I am always a bit worried about my dogs picking up viruses etc. when we are visiting the vet. I usually try to wash off their feet with a hibiscrub solution  when we get home.
  I was wondering if anyone does similar or if there is maybe a handier method like antiseptic wipes that I could keep in the car . I'd really  be happier cleaning their feet before we get into  the car for the journey home . Does anyone have any ideas?

Would never have thought to do this.

Maybe I'm a bit old school/old fashioned. Dogs are exposed to stuff all the time. Obviously they should vaccinated against the real nasties but as with children, they cannot be expected to live in an aseptic bubble.

Doing this has never even crossed my mind. I think it would be totally unnecessary. We (humans and animals) all need to come into contact with pathogens to ensure the development of our immune systems. So no I wouldn't recommend doing anything at all to "sterilise" your dogs feet.

Whew!  Glad I'm not seen as neglectful.  Not anything I have ever thought about.  However, when we are down at the caravan I leave a bucket of warm water at the steps when I know that I'm taking them to the beach.  I like to wash the sand and salt off their feet when we get back.

I think the only times Ive washed my dogs feet is when they have been muddy and they're not coming in until they are clean. They all appeared to have survived to good ages with no problems.

I have not done this or thought of doing this! I do keep him close to me at vets but anything airborne still he could succumb too even if I washed his paws

my whole dogs lies on the floor at the vet waiting his turn . I wouldn't think of wiping him down and considering the rubbish they eat at times and roll in not sure there would be any point.

Seeing as most viruses are airborn, wiping the paws would not make a difference.

Trouble is Garbo antiseptic wipes etc, the germs they kill they are none lethal to our dogs anyway....waste of time.....most germs/bacteria do us and our furry friends no harm we've built up a tolerance, makes me laugh when I sometimes see adverts that say kills 99% of germs, it's the 1% it doesn't kill that is dangerous unless you have a weak immune system, which for many reasons can be so, but on the whole our dogs are safe, unless something like parvo is present.

Still nothing wrong in washing your dogs feet in warm water on return if you are worried, our vets scrub down their tables after each patient, and generally only unnocculated puppies are at risk if put on the floor, but even then it is a low risk, the worst you'll find I guess could be some pee on the floor etc, but no worse than walking in grass, infact if we could see all the germs and bacteria on grass and pavements we'd probably never wish to go out, most sick dogs at the vet don't have anything catching by walking where they have been and then licking feet.

By all means, nothing wrong in what you are doing, you're just being protective, your dogs won't mind just........ it's probably a waste of time your worrying about it. x

Many thanks all for taking time to reply. I am convinced that we often pick up diarrhoea bugs from the vet. I also feel that ringcraft is a source of bugs as people think it's okay to take an off colour dog along. Sometimes people have to be asked to leave when they've brought  along a coughing dog-
Maybe I am just being paranoid :)

I'll do this with nursing bitches, everytime they go outside, never mind to the vet's office.   But I've never done this otherwise.   I do stop anybody letting their dogs go nose to nose with mine in the waiting area - WHY do people allow this!!!    Basically mine had their shots/boosters and should be strong enough to shake off anything doing the rounds locally.   Yes sick dogs go to vets, but there has to be a limit re how many precautions you have to take.   

I was in one waiting room once, when somebody came in with a dog who was coughing - and not just because it was lunging on the collar either.   I've never seen a waiting room empty so fast!!!

ps    Mine tend to lie on the floor in the waiting room (Basset at least) so any 'wiping down' would need to involve more than feet!! 

I have never thought of doing that.  I will from now on though.  My dog has a condition which is an ongoing issue.  She is always ultra clean when we go to the vet and I was told a clean dog can pick up more germs.  I have obviously made her ill.   When we go through mud, sea and sand I always wipe my dogs down with Sainsburys grooming wipes more to protect my car then anything else.
I never attend my GP surgery as I regard it as filthy.

No never have done and I am not going to start now after 50 years of dog ownership. I obviously am aware of the possibility of sick dogs at the vet but a little common sense prevails. After all the dogs in the vet have probably just walked in and even if I keep mine in the car park the risk is much the same. My vets are very switched on and always ask those with coughing dogs to remain outside until they are called. Similar with poorly tummies. My vets are happy to go to the door to call people through and often use a side door so as not to walk poorly dogs through the waiting room.
I think we risk making dogs as reactive as many kids are these days by being overprotective. The more bugs they meet the better their immune systems. My girls meet dogs every day on their walks and we take the risk that the dog they had a good old chat to this morning developed some illness this afternoon. If they meet lots every day they develope a much more robust immune system.
Aileen

Giardia cysts can't be killed by most disinfectants anyway, they would need something containing ammonia (ie bleach) to kill, but you're not going to wipe your dog's feet down with bleach... Point is - you can't get rid of it all, even if you disinfect. 

To go in the direction of wiping feet etc lies OCD and worrying about everything, rather than just waiting till you have a problem to deal with...

Having said that, there's more at risk with a pregnant bitch, so I will wipe her feet down, see if the vet can come out to the car park or similar.

(Vets)  " always ask those with coughing dogs to remain outside until they are called."

Should!!!!     Fact is what happened with the one I was involved with that emptied the waiting area, didn't involve the vets - reception should have done something, but didn't!!

Just been reading the news letter from my local vet. It would seem that they've had a case of Alabama Rot in the surgery. Poor dog had to be PTS. They are in the Heathfield ,East Sussex area.
They are recommending wiping dog paws after exercising in muddy fields and woodland.

Never thought about doing it, I would only wash my dogs if they are filthy from jumping in a ditch or salty from the sea, personally I would keep my dog in the car and ask the vet to come out and look at it if I thought it had something contagious such as coughing or the squits but of course not everyone would think to do that.  I have had to take whelping bitches to the vets occasionally but that is normally during the early hours of the morning or on a Bank Holiday

> When we go through mud, sea and sand I always wipe my dogs down

Yes I agree, perhaps I didn't make it clear regarding the wiping of my dogs' feet.  When down at the caravan I rinse salt and sand off because I don't want it traipsed through on the carpets.

Off topic but... How do you fit 20 odd dogs in a caravan JeanSW!?

And they are newfis lol !

Good Question debbo but it's 35ft long and we don't all sleep in the same bed. 

ROFLMAO