On July 9, my husband and I bought our first puppy and on the 11th, was diagnosed with parvo. Unfortunately, she didn't make it and we lost our little dobe on the 18th. Since then, we have bleached the inside and outside of our home and now looking at another dobe puppy (from another, much cleaner, breeder). The new puppy is 7 weeks old, has had a straight parvo vaccination at 4 weeks and a 5 way vaccination at 6 weeks. We've heard different suggestions from every vet or breeder we ask about when it would be safe to bring the puppy into our home. We've heard anywhere from now to a year. As of now, we are planning to keep the puppy with the breeder until she receives her second set of shots at 9 weeks. I'm writing to try and get as much advice as possible before we make the final decision to bring her home at 9 weeks. Any suggestions or resources would help us so much!
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Should I bring a new puppy into my home?
Replies (6)
>>On July 9, my husband and I bought our first puppy and on the 11th, was diagnosed with parvo. Unfortunately, she didn't make it and we lost our little dobe on the 18th. Since then, we have bleached the inside and outside of our home and now looking at another dobe puppy (from another, much cleaner, breeder). The new puppy is 7 weeks old, has had a straight parvo vaccination at 4 weeks and a 5 way vaccination at 6 weeks. We've heard different suggestions from every vet or breeder we ask about when it would be safe to bring the puppy into our home. We've heard anywhere from now to a year. As of now, we are planning to keep the puppy with the breeder until she receives her second set of shots at 9 weeks. I'm writing to try and get as much advice as possible before we make the final decision to bring her home at 9 weeks. Any suggestions or resources would help us so much!
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I would get an adult, vaccinated dog. There are so many fantastic dogs around a year old looking for good homes. The best breeders have these dogs, too, especially dogs they grew out to keep for themselves for showing who turned out to have minor conformation flaws their pups would have inherited.
Most people are so determined to get puppies that they totally overlook these dogs, and in my opinion these are the BEST ones to adopt. They have known genetics, they have the lifetime backing of a responsible breeder if you ever can't keep the dog, and genetic traits such as temperament are much more evident than they are in puppies.
A well-vaccinated young adult dog (probably around 16 months, old enough for puppy shots AND boosters a year later, plus 3 weeks for auto-antibodies to be strong) would be much less likely to get parvo in this home. Many puppies die when brought into a home like this, no matter how much you try to clean. I would never take that chance. I'd wait one to two years before even considering another puppy.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series articles at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=SRC&S=1&SourceID=47
I agree 100% with Kathy's advice on this topic. Parvo is tricky and scary. I am not a vet, but viruses by nature thrive and go dormant and can resurface with horrible consequences.
An older puppy that has been fully vaccinated and had it's one year boosters would be a great choice for you. I took in an 18 month old ex-show dog from a wonderful breeder a few years ago. It was the best decision I ever made! The dog was completely house trained, obedient, old enough to be taught self control and house rules, and just plain thrilled to be in a home and no longer in a kennel. The breeder was just as thrilled to have a great pet home for such a wonderful dog. I tell his breeder every time we chat that I will never have another puppy. I'll just keep taking in her retired show dogs. I've had a puppy before and my walls and carpet thank me every day that we don't have another.
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Chelle and the rest of the crew including, but not limited to Kita and Taiko (the shiba inu wrestle maniacs), Adi (reserved and dignified tabby cat), and all 28 reptiles
I think that Kathy's advice is excellent (and probably not at all what you wanted to hear.)
This new puppy you're considering is receiving its vaccinations too early, IMO, and they may not take effect. The latest vaccination protocol advice out there is to not vaccinate for the first time until the puppies are around 8 weeks old and the mother's immunity they received has dropped off and is not rendering the vax useless. The fact that the second puppy has received 2 sets of vax by 9 weeks may be completely invalid, and no protection at all.
One more thing...A puppy comes with an immunity from their mother and the reason we vaccinate at 8-12 and 16 weeks is because those vaccinations have to fight the mothers immunity, they never take 100%. Whatever veterinarian is vaccinating that early should be set straight...unless the breeder's doing it ..then the breeder doens't know what he/she is doing and you should find a breeder who does. I totally agree with everyone on getting an older dog. It's very dangerous to bring a pup into your home right now.
Good luck either way, it sounds like you've already made up your mind.
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Char
Animal Health Tech
Thank you all for your advice. As much as I wanted another puppy, we decided to wait until next summer. I just don't think I would be able to forgive myself if it was my fault. Does anyone out there have any experience with court cases regarding parvo? We are taking the breeder to court because he won't pay the medical bills. She started showing parvo symptoms a day and a half after we got her so we know she contracted the virus from the breeder. I'm not sure how sympathetic the courts are about this kind of thing and is there anything I should know before I show up before a judge?
You shouldn't bring a puppy into your home for 9- 12 months. A puppy doesn't have the immunity. If you wanted a dog to come in right away, you should think about a dog who is already COMPLETELY VACCINATED.
Let's not knock the breeder. The breeder didn't cause this dog to get parvo. It happens. It might have happened at home or the breeders no one is to know. It may not be that the breeder is dirty. Parvo is passed on my fecal matter. if you took your puppy to the vet, for a walk,or a pet store it could happen. I feel for you as I see this everyday, it's tough to watch a puppy fight for it's life like that.
Good luck witht he new pup, I wouldn't do it but I've seen so much..I'm so careful!! maybe a little obsessive like that..whatever. lol
Have fun with your new pup and watch for ANY signs of parvo and go to the vet immediatly.
>>On July 9, my husband and I bought our first puppy and on the 11th, was diagnosed with parvo. Unfortunately, she didn't make it and we lost our little dobe on the 18th. Since then, we have bleached the inside and outside of our home and now looking at another dobe puppy (from another, much cleaner, breeder). The new puppy is 7 weeks old, has had a straight parvo vaccination at 4 weeks and a 5 way vaccination at 6 weeks. We've heard different suggestions from every vet or breeder we ask about when it would be safe to bring the puppy into our home. We've heard anywhere from now to a year. As of now, we are planning to keep the puppy with the breeder until she receives her second set of shots at 9 weeks. I'm writing to try and get as much advice as possible before we make the final decision to bring her home at 9 weeks. Any suggestions or resources would help us so much!
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Char
Animal Health Tech
