Protecting your new puppy from infection
One of the major concerns that all new puppy owners face is over the safety of their puppy until his course of vaccinations is complete. Your puppy has some protection against diseases even before he is vaccinated, in the form of antibodies passed on from his mother. These antibodies can interfere with the vaccination itself and this is why we need to wait until your puppy is around eight weeks old before he has his first vaccination.
In addition, vets will often counsel the puppy owner not to take the puppy out in public until a week after the final vaccination. As the second vaccination is given three to four weeks after the first, if you follow your vet’s instructions to the letter, you could end up with a puppy that has not been out in public until he is twelve or thirteen weeks old.
So how do you reconcile this situation with the urgent need to socialise your puppy? Most people compromise by taking the puppy out and about right from the start, ensuring that they keep him off the ground and away from any direct contact with unvaccinated dogs. This is the strategy I use with my own dogs. It can be difficult with large-breed puppies – carrying a heavy puppy in your arms can be tiring. You may need some kind of bag or sling to carry him in for the last couple of weeks.
Safety at home
If you have a large garden at home, especially one that is frequented by foxes and other wildlife, you may be worried about your puppy catching an infection at home. This is a perfectly natural concern, and indeed some people keep the puppy indoors until his vaccination cover is complete.
The disease that most dog owners are concerned about is canine parvovirus, which is often fatal in puppies. We know that foxes are susceptible to this disease and that the virus can survive for some time in infected faeces. The possibility exists, therefore, however remote, that your puppy could be contaminated by contact with fox poo. For this reason, neither I nor anyone else can give you a guarantee that he will be safe in your garden.
It is important to keep this in perspective. Most foxes are in good health, and tend not to go wandering around in public when they get sick. Foxes can be discouraged by never leaving out edible items, including bird food, and ensuring that you dispose of food waste in fox-proof bins. It also makes sense to pick up any fox mess left in your garden.
The fact is, keeping your puppy indoors for the next four weeks is potentially harmful. A puppy raised in a sheltered indoor environment is quite likely to be fearful when exposed to the big wide world at thirteen weeks old. House-training will be delayed and your puppy will have missed out on the simple pleasures of being outdoors.
It isn’t an easy decision to make because you will feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of keeping this little dog safe. But if you do decide, as most of us do, to give your puppy access to the garden, try not to worry about him. All across the UK puppies are playing outdoors, and parvovirus in a vaccinated puppy is a very rare occurrence.
Making your decision
As you have no doubt deduced, I am in favour of vaccination for my puppies! But only you can decide where your priorities lie. Few people would contest the sense in vaccinating a new puppy. With repeat vaccinations for older dogs, however, there is a wider range of opinion and options.
Do talk to your vet about your concerns. Most vets have dogs themselves and will understand what you are going through. Bear in mind that if you fail to have your puppy vaccinated, in some cases your veterinary insurance will be invalidated and most boarding kennels will not take unvaccinated dogs. Give some thought to the subject of herd immunity because this is what offers good protection to your puppy before his own vaccinations are effective. By vaccinating your dog on a regular basis you will be helping to keep herd immunity at a safe level and protecting the next generation of puppies to come.
In addition, vets will often counsel the puppy owner not to take the puppy out in public until a week after the final vaccination. As the second vaccination is given three to four weeks after the first, if you follow your vet’s instructions to the letter, you could end up with a puppy that has not been out in public until he is twelve or thirteen weeks old.
So how do you reconcile this situation with the urgent need to socialise your puppy? Most people compromise by taking the puppy out and about right from the start, ensuring that they keep him off the ground and away from any direct contact with unvaccinated dogs. This is the strategy I use with my own dogs. It can be difficult with large-breed puppies – carrying a heavy puppy in your arms can be tiring. You may need some kind of bag or sling to carry him in for the last couple of weeks.
Safety at home
If you have a large garden at home, especially one that is frequented by foxes and other wildlife, you may be worried about your puppy catching an infection at home. This is a perfectly natural concern, and indeed some people keep the puppy indoors until his vaccination cover is complete.
The disease that most dog owners are concerned about is canine parvovirus, which is often fatal in puppies. We know that foxes are susceptible to this disease and that the virus can survive for some time in infected faeces. The possibility exists, therefore, however remote, that your puppy could be contaminated by contact with fox poo. For this reason, neither I nor anyone else can give you a guarantee that he will be safe in your garden.
It is important to keep this in perspective. Most foxes are in good health, and tend not to go wandering around in public when they get sick. Foxes can be discouraged by never leaving out edible items, including bird food, and ensuring that you dispose of food waste in fox-proof bins. It also makes sense to pick up any fox mess left in your garden.
The fact is, keeping your puppy indoors for the next four weeks is potentially harmful. A puppy raised in a sheltered indoor environment is quite likely to be fearful when exposed to the big wide world at thirteen weeks old. House-training will be delayed and your puppy will have missed out on the simple pleasures of being outdoors.
It isn’t an easy decision to make because you will feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of keeping this little dog safe. But if you do decide, as most of us do, to give your puppy access to the garden, try not to worry about him. All across the UK puppies are playing outdoors, and parvovirus in a vaccinated puppy is a very rare occurrence.
Making your decision
As you have no doubt deduced, I am in favour of vaccination for my puppies! But only you can decide where your priorities lie. Few people would contest the sense in vaccinating a new puppy. With repeat vaccinations for older dogs, however, there is a wider range of opinion and options.
Do talk to your vet about your concerns. Most vets have dogs themselves and will understand what you are going through. Bear in mind that if you fail to have your puppy vaccinated, in some cases your veterinary insurance will be invalidated and most boarding kennels will not take unvaccinated dogs. Give some thought to the subject of herd immunity because this is what offers good protection to your puppy before his own vaccinations are effective. By vaccinating your dog on a regular basis you will be helping to keep herd immunity at a safe level and protecting the next generation of puppies to come.
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