Puppy viruses like parvo, distemper and canine cough pose risks to puppies. Proper vaccination is important to protect puppies - they receive an initial series of vaccines starting at 6 weeks with final shots at 16 weeks. Keeping puppies isolated from other dogs until fully vaccinated helps prevent exposure. Parvo and distemper can be deadly if left untreated, requiring hospitalization. Responsible breeding and vaccination are the best ways to keep puppies healthy.

1. Puppy Viruses
Is your puppy at risk
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2. Overview
• There are many canine viruses. The ones most likely to affect your puppy
are Parvo, Distemper, and Canine cough.
• Viruses are either airborne or you must come in contact with an infected dog
or their bodily fluids (urine, fecal matter, saliva )
• Properly vaccinated and healthy mothers will protect their puppies from
these viruses through their maternal anti bodies until at least 6 weeks of age
or longer .
• Puppies must have a series of vaccinations. The maternal anti bodies may
interfere with some of the earliest vaccinations . Most breeders begin at six
weeks of age and vaccinate every two to three weeks until the puppy
receives their final shot at 16 weeks.
• Breeders who say their puppies have ALL of their vaccinations at 2 months
of age should be avoided .
• Rabies shots are given at the earliest at 4 months of age .
• The biggest killer of puppies is Parvo or Distemper. The cost of
hospitalization and treatment can run easily $1000 up to several 1000s .

3. Parvo
• Made in the USA in the early 70s spread worldwide within 2 years
• Usually kills 50% of sick puppies being treated almost all if left untreated. Death can
occur within hours of symptoms
• Usually preventable with proper vaccination
• Puppies receive a series of Parvo vaccine in either a single shot or in a combination
shot (DHPP ) Last shot at 16 weeks. Then annually.
• Parvo is a contact virus. A fly can bring it to your puppy . You can also walk it in on
your shoes.
• Puppies should be kept away from parks , walks off your property and socializing
with other dogs until they receive their final shot at 16 weeks..
• Unlike other viruses Parvo dose not die off in the winter.
• The best way to kill Parvo is bleach. One part bleach to 30 parts water. All areas
where a puppy with Parvo has been must be bleached from rugs to lawns . If you
have a young healthy puppy, you should wipe yours shoes before entering the house.
If you must take your dog to an area open to other dogs to go potty spray that area
with bleach .
• Puppies are most likely to come down with Parvo between 6 and 9 weeks even with
vaccinations and without any vaccinations will become ill when they are exposed .
Most Veterinarian recommend keeping all puppies at home until the final shot at 16
weeks
• Dogs very susceptible to Parvo are Dobermans, Rottweilers and Springer Spaniels

4. Parvo Symptoms
• Incubation 4 to 5 days . Highly contagious to other dogs
• Spread though infected feces, it can be carried in on the coat, feet, and other
contaminated surfaces including a house fly.
• Surviving dogs can shed large amounts of the virus in their stools for several weeks.
• Signs of Parvo:
• Depression
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea (profuse, bloody more rusty looking not like fresh blood) very strong odor
• Fever up to 106 degrees, but not always
• Very painful stomach .
• The stomach is attacked, Puppies will dehydrate rapidly Death can occur within hours
without intensive treatment . Most are hospitalized for several days .
• In very young puppies under 6 weeks of age Parvo attacks the heart rather than the
stomach. Causing cardiac arrest .

5. Canine Distemper
• Around since the early 1900s Distemper is the leading killer of dogs
worldwide. The Virus is similar to the germ that causes human measles.
• Distemper attacks brain cells, and cells that line the surfaces of the dog
including the breathing passages, eyes, skin and intestines.
• It has many forms. Secondary infections and complications are very
common
• Vaccinations include Distemper measles give at 5 to 6 weeks of age and
modified live Distemper shot give in a series from 8 weeks to 16 weeks
usually in a combination DHPP or DHLPP shot.
• Puppy should be kept at home until all shots have been given .
• Puppies most likely to get Distemper are between 6 to 12 weeks of age.
• All unvaccinated dogs are at high risk
• Distemper is airborne . It will stay in your home for several months. It is
recommended that no puppies without all their shots come to the house for
6 months.

6. Distemper Symptoms
• 1st signs appear 6 to 9 days after exposure
• 1st stage : fever 103 to 105 , loss of appetite, listlessness and a watery discharge from
the nose and eyes.
• Within a few days discharge becomes thick, yellow and sticky and a dry cough
develops. Pus blisters on the abdomen . Vomiting, diarrhea and severe dehydration .
• Within two weeks they appear to get better , then relapse with gastrointestinal and
respiratory complications
• 2nd stage :2 to 3 weeks after onset many will have encephalitis. Experiencing attacks
of slobbering, head-shaking and chewing movement of the jaws. This proceeds to
seizures where the dog runs in circles, falls down kicking all legs wildly. After the
seizure they become confused, shy away from their owner, wander aimlessly and
appears blind.
• Another indication of brain involvement is Distemper myoclonus. Rhythmic
contractions of the muscle groups .Jerking all parts of the body often seen while at
rest or sleeping Painful the dog whines and cries out. If the dog recovers the jerking
continues indefinitely but becomes less severe with time.
• Hard-Pad form of Distemper attacks the skin of the feet and nose, leaving thick horny
skin . It occurs on the 15th day of the onset of infections
• Extensive long term hospitalization a must.

7. Canine Cough aka Kennel Cough
• Highly contagious group of respiratory diseases. Incubation 2 to 3 days
• The most common forms are canine Para influenza virus and the bacteria Bordetella
bronchiseptica
• It is best the puppy see a Veterinarian to rule out more serious upper respiratory
diseases including Distemper and pneumonia.
• A mild disease ,most dogs do not require any hospitalization. They are sent home
with up to 10 days worth of anti-biotic to ward off any secondary infections. They
should be kept dry and limit exercising to moderate . Cough medicine is sometimes
used .
• The cough is harsh , dry and hacking often accompanied with gagging or retching.
Sometimes with nasal congestion The puppies usually are bright ,alert, have a good
appetite, and no fever . Like a child with a cold too sick to go to school but acting
normal otherwise. Usually they are over it within 10 to 14 days.
• The most severe less common form of canine cough form is tracheobronchitis . It can
have a low-grade fever, loss of appetite and depression . They have a moist
productive cough, nasal discharge, wheezing and rapid breathing this type usually
needs hospitalization
• Vaccinations for canine cough are included in the DHPP combination shots and in a
separate shot for Bordetella
•

8. Rabies
• Incubation average 2 to 8 weeks or up to one year of being infected
• Rabies is fatal . In humans only 7 have been known to survive . A
series of shots must begin within 24 hours of exposure . It is too late
once the symptoms show
• Dogs must have rabies shots. The first shot given at 4 months, 2 nd at
one year and then annually or every 3 years depending on the
State.
• In the USA wild animals carry rabies. Our vaccination protocols
have greatly reduced the chance of rabies in pets and their owners
• Wild animals mostly responsible for Rabies in the USA are skunks,
raccoons, foxes, coyotes and bats .
• An animal can have rabies but until the disease symptoms emerge
they are of no harm. Giving rabies vaccine to an animal already
exposed to the virus will not stop the virus from emerging up to one
year latter

9. Areas with Rabies
• Rabies kills 50.000 people annually world
wide

10. Symptoms
• Furious form best known:
• Dog becomes vicious, shows no fear attacking anything that moves.
Face spasms expose the teeth .
• Paralytic form:
• Throat and jaw muscles become paralyzed causing the mouth to
drop open and the tongue to hang out. He cannot swallow , coughs
drools gags and ay foam at the mouth . Eventually looses control of
his body collapses and dies .

11. In Conclusion
• As terrible Parvo and Distemper can be, if you purchase your puppy from a
responsible breeder , get your additional puppy shots on time, and keep your puppy
at home until 16 weeks your puppy should be fine.
• In the late 1900s CA legislators thought it would be a good idea to regulate residential
dog breeders. They require costly breeder permits, allowing only one litter per year.
• This caused a brand new problem. Because there is now a shortage of small breed
and popular breed puppies, dog brokers and smugglers emerged. Because they did
not breed the dog the puppy lemon laws and breeder laws written strictly to regulate
dog breeders do not apply to them .
• In 2006 over 250,000 puppies came into CA from Korea, Indonesia, Viet Nam,
Mexico . Many of the puppies as young as 3 to 5 weeks of age. A federal law was
passed in 2008 making it illegal to bring in puppies under 6 months of age into the
USA to sell to the public. Unfortunately the law is not being enforced . Because of fear
of Rabies and other diseases coming in, the CDC is in charge of enforcement and not
enough money is available for enforcement .
• The number of dogs bought in this way has skyrocketed. Most small breed dogs
being sold in large market areas are illegal imports. Majority from Korea .
• Even the rescue groups are importing dogs. I have included a link to a horrible
situation where 221 dogs were imported to be sent to a store adoption event in
Yonkers NY . They all were sick with Distemper and/or Parvo

12. Links
• Rescued puppies coming in sick :
• http://www.wickheadedwoman.com/uploads/R
• Los Angeles County border puppy
taskforce letter to the Veterinarians :
• http://admin.publichealth.lacounty.gov/vet/docs
• Presented by Delayre Kennel:
• http://www.delayrekennel.com/