RE: Doggie Day Care -Vaccines GH

[Gina Heitz <brier@oregonsbest.com>]

At 08:30 AM 3/13/01 -0800, you wrote:

>Good post on socialization Gina.  Could you or someone else elaborate on one
>aspect of this for me?

No problem...


>What are the guidelines in terms of taking your puppy out in public before
>fully immunized?  I remember from reading through the archives that there is
>concern about certain diseases, especially parvo if I recall correctly.
The basic guide lines are to not take your puppy to public places such as 
parks, camp grounds, places unknown dogs are until vaccines are finished 
up.  But you don't want puppy in a bubble either.  So just be cautious 
stick to known places and keep them from eating others poops. Most of the 
problem diseases are passed by fecal matter contact.  Some are air borne 
too but your puppy has an immune system and one would hope that it's 
working well.  The extra push these pup's got from BARF feeding as well is 
a huge aide here...


>There are lots of dogs in our neighborhood.  Is is okay to take Echo for
>walks in the neighborhood?  So far we have restricted her to our own
>backyard.  We have different people friends come over so she gets used to
>new faces, but so far no doggie friends.  We are planning to do puppy
>kindergarten at 12 weeks.


Your fine this is a good plan and next week shots are due so by 12 weeks 
the "One" litter will have two parvo distemper vaccines under their belts 
and probably shot one of the others vet's like to shoot for, and immunity 
should be at the top of the scale.

Vaccine protocols are very subjective/controversial  with regard to titers 
and when immunity is at it's highest and when to vaccinate...  There are 
many studies done and being done on this all the time.  I am trying to keep 
up on this subject and to balance these issues personally.  Good news I 
just heard this weekend is that there is a new test just about ready that 
will be avail at an affordable cost done in house at your vet to check 
titers in place of wacking the system with unneeded vaccinations (combo 
shots).   The premise is that we don't need to vaccinate yearly any longer, 
and most vet schools are noting alternate vaccination protocols up to only 
vaccinating every three years based on research, though many vet's still 
say:  "oh ya gotta do all these (combo) vaccinations every year!!!"

   Well it's my opinion that vet's use shots as a  leader to sell other vet 
services such as but not limited to dentals.  It's my opinion every pet 
should be examined yearly but it may not be necessary to vaccinate them 
that often...  Years ago we use to vax for rabies yearly, now we only do it 
every 3 unless you live in or are planning to go to Texas where rabies is a 
problem....  Get my point???  How deadly is rabies?  It's the worst but 
it's rare.... Get the point??? <grin>

Also recommendations are being made to only vaccinate for the high risk 
diseases as well as to separate them out.  I am way in favor of this 
research as I sincerely feel that over vaccination is part of our 
environmental factors that have affected the immune system of our canines 
and NOT in a positive way.  Now this brings some things up here:  Ember is 
from Michigan in Michigan they have a problem with Lepto we don't on the 
west coast.  IIene needs to vaccinate for lepto where most of you do not 
she was vaccinated for it twice, to build her immunity to it.  Once by 
IIene's vet and once by me.  Ember may very well go back to Michigan to 
visit at some point so she needs that protection...  Any dog going to an 
area where there is a specific problem needs to be vaccinated for that 
specific issue,,, yes and many vets MOST just use combo vaccinations to be 
on the safe side...  Well I personally don't think that this is medicine at 
it's best...  The "One" litter was only vaccinated by me for the two deadly 
diseases:  PARVO and DISTEMPER for the simple fact that I have been doing 
research and I am wanting to set an example not only for all of you but to 
as well quitely make a statement to your vet that I think they need to be 
as well involved in keeping up keeping current and less generic...  My own 
vet is learning through me and my research.  Heaven help him he get's 
bombarded at times by me via e mail with info on protocols and new things 
avail...  He responds too though and is stimulated by my push. :-)))

Off topic but not really there is a new test just released that is an 
absolute for testing if a dog is ever going to have one kind of thyroid 
disease, even if the dog doesn't exhibit symptoms we will know if at some 
point in the dogs life this disease will strike what we are dealing with 
and we can be more aware of the sighs.  I don't have all the info on this 
just yet, but you can be assured that ALL breeding dogs here will be 
tested...  This form of thyroid disease is heritable...  We have not had a 
"problem" with reports of dogs from us with thyroid problems but not to say 
we have not had  a couple that we have produced who are hypo thyroid.  Just 
don't know if the type of thyroid disease they have is this type 
though...  Now we can find out.

>Would love references for good kindergarten places in the Beaverton area as
>well.

Ok look up Animal Schools in your phone book.  Sorry I lost the number. :-(((

Long Winded,

Granny Gina :-)))

Off to do my taxes since Judy had to cancel her grooming appointment with 
me today...  Granny Judy has strep throat. :-(