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Dear all….I have got a new baby german shepherd cross puppy who is 7 weeks old.
He can’t replace my darling Sparty but he is a character and I love him to bits.
My question is…can I do anything to prevent the same thing happening to him.?
He has not had his shots but I know the first shots are important. However what are the views on boosters?
Also is there anything I can do to prevent this? I now know to look out for ticks something I didn’t know before …sparty was always getting ticks But is there anything else?
Thank you….anna
Anna,
Congratulations on your new baby. You are very wise to think ahead about protecting him from diseases that are preventable and trying to determine what is the best approach to using vaccines to do this. Looking into appropriate diets that can keep him healthy is also a great way to start.
We have many resources available on our website for you to read that will help you make these decisions if you look up above at the menu you’ll see Second Chance Resources. I suggest you start reading the vaccine resource page. In fact if you look at the top of this Forum page you will see that there are two posts in light green that that have information about Dr. Dodds 2016 minimal vaccine schedule. This information plus much more is also on the vaccine page under resources. Most owners here now use this minimal vaccine schedule, I suggest you print it and carry it with you to the vet. Starting immediately you should give him his first series of shots as Dr Dodds recommends. Keep him away from all dogs and don’t walk in places where dogs do until you have protected him. This is considered responsible vaccine protection. Do not vary from this schedule unless your vet can explain exactly why an extra vaccine like Lyme or leptospirosis is critical in your area.
The nutrition resource page, especially the link to the Dog Aware website, will help you decide how best to feed your puppy for great start to life and then how to modify that as he becomes an adult. Many owners who have come to our site eventually go on to feed a homemade diet. Some of us feed a raw diet. On the Dogaware site you can find diets of all kinds from raw to home cooked to supplementing kibble.
On the Parasite Resource page you can find information about how to protect your dog from heartworm and ticks. There is information about heartworm and tick protection using effective products. It is also important to consider lifestyle choices when you want to protect your dog from parasites. You should expect if you go into wooded areas or fields that you will encounter ticks. Right now as a puppy he is not protected from much of anything. He will not be protected from rabies until he has his first shot around 4 months. That requirement varies depending on your state and local requirements. As Dr Dodds notes, rabies is legally required in many places and you must abide by those laws.
I am positive that Vally will have more advice for you. She is very smart about dog diets.
Ask more questions about this!
My best Patrice
Anna, Congratulations on your baby boy. Upload a photo, we’d love to see him. No, of course he isn’t a replacement for Sparty, but we have hearts which need to love a dog and so this new boy is very lucky, and so are you.
Patrice has given you lot of information. If ticks are an issue in your area, you can get a insect bandana, Amazon I believe has them, and there’s lots about them in the forum. You can search permethrin bandana and you’ll find lots of discussions about them. Much safer for our doggies.
I have always been a raw feeding fan. I was much more vigilant with Bingo, doing it all myself, but with my new girl Saba (a cross cattle dog – 3 years old – and somewhat more ginormous than Bingo), I’ve become lazy and buy BARF frozen patties. I’m in Australia and they are not very expensive. They work out to about $2 a pattie and Saba gets 3/4 a pattie twice a day with raw bones, usually a chicken wing or a few necks once a day or two.
Again, congratulations Anna.
Vally (angel Bingo) and the new pest Saba
xxx
Hi all…thanks for your responses. I have read thro the material on vaccines but am confused as to when to get his first shots. One vet here is saying he won’t vaccinate until 12 weeks which we thought was too late. Another vet said they will vaccinate now (8 weeks)
The material I have read says that he is still protected by his mother’s immune system and vaccinati g too early can trigger immune disease.
I could not bear to go thro the same thing as Sparty again. Do you have any advise?
Ps. I will post some pics soon!,,
Thank you so much.
Anna
Anna,
Go to this page
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/vaccine-resources/
Click on the 2nd picture that says 2016 Dr. Dodds Vaccination Protocol For Dogs. This will take you to a webpage that outlines the exact details you are confused about. Print this and always carry it with you. Show it to your vet and advise that this is how you want to vaccinate Sparty.
Thereafter, follow her instructions at the bottom of that page that advise to titer every 3 years. This is a simple blood test that determines if a dog shows a titer result to the vaccines you gave him when he was first vaccinated. I have not vaccinated any of my dogs beyond what she has recommended and I occasionally do titers on all three. Dr. Dodds is also available for an owner consult and you can find that link on the Hemopet Resources page.
Dr. Dodds has this test available at Hemopet.org. On this is page is a link to the Hemopet Test Request Form, just click on the picture of the Hemopet Test Request Form.
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/hemopetresources/
You will select at least one or two tests, depending on what you want. The Rabies titer result is generally not accepted in lieu of the actual vaccine and this is governed by laws in your state and county, so you can’t prove much with the results of this test. The Distemper and Parvo are the important titer tests.
Distemper & Parvo Vaccine Titers
Rabies Titer RFFIT (Not for travel)
Extra vaccines are usually not recommended for dogs that have had autoimmune conditions. You can read more about them by going to this page:
https://www.secondchanceaihadogs.com/vaccine-resources/
Click on Canine Non-Core Vaccines.
I can’t say it any better than Dr. Dodds. If you follow all her information you will be providing the safest and most responsible vaccine protocol you can for a dog that has a propensity to developing autoimmune conditions.
my best patrice
Dear all…thanks for all your advice. I am now following the advice on vaccinations and also changing to raw food .
My experience with sparty was a wake up call for me. I have had dogs for years and never before experienced anything like this disease. Now I am much more aware of things like environmental factors…its very rural where I live and I used to walk sparty across the field. The farmer sprays altho not sure what with…but keeping out of here in future. Also aware of the risks that ticks present. Sparty was always getting ticks. Apparently climate change makes it more likely that they could carry something nastier than usual. I will follow the advice on vaccinations and not just get boosters unless he needs it. I also know exactly what to look for now if it happens again. I am much better prepared and this site has been invaluable. I am passing your details on to anyone I meet so they can also read up on this disease.
I hope everyone who visits gets thro this disease with their best friend and if like me they don’t then this site does provide support and a lifeline.
Many thanks Anna, angel Sparty and baby Loki.