My current pet is an almost 9 month old Miniature Poodle. The Breeder honored my request to not vaccinate her, and I will not vaccinate her either. Not even a rabies vaccine if I can avoid it. Her life with us will not be full of hiking and exposure adventures because we are in our 60's. I have trained her on washable potty pads due to us living in a more rural area with eagles, hawks, coyotes, and wild hogs, snakes, etc. I do walk her outside in our fenced in property however. I feed her home cooked and gently cooked I order from Raised Right. I give her probiotics, dehydrated duck feet, goats milk, greek yogurt, appropriate fruits and veggies, and a daily vitamin. She is well cared for. My question is this: If I don't plan to board her, and keep her away from dog parks, at what age and immune system maturity can I relax about her potentially coming in contact with Parvo and Distemper?
You are doing so many things 'right' for your new pup! This is the way I explain it to my clients: at puberty (however old a dog is when that happens - 6-10 months or so) the hormones create what I call 'the supercharging of the immune system'. Those hormones are very, very important for the full development of the immune system. So early spaying/neutering severely compromises their long health.
Parvo is a disease that really doesn't happen in adult dogs. If it does, which is rare, it is in severely compromised animals, again, rarely in well homed animals.
So, if you can wait until your dog has reached puberty and a bit more you will be far ahead of Parvo. Again, these infectious diseases occur in compromised animals: unsheltered animals, ones in shelters that are super stressed, etc.
Good to know! I appreciate your response. I don't plan to get her spayed until she is two or three years of age. I just pray I can find a Veterinarian that not only will Spay her without requiring she have the Rabies vaccine, but that I can find a Veterinarian that knows how to do an Ovary Sparing Spay. I am willing to travel by car up to 100 miles or so to find one.
Rabies is not required in several states, Pennsylvania is one, for old, sick or otherwise immunocompromised dogs, so blanket statements are not appropriate. The circular in the vaccine states that it is not recommended in many instances. There was a national effort in this regard. However, intances of dog bites can raise complications.
Don't believe I made any blanket statements, and if I did, the intention was not to blanket. Looking at the requirements in PA, it does look like rabies vaccines are required. But, if you have areas where sick animals are exempt then you are fortunate. That is NOT the rule in most states where it takes much effort to allow an exemption. But, fortunately, this is changing with more use of titers.
I'm sorry, but the vaccine circulars don't even come with the vaccines any longer and unless a vet is super educated, holistic or is pushed by a pet parent, most vets go along with the rule of the land and vaccinate regardless of health.
My current pet is an almost 9 month old Miniature Poodle. The Breeder honored my request to not vaccinate her, and I will not vaccinate her either. Not even a rabies vaccine if I can avoid it. Her life with us will not be full of hiking and exposure adventures because we are in our 60's. I have trained her on washable potty pads due to us living in a more rural area with eagles, hawks, coyotes, and wild hogs, snakes, etc. I do walk her outside in our fenced in property however. I feed her home cooked and gently cooked I order from Raised Right. I give her probiotics, dehydrated duck feet, goats milk, greek yogurt, appropriate fruits and veggies, and a daily vitamin. She is well cared for. My question is this: If I don't plan to board her, and keep her away from dog parks, at what age and immune system maturity can I relax about her potentially coming in contact with Parvo and Distemper?
You are doing so many things 'right' for your new pup! This is the way I explain it to my clients: at puberty (however old a dog is when that happens - 6-10 months or so) the hormones create what I call 'the supercharging of the immune system'. Those hormones are very, very important for the full development of the immune system. So early spaying/neutering severely compromises their long health.
Parvo is a disease that really doesn't happen in adult dogs. If it does, which is rare, it is in severely compromised animals, again, rarely in well homed animals.
So, if you can wait until your dog has reached puberty and a bit more you will be far ahead of Parvo. Again, these infectious diseases occur in compromised animals: unsheltered animals, ones in shelters that are super stressed, etc.
Good to know! I appreciate your response. I don't plan to get her spayed until she is two or three years of age. I just pray I can find a Veterinarian that not only will Spay her without requiring she have the Rabies vaccine, but that I can find a Veterinarian that knows how to do an Ovary Sparing Spay. I am willing to travel by car up to 100 miles or so to find one.
Go to the Parsemus Foundation - I believe they have listings of vets.
I will do that. Thank you kindly Dr. Blanco.
Just an educator spectator here but this level of astute, healthful caretaking is SO REFRESHING. THK U for being one to get it right!
Rabies is not required in several states, Pennsylvania is one, for old, sick or otherwise immunocompromised dogs, so blanket statements are not appropriate. The circular in the vaccine states that it is not recommended in many instances. There was a national effort in this regard. However, intances of dog bites can raise complications.
Don't believe I made any blanket statements, and if I did, the intention was not to blanket. Looking at the requirements in PA, it does look like rabies vaccines are required. But, if you have areas where sick animals are exempt then you are fortunate. That is NOT the rule in most states where it takes much effort to allow an exemption. But, fortunately, this is changing with more use of titers.
I'm sorry, but the vaccine circulars don't even come with the vaccines any longer and unless a vet is super educated, holistic or is pushed by a pet parent, most vets go along with the rule of the land and vaccinate regardless of health.