Long car ride home with new puppy

[Ashley & Penny]

Hey all--

Any suggestions for a 9 hour drive with our 9 week old puppy? We are picking her up in Tennessee this weekend and live in Florida. I have my cat's travel carrier I was planning on bringing as well as a seatbelt/harness for the puppy. I was going to see which one worked better, but do you have any suggestions? How many potty breaks am I looking at here?

Thanks, Ashley & Penny :)

[Stefan]

We have a 7-8 hour drive ahead of us as well once we pick up our puppy.  I'm glad you made this post because I have found the advice extremely helpful as well!!!

How old should the puppy be before we stop worrying about Parvovirus?  We are going camping with my family when our puppy will be about 10 weeks old in the Jasper Provincial parks..  Should I be worried and find a puppy sitter?  We were hoping to bring her along.

[Jordan & Daisy]

Stefan, I'm not sure I can answer the second part of your question regarding a puppy sitter, etc, but I do know that we were told to be very cautious of spaces where many dogs could have been until Daisy was fully vaccinated against parvo (16 weeks) AND THEN add 10 days. However, even with the vaccine it is not entirely guaranteed that your dog cannot contract parvo.

Honestly I was so paranoid about this that I was driving my husband INSANE. I thought every pile of dog poo had parvo..and it didn't! She was fine, thank God, but I preferred to err on the side of caution.

Also, parvo can be found in wild animals as well (i.e. wolves) and not just domesticated dogs. I just googled parvovirus in Jasper Provincial parks and this article came up (though it only discusses antibodies):

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22247375

[Stefan]

Thanks for the advice.  I'm glad I know now a few weeks ahead of time so I can plan accordingly.

I would much rather be over cautious and "annoying" then to have a sick puppy ;) 

[Jordan & Daisy]

I felt the same way. :) Better to be safe than sorry.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Sadly, it' s'more than a sick puppy. Parvo is often deadly.

[Ashley & Penny]

Oh wow, 16 weeks! I did not know this either. Thanks for the post!

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Please new puppy owners, believe me, Parvo is serious.  Before there was a vaccine, my 4 month old Australian Shepherd contracted it -- and we lived out in the country away from other dogs.  Within less than 12 hours of the first symptoms, the pup was seriously ill. U of P emergency vet clinic did what they could but sent the pup home with us to die.  Until your pup has its final vaccinations, please only take it to places where you KNOW all dogs have been vaccinated, no feet on the ground in public places.  

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

Oh Cheryle, I did not know this!  Way too often new Puppy Owners scoff at the ParioVirus.  I hope seeing your post, prompts them to take it seriously!  (HUGS))

[Ashley & Penny]

Wow, that is horrible! :(

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Stefan, the immunizations for Parvo are usually completed by 16 weeks.  

[Stefan]

Thanks Joanne. It's my first puppy and I am SO thankful I found this community.  Learning a lot.

[Ashley & Penny]

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/parvovirus