hi, when i had my pup, i did'nt let it out in my garden before its injections because i knew foxes visited in the night and i was worried about infections and diseases being passed on. does anyone know if foxes can pass on anything as because i know pups shpuld'nt go where other dogs have been or near other dogs until after their vacs. the thing is that the puppy was use to going out in the garden when i got him and would have been toilet trained a lot qicker had i let him out as he was desperate to get out there, always scratching at the glass door. any information for future reference

Hi, foxes used to carry distemper I believe , but I dont think they do any more. My main worry of dogs being around where foxes have been is the chance of the dog catching sarcoptic mange - sometmes called fox or red mange. Keep an eye out for little pink or scabby patches on the front of their arm pits , chest or on the top of their head, which is where puppies usually show it first. It you suspect he may have these, dose him with Stronghold drop on - from the vet straight away, dont wait for a diagnosis. Having had this problem myself in the past, all my puppies are protected with Stronghold from 6 weeks to 12 months, as often puppies will contract it where an adult will not. It also clear fleas and treats for roundworm, so if you do use it dont worm with anything else until he's the age where he may need a tapeworm treatment. But I dont mean to frighten you, its just that I have had a bad experience with fox mange , its very unlikely that your puppy will catch anything. Try not to worry too much - enjoy him!! :-)

Hi WL I think stronghold also covers for heartworm as well doesn`t it & ear mites in cats?
Christine2

Yes, I have just read the blurb and it does do heartworm. Lots of vets also say it treats ear mites in dogs- but as yuo rightly say, it does treat them in cats but not dogs.