Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

General health

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

Original poster

Safe for ds to play with puppy?

13 replies

panicpants · 27/04/2006 08:38

My mum has just got a beautiful puppy a jack russell x szhit zu (sp!). Anyway he's very gentle but as yet hasn't had any of his innoculations or been wormed (mum doing that today)

Mum also keeps chickens which wander around the garden and ive already seen it eating their droppings.

So is it safe for ds (8mths)to 'play', well handle really, the dog?

What would you do?

OP posts:

FioFio · 27/04/2006 08:39

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted

Twiglett · 27/04/2006 08:39

wouldn't bother me tbh .. but then again as soon as they can crawl kids do things like eat chicken poo themselves

amber5 · 27/04/2006 08:41

bet you'll get opposing suggestions on here!!. tbh, i prob wouldn't let him. Why not ask your mum to discuss it with her vet. My vet was v helpful when i was pregnant.

panicpants · 27/04/2006 08:44

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

jellyjelly · 27/04/2006 09:33

Sensible to wash hands are playing.

NotQuiteCockney · 27/04/2006 09:53

Your DS can't catch worms from the puppy - it's a different type of worm. And the only disease (I think) that passes from dogs to humans is rabies, which doesn't exist in the UK. So I don't think the jabs and worming is an issue.

Yes, the puppy will have viruses and bacteria on it (after it's been wormed and innoculated, too), but unless your DS is immunocompromised in some way, exposure to germs is probably a good thing.

geekgrrl · 27/04/2006 09:56

you can catch \link{http://kidshealth.org/parent/infections/parasitic/toxocariasis.html\toxocariasis} though.

NotQuiteCockney · 27/04/2006 09:58

Eww, I hadn't known about that one. Says most cases have no, or very few, symptoms, and hence cause no problems and aren't diagnosed or treated.

Original poster

panicpants · 27/04/2006 11:15

Euuugh, didn't know about that one!

So maybe I shouldn't then.

OP posts:

Sugarmag · 27/04/2006 11:16

actually, I believe people can catch worms from dogs - at least that was my assumption when my vet told me it was a good idea to worm my dog regularly, "especially with kids in the house"???

Nevertheless, I would absolutley let the baby play with the dog. How else is he going to enjoy playing with and respect living things? I think exposing young kids to dogs & puppies is one of the best ways to make them comfortable around animals. I get really frustrated with kids who come round hear and completely freak out at the site of our dog.

You should keep a close eye on them as both puppies and 8 month olds have a tendancy to be unintentionally rough (puppies especially like to nip and it can take a long time to get them over this). And wash his hands after but otherwise go for it!

shimmy21 · 27/04/2006 11:21

I'm from a doggy family and of the 'put the baby in the dog basket and let them amuse each other' school. BUT I'd be extrememly careful about babies with puppies. Puppies have very sharp needle-like teeth which they use to explore and play with anything around, including babies fingers etc. Supervise the contact and keep on with the washing hands!

Sugarmag · 27/04/2006 11:21

oops, sorry just looked at geekgrrl's link and I guess it's this toxocariasis that you can catch from dogs - you don't actually get worms. But your ds can only catch it if a)the dog isn't regularly wormed and b)you let ds play near where the puppy goes to the toilet. We had a dog in our house when both our kids were born, as did my parents when my brother and I were tiny, and none of us has ever caught anything (other than a sore head from the barking!).

wannaBe1974 · 27/04/2006 13:40

tbh I'd let him touch the puppy, but am with shimmy21 keep an eye on the teeth as they can be sharp and puppies don't bite to be agresssive they bit to explore and play and can hurt without intent. it's always wise to wash hands after playing anyway but if your ds is 8 months old he's most likely, or soon will be, crawling and will be picking up all sorts off the floor anyway so keeping him away from a puppy is ott imo, I agree that children should grow up with animals and thus should learn to respect them from an early age and not be scared.

Flip