Someone I know has lost 8 out of 9 puppies to parvo , this is what the vet has confirmed. They were only 3 or 4 days old when they died , I've been wondering do mothers not pass any immunity on to puppies for the first few weeks ?
I know the bitch was still taken out for walks and the vet said there must be infection in the area where they walk. It has made me even more conscious now to be extra sterile when I breed again. I've always kept my dogs in when I've had puppies but I'll be making sure our feet are disinfected now .

So sad,possibly spread to the pups accidently through infection from Mum/other dogs/owners whilst on walks.You can never be too careful.With our recent litter Mum just had access to a safe area in our(large)garden and didn't have contact with our other dogs apart from our old timer who doesn't go out with the others - just garden and OH works yard.I/OH/daughter wore a pair of crocs that I frequently washed that I only wore in the vicinity of pups and used hand wash.
So sorry for your friends loss.

I've been wondering do mothers not pass any immunity on to puppies for the first few weeks ?

Yes, they do, but just because you have immunity to something does not mean you won't get it, just that you have a better chance of fighting it and if all have inoculations against it hopefully it will not spread, but it only takes that one dog. Immune systems vary so much from each individual and it also depends on different strains, parvo can still kill even with mothers immunity.

It is always a risk to take out a bitch after whelping and allow other dogs which go out to mix with them, as in allowing visitors, it is a risk that each breeder will take individually, and disinfectants and a big bottle of parvocide for cleaning are always on my essentials list.

The risk is always lurking, some of us will not allow our bitches out until the pups are 8 weeks, others will. :-)

So sorry for your friends loss, devastating.

I've been wondering do mothers not pass any immunity on to puppies for the first few weeks ?

Do you know if the bitch was vaccinated so had any immunity to pass on? I bought a pup once whose mother was not vaccinated, and the pup came down with distemper at 7 weeks.

So sorry for your friends loss...
My girl had to have a C section and picked up a bug from the vets, puppies got it as well and I was left with 2 survivors and nearly lost my girl too
(weak from the c section as she lost lot of blood and then had the diahhrea)
Those few days were the most awful days of my life, having no sleep, worrying about my girl and fighting and loosing the battle against the bug...
I'll remember the smell forever and the feeling of desperation when the next puppy started to smell of it and I knew that meant here we go again :(

Next time I will be disinfecting the vets room myself if I need to take a bitch in!

Hi thanks everyone for your replies , I think the bitch had her puppy injections but I can't say for sure as she is not a close ( close ) friend if you know what I mean . I know she is all for alternatives at the moment so doubt she will of had any boosters.