Is it safe to take your dog outside before its third round of vaccines?
The largest risks for puppies are canine parvovirus and canine distemper virus. Canine parvovirus is widespread around the country. I seriously doubt that it is rare in San Francisco, but it may be that the people you know rarely see it because they vaccinate their dogs. Ask your vet how many parvo cases they have had in the last year.The reason why puppies need three (or four) rounds of vaccines is because maternal antibodies, passed through the placenta and in milk, interfere with the development of immunity through the vaccine. Some puppies clear the maternal antibodies at 7 weeks, others take as long as 15 weeks. Some puppies (rarely) have no maternal antibodies to parvo. By vaccinating at 6, 9, 12 and (possibly) 15 weeks, you increase the likelihood that your dog is able to mount a protective immune response to the vaccine. The same is basically true about distemper, which is why the vaccines are always given together.The cost of parvo infection is a miserable week for your puppy as his entire small intestinal epithelium sloughs off and he bleeds and can't eat, and possibly death if he bleeds too much or gets a secondary infection that kills him. If he is treated effectively, it will cost at least $600, and in your area, I'll bet a lot more.Distemper infection is harder to diagnose and treat, but usually less severe.Parvovirus is very hardy and persists in the environment for years. In fact, most dogs are repeatedly reinfected with parvo, but because they are vaccinated, it is a non issue.So, what is my recommendation? I believe it is generally safe to take your puppy to areas that do not attract many dogs. Your dog also needs to be socialized. The best place for this is either in your own yard or in the yard of another dog who has been vaccinated, especially if he has recently been vaccinated. The reason for this is that the population of parvovirus particles in that environment is going to be mostly the vaccine strain, so it is like vaccinating your dog. I would shy away from dog parks at that age, and wait until at least 16 weeks, if not 20. But the socialization is very important. Dogs need dog contact at young ages, and also contact with good children and adults.
Is it normal to have 7 pets?
Yes, it can be perfectly normal to have 7 pets or more, depending on the mix of animals that you have, the subsets of your family & friends and whether or not they have or enjoy animals, and the City requirements where you live.At one time, my late husband and I had 12 animals, six dogs and six cats. We had no city ordinances as to number at that time but now there is a limit of four dogs per household. No one goes around checking and unless someone complains of odor or incessant barking or a dog getting loose, there might be no problem with four or even more.I am considering getting a larger dog than my yellow Lab next time, maybe a Gr.Shepherd but will probably stick with one dog & one or two cats.In my case since I no longer have help with lifting, I have limited myself to one large-ish dog and two cats so that I can take them in the RV when I get ‘concrete fever’ and need to get out of town for awhile. My last major one, ROADTRIP’15!!! was nearly 1800 miles around Texas visiting friends in the Hill Country, the arid semi-desert of south Texas and on to the Gulf Coast.Mostly we go to area lakes & have friends visit.My current animals are all older male rescues, neutered, house broken, with current vaccinations, well-trained and spoiled rotten. Yes, they can be both. I have friends who invite my dog over along with me because he is trained to not be offensive, brings his own rug and bowls, does not beg, and minds them as well as me.My pets love to travel as much as I do because the cats get new scenery plus bird & people watching out the RV windows, the dog gets new places to walk on-leash, new smells and new dogs & people to meet.Sometimes we just have to see what's around the next curve in the road!
Why have the Australian authorities allowed dogs and their owners to turn our streets into a toilet? As a first world country we have to wait for rain to wash our streets. So should the owners pay a fee for their animals urine to be cleaned up?
Australian authorities haven’t allowed dogs and their owners to turn our streets into a toilet. Cats roam wild, mostly at night time, according to a recent university study they go as far as 7 kilometres from their homes. There has been no mention in this question about the cats’, the possums’, or bush turkeys’ poop. Lots of creatures defecate in the bushes and grass around our streets but if it’s a big dog and someone neglects to pick the poo up, it’s very obvious. Often this happens at night time and while no one can see, people decide to leave it sitting there.Though, you can’t blame the councils in Australia, they are amazing. As dog owners we pay registration for our dogs, have them vaccinated and neutered in an effort to keep numbers down and maintain healthy animals. We also pay council rates so the council keeps streets clean. In return the council provides us with dogs parks, mowed regularly, fully fenced and often with a divider between small and large dogs. Doggy bags are supplied free of charge. Dogs are allowed only on a few beaches and at these beaches doggy bags are also supplied.I heard some awful stories about France and how people don’t pick up after their dogs. I don’t know if this is true but it certainly isn’t the norm here. Our streets are clean.
What can I do, should I never walk my dog?
My family likes keeping my dog inside the house at all times because they think he's going to get sick from "bacteria" and what not. He has been vaccinated, my therapist paid for it I don't know if he's been vaccinated for parvo but he's six and I really want to take him outside, he deserves going outside, but I'm scared of my families disappointment in me for doing it.
What should I do now, my dog again got scratched after 2 days of taking the 3rd dose of anti-rabies vaccines, he was already given yearly booster on February so the doctor gave him only 3 more doses on 0, 3 & 7. What should be done now?
Your dog got scratched - by whom? Presumably a stray dog on the street, that can’t be tied up and or kept under observation for at least 10 days?The right person who can help in clearing your doubt is the vet…who will take into account the vaccination history…whether the existing vaccination is sufficient or whether your pet needs more injections…It may be a good idea to protect your dog from any further attack by changing the route for walking or not sending him out without human escort…We have two canine children in the house…one is an ex-street dog, now thoroughly domesticated…we send her out only with a human walker…The second one is a small breed, a Spitz (pomeranian)…I used to take him out for a walk but stopped after he was attacked by stray dogs on the street and I hurt my shoulder in trying to protect my spitz, hit the hard concrete road with the stick (while trying to frighten off the attacking street dog)…It took a few years for my shoulder to regain its normal flexibility.I stopped taking the small fellow out for a walk. Luckily we have open ground within our compound and he roams around in that open space and does his stuff…which we clean up…he is now an old man , nearly 16 years but is still able to move around the house, albeit with some confusion off and on…
What are the benefits of dog parks over letting dogs play in their own yards?
Taking your dog to a dog park allows him to burn off all of his/her pent-up energy. After all, dogs are instinctually designed to run, and chances are pretty good that the local dog park offers much more open space than your own back yard for your dog to run.Another positive reason to take your dog to the park is the social aspect of the setting. At the dog park, your dog gets to communicate with others of his/her kind through body language and other communication skills. Because your dog will routinely meet unfamiliar dogs at the park, the experience strengthens your pet’s ability to deal with issues of fear or aggression around other dogs.Dog parks are also good for dog owners, too. Dog owners get to enjoy the exercise and social benefits offered at these parks, and there is also plenty of opportunity for learning at dog parks. For instance, if you’re a first-time dog owner, going to a dog park will provide you with an excellent resource of experienced dog owners who you can gain valuable information from.Your dog will let you know if it's a good fit. Not all dogs are park dogs.Just remember keeping a routine/schedule for your dog is very important. While they don't understand the concept of time they do remember different smells and sounds that happen regularly. That's why they always seem to know when you do things like leave for work, return for work, feed them, etc. It makes them feel comfortable. It's really common for those who go to park infrequently that their dog will act out at park simply because they are in a new environment and uncomfortable.
Dogs (pets): Should I let my dog lick his wound to heal it?
I think the best course of action is to use the same judgement that you would when dealing with a child. If the wound is small and fresh, an everyday sort of wound that you know how they came by, that is neither deep nor long, the kind that will obviously heal on its own then allowing your dog to lick it will do no harm. Once the wound has stopped irritating the dog will usually leave it alone so there is no need to cover it. There is also some evidence that dog’s saliva contains antibacterial properties and licking would help to keep it clean. If, however, the wound is from an unknown cause, is large, deep or obviously requires stitching, is causing your dog discomfort or distress then seek proper medical advice without delay.A dogs immune systems are designed to deal with the kind of bacteria that would put their human in hospital. They can drink filthy water, eat something long dead, putrid or just plain disgusting yet not suffer the food poisoning that would put us humans in a coma but they are just as vulnerable as us to bacteria in wounds so if you are the least bit unsure get them to the vet ASAP.