question here~puppies and the ground
 

Lillie is 13 weeks old so she hasn't had all her shots yet. I do have a neighbors dog that likes to use our back yard as a potty and we also have had,coyotes, fox and deer run through the yard. I do take Lillie outside with us but won't put her on the ground...This is what I was told because she hasn't had all her shots. I get teased about this..(although I am a little insane when it comes to my furbabies!) I don't put her on the floor at the vets (I don't put Sadie on the floor either and she's 2 1/2 yrs old) and if I bring her into petco she is in my arms..Do any of you let your furbabies,before all vacs, run around outside? I'm sure Lillie would just love to get her little toes and face into the grass but, I don't want her sick.

I would because My yard is fenced but if it wasnt and there were any dogs or dog poo I wouldnt have. I always held mine at Petco too

I don't allow it either! Until they get all their shots I don't take any chances. Let them laugh all they want, you are doing the right thing.

Thank you for the replies. I know people think I am insane with my dogs and, this is ok. I just don't want my furbabies to get sick. My daughter has 2 beautiful golden retrievers. If one of her dogs got sick it wouldn't be as bad as if a 2 lb puppy got sick. I just don't want to take the chance and if they want to poke fun, I just let them do it...And it's mostly my friend who's dog pottty's in my yard that does the poking! Hey...I look at it this way...they are MY dogs and if I don't want them on the ground until they have had all they vacs then that is my business!

No you arent insane at all. I have had a little one get sick before and it is scary. It is best to avoid that at all costs

Thank you :)

We got our 2nd yorkie, Scout, when he was 12 weeks old. He had his puppy shots at 6, 9 and 12 weeks old (including parvo). I called our vet to see if it was alright for him to run in the back yard and he said it was pretty safe if he had his series of parvo shots.
Our yard is fenced in so no other animals get in. My friend who works there told me parvo is transmitted from feces of infected animals and the virus can stay in the ground up to 5 months. They see alot of infected dogs that come in with parvo and it's a very serious disease in a little puppy. They use a bleach/water solution to scrub all instruments, tables, floor and walls after they see a dog who is diagnosed with parvo. She even removes her work clothes and shoes in the garage at home to soak in a bleach/water solution before she goes in the house because she has 2 dogs of her own and is afraid of transmitting the disease.
So, make sure your puppy has its shots before roaming in the yard. Another safety precaution she suggested is to wash their outside food bowls and
toys with the bleach/water solution. Even dogs that have had their parvo shots can still contract it.
I keep a spray bottle of the solution to spray our shoes down after we have been out in the yard. You can never be too careful when it comes to nasty virus for us and our fur babies!

WOW! I didn't realize the virus could live that long and could be transmitted in so many different ways! I never took toys outside with Sadie but, I would bring something for her to chew on. Thank God! she never got sick!

Never put your baby on the ground at the vets, Petsmart or anywhere period and you are doing the right thing i did let Peeka go in our front yard but i didn't even take him to petsmart till he had all his shots and parvo can be carried on your shoes as you walk on Petsmarts floor you can bring it home! Your a good mommy keep it up and ignore them when they make fun of you

I agree, your not insane , my vet also told me not to take mine anywhere with other dogs, or in the yard till they had all their shots...I carry them when I take them to petsmart or petco....

Not over-reacting at all, just being cautious. Mine never go on the floor at the vet's office at any age. Mine don't go to Petsmart (since this is not a necessary place they have to go). I do allow mine full access to my yard, but no other dogs have access to it.

Thank you for all the info and your support! I knew my YT friends would understand! :)

Gracie is 14 weeks, and will be done with her shots in two weeks. I let Gracie walk on the sidewalk, on the road in our complex, or on the gravel path at the park, but I do not let her go in the grass. I won't let her touch the ground at the Vet or at any Pet Store, not now and probably not ever.

I know you already have plenty of agreement, but I am someone who really suffered from friends teasing me and accusing me of being too overprotective - but here's the thing - they aren't the ones cleaning up the diarrhea he would get from running on the grass and trying to eat everything in sight (and this was AFTER he got his shots!) - so since they are not paying the vet bills and not caring for a tiny dog that just gets sick more easily than other animals I say - stay strong sister! ;-)

Your dog isn't like other dogs, and you do need to be more cautious. Unfortunately I wasn't as careful and he got sick quite a few times!

I hope this helps!!

Thanks! I have just decided that I don't really care what others say or think I should do. I am 49 yrs young and will do what I want with my dog! It's my dog and I will do what I feel is in their best interest..If they don't like it Tough! That's what I say!!

I didn't B4 their shots and I use the stroller in all pet stores.

Please Help me!!
 

Hello everyone, I just got a yorkie puppy and it is my first puppy ever...He is 9 wks tomorrow....I am new to all these so if you have suggestions or advice please tell me. I have a few questions for all you guys..First my puppy is really itchy..I took him to the vet and they put flea medicine on him and I noticed that his skin is really try and dandruffy is that normal?? Is there something like lotion that I can get to put on his skin?? Also his nails are starting to get a little long, is there a certain age that I should wait until I can trim them or file them down?? Last questions his moms ears were up and his dads ears were down..his are down right now but I was wondering if theres something I can do to make them go up or if they will go up with time....Please help!!! :(

To Gizmo,

The dandruff is usually a condition called seborrhea - you can get a medicated shampoo from your vet called Sebolux made by Virbac. I think it was about $12.00 for the bottle. They also make some human shampoos by the dandruff shampoos for this condition that might work, but I've never tried them.

The best cure for dry skin is treating it from the inside with a good quality dog food like Nutro Natural Ultra, Candidae, Chicken Soup, Royal Canin, Merricks, etc. When looking for a good quality food skip the grocery and department store brands and go to a petstore. Look for one that has meat as the first ingredient, no corn (or very little), and no meat by products. You can also add a supplement called Missing Link which is great for their skin and coat by providing necessary Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids. There are several supplements out there - just look for the key words Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

Nails start getting clipped when they are still nursing. The best time to do it is after a bath when the nails are soft. I prefer to clip a little bit every week. It gets them use to having it done and they never get out of control this way. If he has dew claws be sure and clip them too - they have a habit of growing curved and can grow right into the skin. I use human toe nail clippers, but the regular size works on puppies.

The top third of the ears can be shaved or clipped with scissors really close to take the weight off. Also massage the ears several times a day. There is still time for them to stand.

Congratulations on your new puppy and welcome to YT.

My dogs have never had a sick day in their lives -- they are 5 years old and my Yorkie is a year old.

I don't baby my Yorkie a lot - partly because this is basically against my nature and partly also because he isn't real small.... he weighs 10 pounds.

My dogs are on leashes wherever we go (even Petco) and I don't carry them a lot.

They have been going outside since I got them - and (yes), they do love playing in the yard.

So - in a way - I guess it's whatever you feel comfortable with - and the type of person you are, yourself.....


Carol Jean