1. Your initial visit with your puppy and our practice will involve a complete exam to make sure your pet is healthy. We will also start a series of distemper vaccinations in order to boost your pets immunity. Your first set should start at 7-9 weeks of age and then be boosted every 3 weeks until the age of 16-18 weeks. The final vaccination will also include a rabies vaccine, which at this time you will also register your pet with the county. We will provide the tags for purchase at this time.

 

2. Fecal exam. This involves a small fresh piece of stool at the initial visit. We deworm all puppies at least twice even if the sample is NEG, as sometimes parasites are missed. We also look for parasites that might not be covered by a routine dewormer.

 

3. Heartworm This is a life threatening disease that is transmitted by mosquitos. Your pet can be bitten by an infected mosquito either inside or outside of your home. It is easily prevented by giving your pet a beef flavored chewable tablet once a month. The product that we carry is called Heartgard and is dosed depending on the weight of your pet. We recommend that your pet stay on this medication year round. The medication also contains a wormer for 2 types of internal parasites. We conduct a yearly blood test to insure your pet is heartworm negative.

 

4. Spay/Neuter  If you have a male puppy we recommend neutering at the age of 4-6 months. Female puppies are spayed at the age of 4-6 months also. These are surgeries that we conduct at our stationary clinic. At the time of the surgery the Dr. will also recommend pre-anesthetic testing. The tests we offer include a blood test and an ECG which measures the rate and rhythm of the heart. These tests could uncover problems that aren’t detected with a physical alone. The tests also serve as a baseline for the future.  Spaying and neutering provides a healthier life for your pet in the future.

 

5. Obedience. This provides proper training for your pet in order to control them and provide them with safety under certain circumstances. Simple obedience can involve commands such as sit, down, stay, and heal on a leash so that you are in control of your pet. This makes your outings together much more enjoyable for the both of you. Obedience can also help with pets who may have bad habits that need to be corrected.

 

6. Housebreaking. Your young pet will need to go to the bathroom quite frequently. Take them to the same door to go outside each time, especially after naps and a meal. Wait for them to go to the bathroom first before conducting any type of play, so they don’t get confused as to why they are outside. Praise them and give them a small pet reward for going to the bathroom, then you can have a little play time before going in. We don’t recommend newspaper just for the fact that they may use it when it’s not necessarily intended for them to use. Pet stores carry puppy pads that help when your puppy has not learned to tell you yet. Most pets will learn quite well if you are consistent with your routine. Please inform us if you are having difficulties with your housebreaking or if you see urine or stool that does not look normal.

 

7. Toys. Toys are important for your puppy when it comes to socializing with the family or to keep themselves occupied if they become bored. Puppies also need the satisfaction of chewing because they will later start to loose baby teeth for permanent teeth. Make sure that you choose toys that can’t become chewed up into small pieces and ingested. Don’t purchase many toys which become overwhelming to the puppy. Two or three toys are fine and if you have quite a collection rotate them. Do not make an old sock or shoe into a toy. You can also purchase chew toys that are made of a hard rubber and have an opening in the inside to put a treat in. These can keep your pet occupied for some time.

 

8. Mouth Care. Keeping your pets mouth clean is a very important part of their overall health. Start by working with your puppies mouth early so that they can be comfortable with having their teeth brushed on a regular basis. Regular dental cleanings may be needed as your pet grows older depending on the formation of calculus that needs to be removed. If you and your pet are comfortable with this routine it should help cut down on the formation of calculus and infected gum tissue, which in turn cut down on the times your pet may have to be put under anesthesia for routine dental cleanings. An infected mouth that has been left unclean for long periods of time also affects other parts of the body including the heart, liver, and kidney. Research shows that proper dental care can extend a pets life by 2-3 years.

 

9. Diet. Any name brand foods are good. There are many types of puppy foods out there and your puppy should stay on that food until they are about one year old. You should start out by feeding your puppy three times a day at first. As they get a little older you can decrease feedings to twice a day. You can generally go by the requirements for the amounts to feed listed on the bag. Also supply your pet with a fresh bowl of water. It is best not to feed your pet any type of people food.

 

10. Avid Chip This is an ID chip that can be placed during any appointment. You can then register the pet with the company so if the pet is lost or stolen they call the owner.

 
11. Toxins. There are many potential sources of toxins for dogs including indoor and outdoor plants. Prescription medications , either prescribed for the animal and taken in inappropriate dosage or belonging to someone else in the household and accidentally eaten by the pet. Non-prescription drugs such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Advil) are harmful. Household chemicals, antifreeze, pesticides, herbicides, rodent and fly bait and pot pourri are toxic. There are also common foods that you may not think of like grapes, onions, moldy cheese, chocolate, and xylitol found in chewing gum. If your pet shows signs of being sick and your not sure if they may have chewed or ingested something toxic, call your veterinarian or animal emergency clinic.

 

12 Grooming. Check on the breed of your pet as to whether it is a breed that requires frequent grooming. Some breeds require frequent cuts to keep their hair under control from matting and continuous growth. Ask us who we may recommend as a good groomer for your pet. Brushing your pets on a daily basis is ideal. Along with your grooming routine you can check their ears for any changes with dirt and or odor. Most pets will also need routine nail trims, some more frequent than others. Work with your pets feet by touching them, picking up the leg and spreading apart the toes so that a nail trim won’t be uncomfortable for them in the future. You can bathe your pet at least once a month with a dog shampoo.We also carry topical repellants for fleas, ticks, and mosquitos that can be applied once a month. This product will not wash off with routine bathing.

 

13. Biting and Chewing. Puppies like to chew. Make sure they have proper things to chew on at any time. Some puppies may also like to bite as part of their playing. This act is unacceptable to let continue without reprimanding. Discontinue playing with the puppy if they start to bite. They will want to play with you and if you stop every time they bite they will realize that you don’t like that. If they still continue shriek “OUCH” and that should also let them know that this hurts you. You can also roll their lip in and let them bite themselves to realize that it is not a good feeling. Do not hit your puppy with your hand or with an object. You will be sending the wrong message.

 

14. Crate Training. Part of raising a healthy dog is providing it with its own sanctuary, and crates are a perfect solution. Crate training is neither cruel nor unfair, provided your puppy has sufficient exercise and an opportunity to eliminate before you place it in the crate. When purchasing a crate remember to allow enough room for your dog to stand and turn around, even when its full grown. The ideal location is to place the crate where the family spends a lot of time. Crates provide security and safety for your dog. It helps with training proper chewing and elimination and makes for easier traveling with your pet.

 

15. Specialized Vaccinations. There are 3 other vaccinations that your pet may require depending on their potential for exposure.

       1) Bordetella or Kennel Cough. A vaccination given intranasally for the first time prior to going to a boarding facility. Most facilities require it. This vaccine helps to promote immunity from this virus when exposed to dogs that are closely crowded together in situations as kennels, pet stores, and dog shows.       

        2) Leptospirosis. This is a deadly bacterial disease spread by wildlife and domestic animals. Common carriers include raccoons, skunks, possums, squirrels, rats, and sometimes other dogs. The bacteria is shed in urine. Dogs become infected when they come into contact with fresh urine from an infected animal. If your dog drinks from puddles or ponds or if your pet is exposed to areas where wildlife live , you will want to vaccinate against this disease.

        3) Lymes. Lymes disease is spread by deer ticks. If your dog lives in an area with a large tick population or goes to areas which may be prone to tick infestations than it may be advisable to vaccinate against this disease.

 

16. Traveling. Take your pet with you on short trips so they can become accustomed to your car. They can ride in a crate or a gated area of your vehicle. There are also special seats and belts for restraint of your pet while traveling. Provide fresh air, food , and water for certain trips depending on the length. Keep your pet from getting under your feet while driving, sitting in your lap or hanging out the window. A sharp turn could throw your pet out of the vehicle, under your feet could hinder you from the brake or gas pedal, and even a small slow speed fender bender could cause your air bag to go off causing severe damage to you and your pet.

 

17. Socialization. Expose your puppy to a lot of different situations why they are young. Have them meets lots of people, go to a variety of places and introduce them to various noises and learning experiences.

 

17.As Your Pet Ages. Once your pet is 8 years old, twice a year exams are recommended. Frequent exams and blood tests will help detect signs of health issues that your pet may develop. Diagnosing problems early will result in a happier and healthier pet.