Vaccinations/Viral Diseases

DA2PP or DHPP:  (Distemper, Hepatitis or Adeno2 virus, Para influenza and Parvo-virus). This vaccine is given in a series and is one of the most important things you will ever do to protect your dog's health. The first DA2PP is given at 6-9 weeks of age, and is then repeated every 3-4 weeks until the puppy is about 16 weeks.

Leptospirosis: This vaccination can be included with the combination vaccine above or given separately. This is a bacteria transmitted through water in wet areas by wildlife, and can be contracted by people.

Rabies: This vaccination is first given at or after 12 weeks of age. The next booster is given in one year.

Bordetella: This vaccination is given to prevent contagious Tracheobronchitis or "kennel cough."

Remember to keep your puppy out of public parks, boarding kennels, dog daycares, and wherever large numbers of dogs frequent until this initial series of vaccines is completed.

Diet

In general we recommend using products produced by major manufactures with "AAFCO" printed on the label and to avoid generic pet foods. Examples of premium pet foods we would recommend are Iams, Science Diet and Purina One. Both canned and dry formulations are acceptable.

A recent 14 year study by Purina in Labrador Retrievers suggests that body conformation has a profound effect on both the length of the dog's life and the development of arthritis. The thin dogs in this study lived an average of two years larger and had 75% less arthritis. It is therefore probably more important how much you feed than what brand of food you feed. Exercise is important, but the most important factor in weight control in dogs and cats is the amount fed.

Chew toys

Avoid chew toys that are very hard or that are less than 3 inches in diameter. The rule of thumb is that a chew toy should be soft enough to bend or be able to indent with your thumbnail.

Hard rubber chew toys are ideal. Rawhide bones are acceptable but some dogs will have vomiting or diarrhea issues related to eating them. We do not recommend real bones as they have the potential to fracture teeth. Nor do we recommend "Greenies" as they have been associated with intestinal obstruction. Avoid fabric toys that can be chewed up and swallowed.

Puppies like to chew on almost anything! Be very careful of what your puppy is allowed to chew and swallow as intestinal foreign bodies requiring surgical removal are most common in dogs under one year of age.

Training

Housetraining: The basic concept is to not allow your puppy the opportunity to make mistakes. Your puppy needs to be taken outdoors to the designated area frequently and praised lavishly after performing. Punishment for making mistakes is not usually helpful. If you catch your puppy in the act of voiding in the wrong place say "NO!" or "YUK!" then take the puppy outdoors.

"Potty pads" may be a good alternative for toy dogs with condominium lifestyles. These are available at pet supply stores.

Obedience training/ puppy kindergarten:  Kindergarten puppy classes are best begun as early as 8-10 weeks of age. We also recommend the video "Good Owners, Great Dogs," and you may check that out from us. Ask at the front desk.

Den (crate)Training: We wholeheartedly encourage this practice as it is useful in so many situations.

Ovariohysterectomy/castration (spay/neuter)

We recommend that large breed female dogs not intended for breeding be spayed at approximately 4-6 months of age (prior to their first heat cycle).  Small breed dogs are prone to retention of primary teeth, so we recommend spaying at six months of age which allows us to identify and extract retained primary teeth without scheduling a second anesthesia.  Female dogs spayed prior to their first heat cycle enjoy a 99% reduction in the incidence of mammary (breast) cancer.

Male dogs not intended for breeding should be neutered to prevent prostate disease and minimize certain behavioral problems.  Again six months of age is a good time to perform this procedure so we can check for retained baby teeth at that time and remove them if indicated.

Internal parasites (worms)

We routinely administer worming medication at each puppy visit because puppies are frequently born with Ascarids (roundworms) and several treatments may be necessary to eliminate them. It is a good idea to have a fecal exam done routinely at the first or second visit, and yearly thereafter.

External Parasites (flea control)

As a topical spot on treatment we recommend the prescription product Revolution. The advantage of Revolution over other spot on treatments is that it provides a more effective monthly kill of fleas, and also controls or prevents ear mites, scabies, heartworm, and most internal parasties (worms). In severe flea infestations we recommend home treatment with Knockout area spray in addition to topical treatment of all dogs and cats.

Bathing

If you plan to bathe frequently (more than every 2-3 weeks) we recommend a hypoallergenic shampoo such as Allergroom or VET Solutions.

Dental Care

Appropriate dental care may be the most important thing that you can do to improve the quality and longevity of your dog's life.

Our first area of concern is that your puppy's permanent teeth erupt in a proper fashion. All of your puppy's permanent teeth should be present by six months of age. If primary (baby) teeth are still present (retained), they will need to be extracted or they will cause bite and periodontal disease problems.

For long term dental health a combination of home care (brushing) and periodic professional cleanings are recommended. Now is the time to gradually train your puppy to allow you to handle his/her mouth. Since your puppy is still teething, simple handling of the mouth is all that is recommended until six months of age. Brushing the teeth should begin after six months of age and should be done daily. Remember that only the outside surfaces of the teeth need to be brushed and that toothpaste (dentifrice) is optional. Soft bristled brushes, finger-brushes, gauze or a dedicated wet washcloth around one's finger are all acceptable. Try to make it a fun and positive experience with plenty of praise and treats. Dental diets are also available. Please feel free to ask about these diets.

Heartworm

If you plan on traveling with your puppy, check with us to see if heartworm testing and preventative medication is indicated. In addition, if your puppy has just arrived from a heartworm endemic area, additional preventative treatments may be indicated.

Identification

We recommend some kind of identification for all pets. We offer AVID microchip permanent identification available here. This is given by a simple injection during an office visit.

It is our goal to provide you with the highest quality services and information so you can have the best possible relationship with your dog. Please call us if we can help you in any way!