies shot to be the chance that the pup would bite someone and be quarantined. Personally I would take that chance.

Vet & new puppy