Parvo questions....

[Wendy]

I will ask my vet when we go in on 7/16 for vax (2nd set at vet) and spay/neutering also but wanted some additional opinions.

We are/had planned going on vacation in August to see family. Ist stop was at my sister Michelle's house to stay so I could visit 2 other members of my family (who I can't stay with either one of them and they can't travel to Put In Bay to see me) and then travel further North to Put In Bay to visit my mother & other family.

Long story short. Michelle adopted a 10 week old puppy from a shelter in Ohio and brought it home Sunday. (6/28) It was at the vet on Tuesday with Parvo. Things were touch and go thru Saturday and now it looks like the puppy pulled thru and will be fine. I am sure she will travel to Put In Bay with the puppy between now and the first week of August and has plans to be there when we are. We are a family who love dogs and 2 of my sisters at PIB have their own teen dogs.

I am assuming it's not safe to go to my sisters house in August...But do you think we could still go to PIB if we skip my sisters house? or is it not safe at all?

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I wouldn't go but that is just me....a friend of mine has a puppy that came down with parvo and I won't even walk into her house until Peri is past her 16 week shots. Even though puppy has healed and she cleaned the house with bleach solution. Also my other friend's adult dog visited there before she came down with parvo and I won't let Peri near the adult dog. Better safe than sorry. But I will be interested in what others think...

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Your pups are SUPER cute by the way.

[Wendy]

Thank you :)

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

Not safe til your pups get the vac......Your sister is going to have to bleach everything in order to avoid the spread of the virus...........even any and every place on her property where that puppy may have deficated.

http://www.workingdogs.com/parvofaq.htm#Parvo_Transmitted
"Parvo is highly contagious to unprotected dogs, and the virus can remain infectious in ground contaminated with fecal material for five months or more if conditions are favorable. Extremely hardy, most disinfectants cannot kill the virus, however chlorine bleach is the most effective and inexpensive agent that works, and is commonly used by veterinarians."

[Wendy]

Well, we definately aren't going to my sisters house now. It's still up in the air as to if we will go to PIB at all to see my Mom & family. My sister is a nurse so I think she will do a great job cleaning everything but we are still unsure.

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Bleach is great at killing it indoors, but outdoors is another story you may have to kill grass, plants...wherever the infected dog goes, it's also more complicated bleaching every inch of the ground where your dog is traveling and you don't know if another dog in the area may have gone there and be a carrier of Parvo...

Outdoor decontamination:

Freezing is completely protective to the virus. If the outdoors is contaminated and is frozen, you should wait for it to thaw out before safely introducing a new puppy.

Shaded areas should be considered contaminated for seven months, good sunlight exposure should be considered contaminated for five months.

So other dogs in your sisters neighborhood and area who are not innoculated can be at high risk for parvo

If your dogs are fully innoculated against Parvo, they should be safe, but I don't think I would even rish it with just the 2nd set of shots.

[LuvMyAbby&Kaela]

I would stay away from any dog with parvo. What did the vet say? Can that puppy still be contagious?

[Wendy]

I called my vet and she said since my Mom's house is 2 hours away (and a ferry ride) from my sister that as long as the puppy is healthy before she travels up there the only risk is what they might bring up on their shoes or other items like a play toy... especially if they don't clean up totally. My sister is a nurse so I would think she would clean it all up well. My pups will be 18 weeks old and have 3 set of vac's with only one set left to go so she said the decision is up to me. I am torn since I won't have the opportunity to see my family until next summer if I don't go in August but I also don't want my pups to get Parvo either.

[Kai Doodle (Kathy & Keith)]

I wouldn't go. Puppies are considered "not fully vaccinated" until they are 4 months old and the last vaccines must be given on or after they are 4 months old with a minimum of two sets of vaccines given three to four weeks apart so I wouldn't expose a puppy that hasn't reached those milestones. I agree with Allyson, super cute pups!

[Adina P]

So what is their age at the time of their vaccines prior to the trip?

[Wendy]

They go in on 7/16 for their vaccines & spay/neuter. They will be 15 weeks and 4 days old. (1set the breeder did, this will be the 2nd vaccines from the vet. We have one more appt on 8/16 )

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

You may not want to leave your pups, but a visit to your family is important and you might want to consider leaving them at home with a sitter.