[Lori2147]

I plan to ask my vet about this on my first puppy visit, but I thought I'd find out if any of you have information on this topic...

Our property is adjacent to a ravine in a residential neighborhood near Portland, Oregon. We have often seen deer, raccoons, and coyotes visiting our property. Our yard is not fenced so I never plan to leave the puppy outside unsupervised unless he is enclosed in the dog run we are building (I'm going to enclose the top of it, too). I'm worried about what diseases the puppy might be exposed to by the urine or feces of those animals in my yard.

Here's a quote I found from an article on the web:

"A coyote displaying abnormal behavior and appearing fearless of humans is uncharacteristic and may mean the animal is injured or has fallen victim to a disease, such as rabies, parvovirus or distemper."

It's scary to think that my puppy could be exposed to parvo just because I'm taking it out in my own yard to go potty.

Has anyone spoken with their vets about this kind of situation?

What's a mother to do?

:? :?

 

[Cinsmom]

We also have a lot of coyotes running around. While they have been in the yard, they have never ventured too close to the house. We encountered one on a walk once (off leash), but once it saw me, it ran.

As for the parvo thing, I'm not sure if they would come close enough to your house to be able to pass it. I think if you keep your pup close to the house until he's had his shots, then I think you'll be ok. Saying that, I would still be a little wary, just because it is a wild animal and they aren't predictable. All you can do is the best you can and keep a watch over him.

 

[winderdoodle]

I live out in the boonies outside of Vancouver and we have lots of coyotes that come close to our place at night. They still keep their distance though and I've not seen or seen signs of any that ventured into my fencing.

They will only venture close to the house if there's food around for them to get at or into. Like say if you had chickens somewhere close to the house or kept your trash uncovered.

I'd be curious to hear what your vet says though. Keep us posted.

 

[ChasP505]

We have countless coyotes here in New Mexico! And with all the residential expansion in the Albuquerque area, we have pushed into their native habitat and are just inviting them to come hunting in our new subdivisions. I have never heard of anyone worrying about disease from coyotes, but I often hear about attacks on small dogs, other pets and small children. A few years ago coyotes got into my yard and busted open the bunny hutch. The worry for disease is from small rodents and rabbits. New Mexico rodents carry bubonic plague, rabies and hantavirus, to name just a few.

Coyotes are not cowardly loners as some people think. They hunt in well coordinated packs and one coyote will typically lure your dog to a spot where the rest of the pack is waiting to ambush him.

 

[blueteal]

Lots of coyotes here too.
They stay out of my yard as Denver is just too big. But they do hunt in packs and will go after the smaller dogs in our area. They have killed many cats that people allow to roam free
My cats are all indoor cats. You are supervising your puppy so I would not worry as I do not think they will venture too close if you are always
visible when your dog is out. Just be extra careful.

 

[MaxandMe]

we have 6 acres backing up to a creek the size of a river and many neighbors have MORE land than i do

for us, Rabies is the scare. Last time i saw a rabid racoon was back in 1994 in my own yard, i got my kids inside and alerted neighbors and cops caught it up the road which had a fight with someone's dog


we have racoon, red fox, ferral dogs, deer, minks, Bears now, beaver, hedghogs and more
I am always with my doodles and i don't leave them outside alone for any reason.
and stay up to date on rabies shots

 

[cocoandjane]

Wow, I feel very fortunate to not have these worries, really! The coyotes follow the creekbed and I have seen them in the neighborhood, but they usually are traveling pretty fast on through....but, because they are occassionally around, I don't leave the dogs out unattended ever. When walking, I am always checking out what is going on around us....

Besides that, cats, maybe rats, squirrels, opposum, racoons....but not much during the daytime...besides squirrels and cats. I guess that's enough to cause a disease problem....but I haven't worried much about it.

 

[doodleheaven]

We live close to a provincial park and therefore have coyotes around frequently. They have been known to kill small dogs on our trails so we are really careful.

I have another related question (sorry). When we walk my dog he constantly eats rabbit poop. He hunts for it and eats every pellet he can find. At first I thought there is probably no harm in doing this (other then it's gross) - afterall rabbits just eat plant material. But after all this talk about disease I am concerned? Is there a chance he could pick something up from eating the wild rabbit's poops? I just don't know what to do to stop it.

 

[cocoandjane]

http://www.housepetmagazine.com/August/coprophagia.htm

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm ... icleid=155

http://www.animalbehaviorassociates.com ... t_poop.pdf

The above articles are intersting on this yucky subject!!

 

[ChasP505]

Here are three "wily" coyotes out hunting, photographed by my buddy who lives near me. The picture was taken at dusk and was quite dark, but I ran it through photoshop so you can see them clearer.

 

[blueteal]

They are beautiful animals.
Everyday when I go to work I can see them out on the golf course
Denver listens to them howl at night which inspires all the dogs in
the neighborhood to bark and howl back at them.............

 

[MaxandMe]

The only time i saw one up close was when i was in Palm springs and went to the top of the San Jacinto mtns back in 2000

i wondered off by myself to take some neat pics and OMG one stood there staring me down about 3 ft away hhahaaa
I just stood real still and took a pic wishing to hell he'd go away
and made sure i didn't wander off alone again

 

[cocoandjane]

They come loping through my neighborhood every so often
.....following the creek that flows through here.
They are usually quite thin....not as healthy looking
as those in your photo for some reason....
maybe not as successful hunting around here.
They are beautiful though...fast and skittish
when they see someone outside their home.
They keep truckin' along.
A ranch down the road has llamas
to keep them away from their sheep and calves.

Beautiful photoshopped picture!! Thanks for posting!

 

[jumpinjacuzzijoe]

Welcome Baxter and Lori.....Bubba says hello from southern Oregon

 

[Tink]

Make sure you keep your dogs vaccinations and worming up to date and don't feed outside as it just invites other animals to try to come closer for the free meal.

 

[Lori2147]

Hi Bubba,

I don't see too many fellow Oregonians on the forum. Nice to meet you.


Here's a quote from our local paper about the coyotes in our area...

“Here, we have our share of them. Coyotes are opportunists. Their main function is eating. They come to eat your cat food. Then they come back to eat your cat. But they’re not dangerous to people. They want less to do with you than you want to do with them.”

The article also mentions how well fed and healthy our coyotes look...probably from dining on cats.

If you have a kitty...you'll want to keep them in the house!