Massachusetts dog owners: Parvo virus outbreak

[rox63]

There's a parvo virus outbreak in Worcester and Berkshire counties in Massachusetts. Details here:
http://www.golocalworcester.com/news/new-parvovirus-outbreak-killing-dogs-in-worcester-county/

[Walk away]

1. It's so important that puppy owners NOT expose their dog to areas where other dogs...

walk until they have their ALL of there vaccines. I meet people all of the time who are walking puppies out on the street. When I ask if they have all their shots yet and they tell me "they had their first round" I am amazed that they would take the chance. It's a horrible illness and small dogs rarely survive it.

[KC]

3. I think

that's (just) one of the reasons why I haven't ever taken any of my dogs to a dog
park. You never know if the other dogs
have had their shots or are sick.
Maybe I'm just overprotective.

[Walk away]

5. It's one of the reasons I love having my own doggie day care...

I get to hand pick my dog's friends and require yearly proof of all vaccines and also require flea control. My dogs are very social and they love having friends to play with. Plus, my yard care guy is a client so I don't use fertilizer or weed killer and neither do my surrounding neighbors who all have kids or dogs.

[TorchTheWitch]

2. Yet another reason why I won't do the dog park thing

Way too many people don't vaccinate their pets or bring puppies that aren't yet old enough for certain vaccinations, and you have no idea what dogs may be carrying something and leaving contaminated droppings that are almost impossible to kill even long after those droppings have disappeared.

This is what drives me nuts about one of my neighbors... they have never vaccinated their dog for anything including rabies which is illegal here (and I think everywhere). I won't let Yoshi get anywhere near that dog.

[Sunlei]

4. a lot of parvo here in Texas and Vet saw- distemper. vaccines are so expensive, people skip them.

just took a clients dog in for yearly vaccines, worm check, heart worm check. healthy dog no meds needed..360.00.

If you can't afford the Vets prices then at the least pick up vaccines at your local feedstore for your puppy. a pup should get vaccines every 3-4 weeks until they are over 4 months old. You can probably buy wormer over the counter.. but it is best to see your Vet at least for the first series of vaccines, a worm check and to start heart worm prevention. Your pup will need a rabies vaccine most states require a registered Vet gives rabies vaccine.

people mention they are afraid to risk the dog park or walking their pup.. it is risky but not as much as your Vets parking lot. Sick dogs go to the Vets. So important to socialize your puppy while young and if you keep up with puppy shots the risk is low.

remember when you take your pup in for vaccines at your Vet..go in early AM so there is less risk of your pup breathing the same air as a distemper dog or a kennel cough dog going in for treatment.

do not set your pup down in the parking lot, or on the floor in the waiting area. remember people bring their sick parvo dogs to the vet all the time.

Have to notice too if your Vet washes their hands,are wearing a clean unstained tunic and the exam table is cleaned with something that kills parvo.