Hello all! This is Mrs. CWard and I wanted to put my two cents in on the discussion that was going on concerning the protection that a parvo shot (8 in 1, 7 in 1, etc.) will provide a puppy who is still receiving mothers milk. I am an aspiring vet student so I try to keep myself informed of such information as well as also just trying to maintain my own dogs health. First I must start by saying that, Bryant, you have contradicted yourself in your post. Your first line states that, "the mothers milk has nothing to do do with protection." You follow that by saying that, "The only antibodies a pup receives are passed from...an antibody rich milk called colostrum...the antibodies will last for several weeks." So here you can't have your cake and eat it too.
The mother's milk can NOT do nothing at all while it is still providing antibodies for several weeks after birth. Also while colostrum is the rich "booster" of the puppies new life...this is not the only time that antibodies are passed from mother to pup. This is an ongoing process; the colostrum is just the most power packed dose of antibodies delivered at one time.
The statement that the bitches milk will "override" the effectivness of the vaccination is correct. The most modest of statistical claims state that 30% of puppies who are vaccinated while still on mothers milk will contract the parvo virus. This number will see a substancial increase if the disease is prominent and active in a location where puppies are to be raised. However, there are claims that the vaccination, Neopar, will "override" the mother's milk and may be administered while the puppies are still nursing. To date this is the only vaccination that can make this claim. It is note worthy to say though that if Neopar is given it should be followed with an acceptable all in one shot within 2 weeks and
after the pup has been weaned.
