House bound until Maggie gets her Rabies Vaccine?

[Karen Glassman]

Well we've had our sweet Maggie for 12 days now and she is amazing! We love her to bits, but we're going a little stir crazy. Our vet advised us not to take her out anywhere until she's had her rabies vaccine, which she won't get until March 25th. That's another month away! Maggie is 11 weeks old now and (as I'm sure you're all aware) is very active. We play fetch in the house and run around our tiny back yard as much as we can. We've taken her out a few times without putting her down on the ground. We made a short trip to Lowes and Staples where she rode around in the shopping cart. She visited my office and my husband's office while I held her in my arms the entire time. We visited my son's house where she met 3 wild toddlers and got to run around their back yard (they don't have any pets).

Are we doing this right? Do we really have to wait until she's had her Rabies vaccine before we can take her for a walk in the neighborhood or go to a puppy training class?

Does anyone have any suggestions or advice to help us get through the next month?

Feeling isolated with an increasingly active, but adorable Labradoodle!

 

[Tracey & Spike]

It should'nt be the rabies shot isolating you. It should be finishing the series of puppy shots to make your pup Parvo safe. Parvo is extreemly serious. Yes it does isolate your pup. It it's needed. There are stories on here and all over where people have lost their precious pups to this terrible illness. You can go out with your pup but she cannot come into contact with any other animal. Nor the ground where they have walked or pooped. It's critical that you keep little Maggie in her bubble until her set of three shots is done.
I'm really unsure why your vet says it's the rabies shot holding you back. Spike didn't have his rabies shot until he was 6mths old. It's how they do that here.

[Judith and Addie]

It is definitely a good idea to keep Maggie isolated from where other dogs walk and poop - for parvo as Tracy said. It is a bit counterproductive, though, because these next few weeks are critical for socialization. I would say, keep taking her out with you. There are many places that allow dogs, especially in baskets. I would avoid Petsmart and Petco, though. 

My vet told me that I could take my pup to friends' houses where you know that take good care of their dog. She also said pet boutique places, since the clientele generally is more responsible. (keep puppy in stores in arms or a shopping cart - bring your own cover for the cart.) She also said I could look into puppy socialization classes but to be very careful of where they are held and their policies. I don't know if others were given the same or similar advice.

[Tracey & Spike]

The boutique places are an excellent idea. That's exactly what we did with Spike. In fact we went straight there right after picking Spike up from the breeder. They have a special buggy that's totally bleached down. We had a mound of our own blankets to completely cover the the buggy basket. We went there several times during his isolation and it helped tremendously. We also found a dog training school that has kindergarten classes for puppy's that are coming due for their second or third Parvo shots. They are away above board cleanliness wise. It's insaine actually. Really insaine. It in a good way. We took Spike there as well. Socialization is totally possible. But you just have to be super carfull and picky.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

I would agree, it is the Parvo that should be the biggest concern. But either way, your Vet gave you sound advice. It is hard, but so worth it in the end. You can start socializing now...just as you have been...carrying her everywhere. Enzo came with us everywhere possible and quickly became accustomed to all kinds of loud noises and people. If you are friends with anyone who has a dog and you are ABSOLUTELY sure the dog has been vaccinated, then maybe you can set up a doggie play date. I would not trust just anyone, who says their dog has been vaccinated. It is sort of like the person on the street who says their dog is friendly and doesn't bite....and then attacks your dog. No front yards or anywhere other dogs have been and no public dog water bowls. You can do this! We all have been there and done that. :)

[Karen Glassman]

Now that I think about it, the vet said to wait until after the 4th "combo" shot which will be on March 24th. She will also be getting her Rabies vaccine at that time. I think it was the Pet Trainer that said to wait to start the training classes until she'd had her Rabies shot. I definitely don't want to risk having her infected with Parvo :(

She had 1 combo vaccine at 6 weeks, another at 9 weeks and will be getting her 3rd at 12 weeks. Then she'll get a distemper, lepto, and fecal at the 16 week appt. along with a rabies vaccine. The vet recommended waiting until the 4th shot. I see that some of you mentioned waiting until the 3rd shot. Does it seem overly cautious to wait until the 4th shot?

If only we had a pet boutique! We live in a small rural town of about 20,000 and only recently got a Petco :)

We do have a dog park and a kennel that offers doggy day care, but I'm keeping Maggie far away from those for the time being.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

   My personal opinion, you can never be too cautious.  Think how you would feel it she came down with something, for the simple reason you did not want to wait it out.        Most Vets will NOT give the Rabies Vac. along with a combo shot.  That's a lot of Vaccine going into a little body at once and if she/he should have a reaction, you wouldn't know which vaccine the reaction is from.  I highly recommend scheduling the Rabies Vacc for another day. Our Vet waited until 2 weeks later.

  Any Doggie Daycare or Training facility worth going to, will not allow an puppy in without up to date Vacs and Rabies Vacc.  Dog Parks are a HUGE NO at this point.

[Karen Glassman]

Oh, I hadn't heard about giving the Rabies shot on a separate day. I'll definitely suggest that. Thanks.

[Rosemary (Ro) and Enzo]

:)

[Amy and Annabelle]

My vet gave Annabelle her 3rd combo shot and rabies together and she got really sick. I would do them separately. Poor thing was in so much pain. She whined for 2 days.

[Karen Glassman]

Oh no. That's terrible! I'm so thankful for this site and all of the information I have gleaned from it.

Thank you Amy.

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

I would recommend that too! Loki got his combo shot and rabies at one time and was not himself for a day or two after that. He was a very big dog for his age (45lbs at 16 weeks) and he still looked sick as a dog (sorry about the pun but I couldn't help myself!) for the rest of the weekend. I had called the vet and she had decided and from now on we will be spacing about his vaccines just to be sure. He had no problems with his other combo shots.

[Karen Glassman]

We will definitely give them separately. I would hate to see her suffer. Thanks for sharing and sorry your pup had to go through that. Wow, 45 lbs. at 16 weeks. How big is he now?

Thanks Jessica.