Long story short, I fostered some puppies from a rescue and one ended up somehow contracting parvo. Now I have parvo in my backyard. I talked to my vet about bringing in another 8 week puppy a few months down the road and he said as long as the dog is vaccinated you should be fine because in GA, the parvo virus is everywhere. Another vet that I talked to said the same thing. Another vet said differently. Unfortunately, there is so much conflicting information I can't make a decision. Go ahead and get a puppy and take a chance or wait another year.

The puppy that has parvo is 4-5 months old and is currently in the animal hospital. It should be well on Wednesday. The two other siblings that I have didn't contract the virus. They went to the same places and received the same medications at the same time. Unfortunately, these dogs never had shots until they were at my house.

My husband and I are seriously thinking about adopting one of the pups that we are fostering because they seem to be immune to it. We are on a waiting list from a breeder and are expected to bring home a puppy in October.

I would like to hear other members stories dealing with this so I can make a decision what to do. My heart is breaking because we have waited so long for a puppy and I was very naive as to what can happen with rescues.

I have seen puppies / dogs that have had every shot right on the money per the vet's schedule come down with parvo. I have also seen dogs, I have one, that has never had a shot and their immune system tests better than a dog with all it's shots.

It will depend greatly on the pups immune system. You could have a titers test done but at that young of an age it may or may not be accurate in 3 to 6 weeks.

When my wife's house dog was about 16 weeks old we had a dog in the yard that was confirmed infected the very next day with Parvo. They played together and were all over each other. The house dog never did come down with it but we were on pins and needles for weeks.

The only advice I can give, be very careful. And, if you have gone from your place to the breeder's place you have likely carried the virus on your shoes and or clothes.

Never been to the breeder's place. Right now I'm just on a waiting list. I was upfront with him and gave him the option to refuse a sale.

Agree with Ron. Due to differences in immune systems, I would disregard the "as long as it's vaccinated..." opinion. Keep in mind that there is no proof or guarantee that a parvo vaccine works. Vets will tell you that it needs to be repeated every 2 weeks, yada yada yada, but what are you going to do in the meantime??? It's in your backyard. It's also lots of other places.

I would take my chances with an unvaccinated dog before a vaccinated one, honestly, based on my personal experience with both. A dog with a parvo vaccine has a weakened immune system. I would never subject a just-vaccinated pup to parvo, but I don't share conventional vets' thinking regarding the safety and efficacy of vaccines in general. I would instead focus on boosting the new pup's immune system naturally, and keep it away from the previously contaminated areas as much as you can. Is there anything you can do in the yard as far as cleanup? Do we know how long parvo lives?

I don't know... parvo is a beast and can wreak havoc on a puppy. If you're waiting a few months before bringing home a new dog, however, I think you should be okay. I am currently doing some searches on Google to try to see how long Parvo lives without a host. Hell, it could all be dead already for all we know.

EDIT: Answered my own question.
"The parvovirus can linger in the environment for many months, allowing it to affect other dogs. It can withstand common household disinfectants (except bleach) and can withstand freezing winter temperatures. It can be spread on the hair and feet of dogs, in addition to shoes, clothes, and eating utensils."
--http://lbah.com/canine/parvo.html

So short of bleaching the crap out of your backyard, you seem to have few options. Would it be possible to limit activities in your backyard? Can you leash-walk the puppy elsewhere? I don't know what your situation is like or how much of your yard the puppies had access to (just the back, or the whole thing, etc.).

EDIT AGAIN: And more from that site:
"If you had a dog die of parvo we recommend thorough cleaning with diluted bleach (1:30 with water, or 4 ounces of Clorox in a gallon of water) and waiting 1-2 months before introducing a new dog to the area. Spray the yard as best as possible with a hose and keep new dogs away from the area for 1-2 months. Never put bleach on your dog."

 Quote: katherine ostiguy

<SNIP> Never put bleach on your dog."

But, I've always WANTED a dog that has whiter whites and brighter colours! :wink:

-J

Parvo is scary, although the 2 friends I have who's dogs got parvo, survived. I'd just bleach the yard and not let the pup run around solo. You don't really know if there isn't parvo anywhere else, like the sidewalks or parks, etc. I agree with boosting the pups immune system and vaccinations is not it. Good luck.

It is not just vaccines or lack of vaccines that make a difference. I believe a non vaccinated pup/dog has a better immune system and thus more able to 'fight' off diseases/viruses etc. But other factors also come into play. I believe a raw fed dog has a healthier immune system. I believe that 'genetics' plays a part as well as the heritage of my pups sire/dam's vaccine schedules etc. (anotherwards, 2-3 generations vaccine free likey contributes to a much healthier pup/dog that is able to fight off disease without showing any symtoms or having the disease. ALong side this I also believe in Early Neurological Stimulation. I believe this helps develop a strong immune system in puppies (it is proven to be true). AND it helps a pup deal MUCH more effectively with 'stressful' situations in thier life.

Puppy immune systems are not mature and more suseptable, so you want to give them the 'best' chance at fighting off things. I believe the above 'together' helps one do this.

So, if I was adding a puppy to my household and I had worries about parvo 'being in the ground' etc...then I would look at all the above factors. I don't believe a puppy under the age of 16 wks, WITH vaccines is going to be better protected than a puppy with NO vaccines. In fact, it might be quite the opposite. A puppy with no vaccines, likley still has 'mom's immunity protecting it. A puppy that has been vaccinated has had mom's immunty 'wiped' out and now you are asking it to produce antibodies to the vaccine. This is when it is MOST vulnerable!!! THe body has no coverage until it has produced some antibody to the given vaccine.

Talked to the breeder and he doesn't feel good about selling me a very young dog until he saw the paperwork from the vet on the sick dog. I don't blame him a bit. Most breeders feel the pups are their flesh and blood. In my heart I know it's the wrong thing to do but was hoping that there would be evidence in my favor. NOT. He said he would be willing to import an older dog for me which is an option.

We are going to attempt adopting one of the fosters here first. Unfortunately, we have to put an application with the rescue group. The dog has to be taken up to Ohio for evaluation, vetting, and then returned if we are acceptable. I am not crazy about how the system works but I am not the legal owner.

I would like it to be known that the puppy was FINE UNTIL SHE GOT THE VACCINE. She got ill the day after receiving the shot. She was happy, in good spirits and had really good firm stools. So I don't understand what happened. I was told by another dog person that it was possible her immunity was down due to stress of her previous living conditions.

THIS WEBSITE is the best I have came across for dealing with parvo.