The skunk was captured by San Francisco’s department of Animal Care and Control. It had been behaving erratically, staggering, and acting disoriented. Animal Care and Control did not have a veterinarian on duty at the time (it was the middle of the night), so the officer brought the skunk to the emergency hospital where I was working for euthanasia (the skunk’s condition was deemed to be beyond help).

The skunk’s likely diagnosis was canine distemper virus–the same virus that causes serious disease in dogs, wild canids, marine mammals, and African lions.

For the most part, diseases tend to be species specific. Dogs most often catch diseases from other dogs. Cats catch diseases from other cats. Humans catch diseases from other humans.

But there are exceptions. Rabies is the most famous exception. The virus can infect any mammal. Many parasitic worms can infest multiple species. Feline toxoplasmosis can infect humans, sea otters, and wild cats. Canine distemper virus can infect a variety of wild animals.

Fortunately, basic hygiene and vaccinations can protect your pet from many wildlife-borne diseases.

Pets who have minimal exposure to other members of their species (such as indoor cats and small dogs that rarely go out) may still be at risk for exposure to wildlife. Talk to your vet about these risks, and make life style and vaccination decisions accordingly.

Mike
Bergen County, NJ

With puppies, one must strike a balance between socialization (introducing them to new sights, sounds and animals) and protecting them from infectious diseases.

Puppy shots protect against two main diseases: parvovirus and distemper. Of these, parvovirus (also known simply as parvo) is more common. Parvo causes weakness, appetite loss, vomiting, diarrhea and blood cell imbalances. It can be fatal.

Parvo is ubiquitous. However, it is most common in areas such as dog parks where large numbers of dogs congregate. It can survive in the environment for many months; direct contact with an infected individual isn’t necessary to spread the disease.

Until your puppy has received all of his puppy shots (the last shot usually occurs at four months of age), he is at risk of contracting parvo.

But this presents a conundrum. He is also most readily socialized when he is less than four months old. Dogs older than four months less readily adapt to new situations, sights, and sounds.

In my opinion, it is very important to protect your puppy from parvo and distemper. But it is equally important to socialize him properly. Here is what I recommend.

Continue to vaccinate him according to the schedule recommended by your vet. This will help to reduce the risk of parvo and other infectious diseases. Also, avoid dog parks and other areas where large numbers of dogs (especially unvaccinated or poorly-cared-for dogs) congregate.

However, introduce him to as many healthy, vaccinated dogs as possible while he is still a puppy (for instance, you can introduce him to dogs belonging to your friends and neighbors). Consider taking him for walks on defined routes that are not heavily trafficked by other dogs. If you want your puppy to swim in lakes, then pick lakes that are private or remote.

Any time your puppy leaves the house, he may encounter parvovirus. However, if you keep him confined indoors until he has had all of his shots, he may suffer from a different, life-long problem: poor socialization.