Puppies and humans...?

Question

Yesterday, I took my four yorkie pups to the vet to have their first set of shots. While waiting several people came over to pet them (especially kids). A gentleman (just another customer, not vet staff) approached me and told me that I shouldn't allow people to pet such young pups it could make the pups sick. Should I be worried? The vet won't reopen until tomorrow and I'm a little worried.

Answer 1

If your puppies were nursed by their mother they received antibodies from her for the typical canine diseases (assuming she was vaccinated). That immunity lasts while they are nursing and for a couple weeks there after. Since most puppies begin eating solid foods around 3-4 weeks and by 6 weeks are no longer dependent upon their mother's milk, at all, the recommended time for first shots is 6-8 weeks.

Your puppies should have had their own immunity to diseases when you took them to the vet (via their mother), even if a person touched them that was carrying disease from their own, sick dog (which is not very likely).

So, don't worry.

However, as a breeder, I do not let people come and touch my puppies until they are 4+ weeks old because disease can be spread to them at that time (certain breeds are more susceptible).

Answer 2

Dogs rarely catch any human diseases. THey can catch colds and fevers but it is a less than 1% chance that they will. The only time where you do not want people to pet or touch your dogs is when you are rasing guard dogs or working dogs. Police dogs are raised to be affectionate ONLY to the staff and their immediate family and no one else. Guard dogs are raised to be accepting of only their immediate family or family member. Don't worry about your "kids" getting sick because chances are VERY SLIM that they will. Since you have yorkies, i'm sure you don't want them for protection work, so, its okay to let most people pet them or touch them. If anything actually, the ones that would be getting sick are the children that touched them. Most dogs are born with worms passed on from their mother. Worms can be passed on to humans. I wouldn't worry fo your dogs. After they are wormed, everyone around them should be fine too.

Answer 3

The guy probably was thinking about how puppies can become a little sick in the tummy if handled too much. Don't worry. Simply petting them won't hurt them a bit, but sometimes they can be over-handled. Doesn't seem like that was what happened though, so relax and enjoy your babies.

Answer 4

Being touched and handled gently by anyone is a good thing for pups. This man was probably not petted enough when he was young.

Answer 5

Anyone petting your puppies is not going to make them sick. They love being petted and paid attention to. Don't worry, they'll be just fine.

Answer 6

All dogs get pet by little kids and nothing happens to those puppies so you should not be worried.

Answer 7

Dear worried,
Pets are awesome,they have no human prejudices. They love and accept you as you are, or they ignore,leave and in extremes,hide or run away.
The greater the exposure people have to pets , hopefully the lesser they will be abandoned, mistreated and etc.
Please continue to exemplify and typify what a good human should be to their pets.
Thank you

Answer 8

Absolutely not! Puppies do not get sick from people petting them.

Answer 9

Don't worry. I raise puppies. Dogs don't catch illnesses from people.

Answer 10

IF THE PUPPIES ARE UP TO DATE ON SHOTS YOU'RE FINE. YOU DON'T WANT TO TAKE THEM TO A DOG PARK TILL ALL SHOTS ARE DONE