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Author
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Topic: Age Check
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preciousjeni
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Member # 942
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posted May 13, 2004 04:39 PM
I posted this in Health because I'm worried about inoculations and such.
I got my pup just a few weeks ago and according to the shelter's guesstimate, he should be turning 10 weeks old this week. BUT, there's NO chance he's that old!
In his very short life, he was brought in, adopted to a family with a chihuahua, brought back and then adopted by me (where he going to stay!!)
My vet says he's probably between 7 and 9 weeks old. My trainer says he's 6 or 7 weeks old. I don't have any way of telling! 6 to 10 weeks of age is quite a spread.
I've also heard two theories:
Dogs lose their baby teeth at 14 weeks.
and
Dogs lose their baby teeth at 16 weeks.
AAAAAAA! Which is it? How else can I pinpoint his age? It's hard to do things with him when people need for him to be older than 6/7/8 weeks to perform services. HELP!
Posts: 9 | From: Athens, GA USA | Registered: May 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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Member # 740
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posted May 13, 2004 05:02 PM
Go with what your Vet says - he didn't buy his degree with toothpicks. After the first year the number of weeks won't matter anyway.
Your vet can start innocations based on the youngest age he thinks he is. Ariel got her first set of shots 2 weeks early because we live in an area with lots of dogs of all ages.
They dilute the vaccinations to ensure the dog is safe and she has gotten an extra set but what's another 60 dollars in the long run.
Treat him like you would if he was 8 weeks and watch his behaviour for signs when to move on or if he is ready.
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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BreeZy/sheltiepups
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posted May 13, 2004 10:06 PM
Yea, I would also go with what the vet says, I think trainers are great but the vet went to school to study animals so I think he knows a little bit more then the trainer. Post pictures ~!
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this is your life, is it everything you dreamed that it would be
when the world was younger and you had everything to lose
Posts: 147 | From: PA | Registered: Oct 2003
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charlene1
Junior Member
Member # 754
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posted May 14, 2004 03:57 AM
Ha Ha !! Wouldn't be so sure vet knows best! I have met a few who can't even tell what breed a dog is let alone what age it is.
If you have a good vet then o with what they say but do mak esure you have the best vet in your area as anything else is not worth it.
Posts: 25 | From: u.k | Registered: Mar 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted May 14, 2004 06:14 AM
You don't need to know the breed to know which end the tails at. Just saying that if I had to count on someone's opinion I would go with the one who trained at least 6 years. And in the long run - the pup's age within a couple of weeks doesn't matter at all.
It all depends on your outlook. If you assume the puppy is 7 weeks old - then if it is older and progress faster - you can bragg how quickly they are learning. If you say it is 11 weeks old, you will say that because it's first couple weeks of life it's a little slower but catching up.
Never mind how many weeks since it's mommy pushed it into the world. It sounds like this pup's life started the day you picked it up!!!!! ![[Wink]](wink.gif) ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
[ May 14, 2004, 08:37 AM: Message edited by: doglover ]
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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ellierat
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posted May 14, 2004 04:40 PM
Your trainer would be basing his/her opinion on development, ie: different ages, different stages, but he could well be more mature because of his upbringing, at 6 weeks they are just learning to play, by 8 weeks they become more independent etc.
Your vet would be basing his on growth development, which would be far more accurate. You could find out what weight he should approx. be at certain ages and try an estimate from there. Of course this all depends on the breeders feeding etc. Always a guess, go for the youngest age for vaccinations to be safe.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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dogluva_nz
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posted May 14, 2004 10:10 PM
I Agree with Ellierat and doglover. As for your other question, a puppy starts loosing their teeth at around 16 weeks of age. You may notice swollen gums at 14 weeks. Enjoy your puppy no matter what its age. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Posts: 41 | Registered: Mar 2004
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charlene1
Junior Member
Member # 754
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posted May 17, 2004 10:14 AM
Actually dog lover I would expect a vet not to just know which end the tail is at but a **** sight more than that. A collie is hardly difficult to regconise is it? All i'm saying is get a decent vet because if you get a useless one you might as well not bother having one at all. Having worked at several vets I can honestly say I have seen the importance of not ust believing anything you are told, just because someone has a certifcate on their wall.
Posts: 25 | From: u.k | Registered: Mar 2004
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Dana A. Vamvakias, DVM
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posted May 17, 2004 10:58 AM
The normal process of baby teeth to adult teeth happen starting with the center two top incisors(front teeth of people). The puppy's teeth become loose close to 14-15 weeks, if I see a puppy with permanent front incisors it is 4 months, if they have the front teeth but the canines (fangs) are still puppy it is about 5 months. The canines drop in at 6 months.
A veterinarian begins vaccines based on age and history. If the puppy has a well vaccinated mother, vaccines usually don't start until about 7-8 weeks. Why? Maternal antibodies are high and they destroy any benefits to the vaccine. If the puppy has a questionable history sometimes we will begin at 5 to 6 weeks. Vaccines will usually continue every 3 weeks until the dog reaches 4 months. In some breeds, rotts, dobes, and pits we will do parvo vaccines as far as 24 weeks.
Dr.V
Posts: 3 | From: North Carolina | Registered: May 2004
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lou3
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posted May 17, 2004 11:54 AM
wow - they totally overvaccinate for parvo in the US, we do one shot at eight-ten weeks, one two weeks later and then just yearly boosters after that. Cant believe how much thye do it over there, has anyone ever taught the drug companies the basic biochemisty of the immune system - that much vaccination for the same thing could actually be detrimental to the dog in the short term. Think of the opportunistic infections that could take hold while you're busy assaulting the immune system with attenuated vaccines. ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Lou
[ May 17, 2004, 11:56 AM: Message edited by: lou3 ]
Posts: 461 | From: uk | Registered: Nov 2003
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Dana A. Vamvakias, DVM
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posted May 17, 2004 12:54 PM
I think they know very well what they are doing. It is not a US thing it is dependent on regions where parvo is the most common. We are all familiar with vaccination and immunological processes, so the statement of OVER vaccinating is incorrect. It is not uncommon to have a 4 or 5 month old well vaccinated rott (4 Dhppcs) come in sick with parvo and I have seen them die.
In Europe and other areas protocal is different. In my 5 years in Europe heartworms were not an issue yet, in the southern US you must have a dog on HW prevention and people even do cats as well.
Dr.V.
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Dr. Dana A. Vamvakias
Veterinarian
Posts: 3 | From: North Carolina | Registered: May 2004
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ellierat
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posted May 17, 2004 03:53 PM
Yes Dana you are correct, in Australia we only have certain areas where heartworm is prevalent, I don't have to treat mine, only the ones I want to show as we have to travel round for that.
Parvo is quite prevelant in our major cities, but not so much in country areas, although I do still vaccinate against it because it can carry quite easily and you never know. I would certainly not take the chance with it and go with my original advise, take the pup as being younger and do what your vet says Preciousjeni.
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I love my labs.
Posts: 880 | From: australia | Registered: Feb 2004
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DaxAriel's toy
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posted May 17, 2004 07:18 PM
Dana, my breeder & vet both mentioned Rotti's tendency to get parvo. Do they have any idea why these breeds are more prone to get?
Posts: 748 | From: Edmonton AB Canada | Registered: Mar 2004
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lou3
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posted May 18, 2004 09:57 AM
So what's the plan by vaccinating so much - just to keep the antibody levels sky high just in case? Do you have any bother with opportunistic infections in the dogs that get vaccinated a lot? Do you use a different vaccine to the one we use in the UK?
Lou
Posts: 461 | From: uk | Registered: Nov 2003
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sambucca/whiskey
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Member # 989
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posted May 18, 2004 05:58 PM
Go with your vet they can tell more accuratley I know as far as males, because that is all I have is how far along there genitals are developed.
As far sa when they start loosing teeth it varies my Whiskey is 18 weeks and just lost his first tooth today.
Posts: 246 | Registered: May 2004
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