Hi All,
I'm a newbie to this forum and a first time mum. My bitch gave birth eight days ago and so far 'touch wood' all is going well. Pups are gaining weight on average 30 to 40 grams a day. I weigh them about the same time each day so that it's a reliable indicator. At the moment my big concern is can i walk my newly whelped bitch and my other dogs. Many years ago before i moved to this house i adopted a rescue dog who it turned out had parvo virus. She had only been with me three days and she died. She came from a so called reputable rescue centre. I've seen the damage this virus can do and i'm so scared it will be passed on to the new born pups if i walk my adult dogs who are becoming restless. All of the adult dogs are vacinated and wormed up to date but is there still a risk to the pups that they could become exposed to something nasty???

i do walk other dogs in my house but their not anywere near new mum and pups, i dont walk new mum this early on after having pups my girls wouldnt want to leave their babies ,theres a dissinfectent you can get but forgot what its called? and it kills the parva virus ,you can wash other dogs feet with this when youve walked them. x

To be honest I've never had a mum wanting to leave her new borns. Re the walking her,would she not be content for a little play in the garden for the next few weeks?. I would not like to take the risk of her picking up anything, not just parvo.
The Animal Health Company do a parvovirucide and there is Formula H that you can get from Pets at Home as well. Mistral 's disinfectant is also very effective as well.

Kind Regards

If your adult dogs are fully vaccinated the puppies will be covered by maternal antibodies, so are at relatively little risk. You and your family are just as great a risk for bringing in disease as your other dogs, so don't keep them under house arrest! I've always been guided by my bitches as to when they want to leave their pups for a short break outside the premises; when they appear at the door when I'm getting the other dogs' leads on, then I know she wants to come too, so she does! I've never, ever had a pup catch anything and all the dogs have been exercised and relaxed. A stir-crazy bitch who isn't allowed her usual routine if she wants it won't be such a good mother, and the whole business will be more of a trial for her.

This early after whelping, all my bitches would be in total distress if taken off out for a jaunt.  Their maternal instincts are so strong, they are only happy with a quick run round the garden, have a wee, and back in.  My other dogs don't have access to mum and pups.

I know some folk, after walking the rest of the household dogs, will change clothes and shoes prior to going back to check the bitch.

>This early after whelping, all my bitches would be in total distress if taken off out for a jaunt.

That's why I'm guided by their wishes. :-) After all, having the litter was my idea, not hers, so I have to do everything I can to make her happy! Usually by 5 or 6 days they're confident and secure enough to feel ready for a change of scene.

gosh! im still having to prize mine out for a quick toileting LOL ,x

I never walk my mothers whilst the pups are at the house but I do my other ogs.  They are a fit active breed as well who love going for a run, swim, retrieve but they really don't miss not doing it, though they are all ready for it once I do take them.

Thank you very much everyone for your replies. It is so appreciated. Unfortunately i don't have the space or the facilities to keep the two other adult dogs seperate from mum and pups. One of the adult dogs is of the hyperactive kind and i know she is gagging to get out and chase tennis balls! A trip to PAH is on the cards i think!

>Unfortunately i don't have the space or the facilities to keep the two other adult dogs seperate from mum and pups.

There's really no need to, as long as they're vaccinated up to date. As the pups get older they'll be mixing with all your other dogs for socialisation purposes, and mum can't stay with them 24/7 so she'll be wanting to be with her friends too.

Mine too are desparate to go out with the others after the first few days. I disinfec around the teat and underneath and between hind legs. Have never had a problem and all vaccinated. Hopefully if pups have had first colostrum and Mum is vaccinated, all will be OK while Mum's immunity still exists. That is the way I have always looked at it.
My Mum's would hate me for not taking them out.
I suppose they are all different.
Diane

The only person I've know where some of her pups got Parvo is a person that disinfected everything, everyone, everywhere.

A lot depends on your area. I have bitches that have wanted to out after the first couple of days, though sometimes they only get the gate before rushing back! By the time the pups are a week old I have to take mum with the other dogs or she would try to get out through the window herself. But then I live in the countryside, so we don't met up with other dogs very often.

I would check with your vet to see if they have had many cases of any illness in your area.

mine never want to leave their pups until they are 3 or 4 weeks old to go for a walk, and id certainly never take mine anywhere near a public area that could have had other dogs around until they were vaccinated.

This early after whelping, all my bitches would be in total distress if taken off out for a jaunt.  Their maternal instincts are so strong, they are only happy with a quick run round the garden, have a wee, and back in.  My other dogs don't have access to mum and pups.

I know some folk, after walking the rest of the household dogs, will change clothes and shoes prior to going back to check the bitch.

Having been in the unenviable situation of losing pups with kennel cough and also a nasty tummy upset, I keep mum confined to my property at least until the pups are 3 weeks old.  It's not a problem for mum.  They can't usually bear to be away from their pups before then.

> id certainly never take mine anywhere near a public area that could have had other dogs around until they were vaccinated.

Obviously you make sure there have been no foxes or rats in the vicinity either. ;-)

I'm with JG on this one and am totally guided by the new mum. I walk all my other dogs but I have always managed to walk in areas where not too many people go. My bitches are nearly always walking with the others after a week or so. I give feet a wipe over with parvocide or the like when we get home.

I'll give my girl a short walk once she starts asking to go, but wash and dry feet and tummy before allowing her back with the babies.

I too am with JG here, my Mums go out when they show an interest again usually about 7-10 days. Pups have Mums immunity up till 7-10 weeks and to be honest a wipe round with a disifected cloth does nothing at all. Only a full wash would help, and that will not stop the possibility that Mum has sniffed something and is already carrying a bug. Its a sort of risk assesment thing but the need for a break in routien of pup mothering is much appreciated in our house. I also happen to think that pups become introduced to a variety of  things from Mums feet and build up a gradual resistance to them before they ever go out themselves.
It is prudent just to check with your vet that there is no raging epidemic of any nasties in your neigbourhood and keep to less frequented areas or open fields.
Aileen

I'm new to breeding and have been keeping my other dog in as well, she's being fantastic about because i was so worried that there always together.

So is it ok to walk other dogs in your household when they all mix?

Or for those f you that jeep your dogs in when do you resume normal walking?