How long after receiving parvo vacination can a dog come in an area that had parvo in it?

how long after receiving parvo vacination can a dog come in an area that had parvo in it?


Parvo disease is carried by feces of other dogs infected water bowls, food bowls, any thing another infected dog has touched. If your dog is vaccinated, then keep it clean and never ever take anywhere near anything where you think it contracted this disease.

General rule of thumb after a vaccination is to wait two weeks before taking a chance of coming in contact with other dogs. It is always a good idea to steer clear of a place you know for a fact had pathogens present. No vaccination is 100% and vaccinated dogs do get sick with parvo although usually not as severely as an unvaccinated dog would. Parvo is a virus and as such can be tough to clear out of an area such as a yard. Any smooth surfaces like hard floors or concrete can be disinfected.

Parvovirus is probably the most common viral illness of dogs at the present time. It is much more common in puppies than it is in adult dogs. It can be very hard to successfully vaccinate a puppy for this disease because the antibody protection the puppy acquires from its mother can interfere with vaccination. Many vets recommend vaccinating puppies every three to four weeks for this virus starting at 6 weeks of age and continuing until they are at least 16 weeks of age and preferably 20 weeks of age. It is possible that this vaccine confers lifelong immunity once it does work but most veterinarians continue to recommend yearly vaccination for it. It seems prudent to at least get the vaccination at one year of age. Since it is combined with the other vaccines it is often easier just to give it yearly with them.

The surest way to avoid parvo infection in your dog is to adhere to the recommended vaccination schedule which begins when puppies are 6-8 weeks of age. Puppies should not be allowed to socialize with other dogs or frequent areas where other dogs have been until 2 weeks after they have had their last vaccination. Immunization for parvo is usually included in your dog's distemper vaccine. This shot gives protection against several potentially fatal canine diseases all at the same time.

If your pet becomes infected, please keep in mind that dogs with parvo shed the virus in their feces and are extremely contagious to other dogs. Follow these recommendations to help prevent the spread of this disease.


Keep the infected dog isolated from all other dogs for at least one month after full recovery.

Clean up all the dog's stools in your yard.

Use a 1:30 ratio of chlorine bleach and water to clean food and water bowls (4 oz. in 1 gallon of water). Wash any bedding the dog has been in contact with in this same bleach solution and hot water. You should also try to disinfect any other areas that the dog has been, like linoleum, concrete kennels, crates, etc.

If you have any other dogs that are two years old or younger, or who have never been vaccinated for parvo, please bring them in for a booster as soon as possible.

Be sure to feed your dog a bland diet, such as Canine Prescription I/d, until he is fully recovered. When switching back to his normal diet, mix the regular food with the I/d for 2-3 days to help your pet gradually adjust to the change.

If you have had parvo in your home, use a strong bleach/water solution to kill it. Soak the yard with it -- better to kill the grass than your next dog! Be careful using it on carpets and fabrics, though. Parvo can live up to 6 months or so in your home or yard. Before you bring home another dog, be sure it has a strong immunity to parvo. You can have a veterinarian draw blood and run a titre to find out how well your prospective dog will fare in a parvo-infected environment. Adult dogs generally have a higher resistance than puppies do, but they need to be kept current on their vaccines. If in doubt, have your vet do the titre.