If they inadvertently handled a contagious puppy at the first kennel stop of the day, the prospective buyer can then carry the disease on their hands and clothing to each kennel seen afterwards. All are infected. Meter readers and repairmen can walk through a contaminated area in one yard and carry the infection to all the yards he visits afterwards. Parvo virus can remain viable in the environment up to six months and there is little an owner can do to eradicate it from the yard. Interiors can be washed with a strong bleach solution to cleanse the home.
Prevention is the key to keeping a puppy safe from parvo virus.
Prevention includes not one but a minimum of four vaccinations. Puppies should receive their first immunization at six weeks, another at nine, a third at twelve and then a final one is given at nine months. This schedule must be kept for a pet s immunity to build correctly. Just because a puppy has had one or two of the vaccinations, complete immunity is NOT in effect. The first dose is a loading dose, the second and third ones actually give the immunity and the fourth dose is a booster.