Puppy Information Sheet
Vaccination
Vaccinating your puppy is vital to protect against a number of life-threatening diseases. The primary vaccination course involves 2 injections, separated by a minimum of 2, and a maximum of 4 weeks. This course can be started as early as 6 weeks of age; however, the puppy must be at least 10 weeks old before the 2nd part of the vaccination can be given. After the 2nd vaccination it will take one week for full immunity to develop.
Booster vaccinations are then required annually for diseases such as Leptospirosis and Influenza, and every 3 years for others including Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus.
If your dog is to be going into kennels a separate vaccination against kennel cough may be required which must be given a minimum of 72 hours before entry into kennels.
Worming Treatments
Worming is also very important in puppies, as numbers of different worms are commonly already present in a puppy’s intestine. Roundworms can pass to pups from their mother’s whist pregnant and through milk; they can also be picked up from contaminated soils. Hookworms and whipworms can be picked up from the environment. Tapeworms are transmitted via fleas and scavenging (e.g. eating rabbits, mice etc). If your pet has fleas it almost certainly will have tapeworms.
Roundworms are considered a human health risk. They can be passed to people, particularly children and can cause BLINDNESS. Roundworm eggs are tiny; you wouldn’t be able to see them. They are very sticky and can be picked up from your pet, its bedding, carpet, grass, basically anywhere your pet has been. Animates advise monthly roundworm treatment to break the lifecycle of this worm protecting you and your family.
It is important to weigh puppies before worming to ensure they are given the correct dose of wormer. Puppies should be wormed every 2 weeks until 12 weeks old, then every month until 6 months of age.
Complete worming with ‘Drontal’ at 3 and 6 months combined with monthly ‘Advocate’ treatments (for roundworm) provides an easy solution.
After 6 months the best thing to do is come and ask for worming advice suitable for your pet’s lifestyle as there are a huge number of worming preparations available.
Flea Treatment
Fleas are a very common parasite. They used to be thought of as a summer problem, but now due to central heating can be present all year round. Fleas can cause skin problems on your pet, can bite us and also transmit tapeworms.
95% of fleas will be present in the house, on the dog’s bedding, and anywhere your dog goes, with only 5% actually being on your pet at any one time.
There are number of products available to help protect your pet against fleas.
- ‘Advocate’ - A ‘spot-on’ formulation active against fleas, mites, lice, roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and heartworm.
- ‘Advantix’ - A ‘spot-on’ formulation to treat fleas and ticks; which also helps to repel ticks.
- ‘Frontline Combo’ - A ‘spot-on’ formulation to treat fleas and ticks.
All of the above products will also control fleas in the environment (i.e. where your pet spends time). If you have a flea infestation you will need to treat your pet and also spray your house to control this initial environmental burden. Environmental sprays are available from the surgery.
If you do have a problem the best thing is to come and ask for advice and a treatment plan.
Microchipping
Puppies can be microchipped at any age. The microchip holds a number to which your details are registered. Following microchipping your pet’s details will be entered onto a National database accessible by vets, the police and environmental wardens so that you can be contacted quickly should your dog be found. It is very important that you keep your registered details up to date.
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Feeding
A number of veterinary foods are available which have been carefully developed and are specifically formulated to your growing puppy’s requirements. These contain essential nutrients to support healthy growth especially bones and joints, and a healthy balance in the intestinal tract. They are also easily digestible helping to prevent intestinal upsets which are common in puppies when settling into their new home. It is essential your puppy is fed a good quality puppy food until about 1 year of age as a growing dog’s nutrient requirements are very different to that of an adult dog.
Neutering (Surgically removing reproductive organs)
Castration is recommended from 6 months of age. Castrating your dog can prevent problems such as prostate enlargement and some anal tumours and will also prevent testicular tumours. It can also help to have a calming effect on their behaviour, and aid training.
Spaying is recommended from 6 months of age also. Spaying will prevent the worries of mismating and unwanted pregnancies. It can also significantly reduce the risk of mammary tumours. 25% of unsprayed bitches will develop mammary tumours. This risk is reduced by 99.5% if a bitch is spayed before her first season. Spaying also removes the risk of pyometra, a severe uterine infection, which can be life threatening.
Insurance
Insuring your puppy is strongly recommended. It is important to read carefully exactly what the company is offering in terms of the excess and limit of cover, and to look for a policy offering lifelong cover. Annual policies will exclude conditions which have developed when you renew the policy the following year, which with conditions such as diabetes or arthritis can end up quite expensive. Generally policies will NOT cover routine preventative health care such as vaccinations, flea and worm treatment, and routine dental care, nor conditions which existed prior to the insurance being taken out.
Puppy Parties
It is important for puppies to socialise from a young age as the main learning and acceptance period is up to 14 weeks. Socialisation helps them to develop important skills, both for interacting with other animals and people and for dealing with different situations that are essential later in life. We offer puppy parties to puppies between their 1st and 2nd vaccinations allowing socialisation to start before they are fully vaccinated.
Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP)
DAP is the pheromone that the lactating bitch produces to reassure her puppies. It is available in a collar, spray or diffuser and can help a puppy to feel more at ease in its new environment. DAP can be helpful to use during the initial month when your puppy is moving away from its mother, into a new home, and also coming in to the vets for vaccinations. DAP can also be beneficial in a number of other difficult situations, such as helping to overcome travel sickness or firework noise problems, when used in combination with training techniques.
This is a brief summary of information; please ask our staff if you have further questions.
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