education-safety
Have a Healthy Dog Park Visit by Dr Liz Grauer DVM ::.
Vaccines:
For a safe dog park visit, your dog must be current on the following vaccinations...
If your puppy is between 4 mos - 1 yr:
**note about leptospirosis: This is an uncommon disease and a lot of the Distemper Parvo vaccines are leaving it out because it causes the most bad vaccine reactions, but it is a water-borne nasty infection. If your dog hasn't previously reacted to it, Dr Grauer recommends it, as we're seeing it pop up more in the NW. Drinking out of mud puddles that an infected animal has urinated near is a prime way dogs catch the infection.
Other Health Concerns:
Diseases for which there are no effective vaccines are a threat anywhere there is dirt and animals and water together. Intestinal parasitic diseases are inherent in the soil nearly everywhere in Clark County and not necessarily specific to dogs. However, any area where animals congregate in higher numbers is likely to have more disease organisms present. This is true not only for dogs but cats, rabbits, raccoons, possums and birds can all infect an area. There is no way to "disinfect" a dog park, a river, a beach or anything other than concrete slabs, so keep in mind that you use the dog park at your own risk. Have your dog's stool sample checked regularly (we recommend every 6 months) to reduce the likelihood that your dog would be a carrier and if at any time your dog develops diarrhea and/or vomiting, be sure to tell your vet that s/he does visit a dog park.
Ways to reduce the risks: never let your dog drink out of mud puddles or eat ANYTHING off the ground, even if it is just grass. Water, dirt, grass & fecal material can carry giardia, coccidia, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms, plus bacterial infections like salmonella, camplylobacter and clostridium. Pick up after your dog immediately and if you see any fecal material left by another dog, pick it up also and dispose of it properly. Do not bring your dog to the dog park if s/he is showing any gastrointestinal distress of any kind, undergoing chemotherapy, is less than 4 months of age, very elderly, diabetic, suffering from kidney disease, pregnant, or nursing. These animals have reduced immunity to parasites and may be more severely affected by them if infected.
For a safe dog park visit, your dog must be current on the following vaccinations...
If your puppy is between 4 mos - 1 yr:
-
Distemper-parvo vaccine within past 6 months
(dogs under 4 mos of age should NOT be at the park)
-
Distemper-parvo vaccine every 3 years thereafter
(if your pooch has been properly & completely vaccinated as a pup) - Kennel Cough Intranasal Vaccine every 6 months
- Current Rabies vaccine (required by the county)
- Leptospirosis Vaccine**
**note about leptospirosis: This is an uncommon disease and a lot of the Distemper Parvo vaccines are leaving it out because it causes the most bad vaccine reactions, but it is a water-borne nasty infection. If your dog hasn't previously reacted to it, Dr Grauer recommends it, as we're seeing it pop up more in the NW. Drinking out of mud puddles that an infected animal has urinated near is a prime way dogs catch the infection.
Other Health Concerns:
Diseases for which there are no effective vaccines are a threat anywhere there is dirt and animals and water together. Intestinal parasitic diseases are inherent in the soil nearly everywhere in Clark County and not necessarily specific to dogs. However, any area where animals congregate in higher numbers is likely to have more disease organisms present. This is true not only for dogs but cats, rabbits, raccoons, possums and birds can all infect an area. There is no way to "disinfect" a dog park, a river, a beach or anything other than concrete slabs, so keep in mind that you use the dog park at your own risk. Have your dog's stool sample checked regularly (we recommend every 6 months) to reduce the likelihood that your dog would be a carrier and if at any time your dog develops diarrhea and/or vomiting, be sure to tell your vet that s/he does visit a dog park.
Ways to reduce the risks: never let your dog drink out of mud puddles or eat ANYTHING off the ground, even if it is just grass. Water, dirt, grass & fecal material can carry giardia, coccidia, roundworms, hookworms and whipworms, plus bacterial infections like salmonella, camplylobacter and clostridium. Pick up after your dog immediately and if you see any fecal material left by another dog, pick it up also and dispose of it properly. Do not bring your dog to the dog park if s/he is showing any gastrointestinal distress of any kind, undergoing chemotherapy, is less than 4 months of age, very elderly, diabetic, suffering from kidney disease, pregnant, or nursing. These animals have reduced immunity to parasites and may be more severely affected by them if infected.
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