Animal Care information

PUPPY HEALTH PROGRAM AND VACCINATION SCHEDULE
Congratulations on the new addition to your family! There's nothing like the love of a warm, fuzzy puppy. We want to help you keep your puppy healthy and happy. Regularly scheduled vaccinations are important for building your puppy's immunity to several serious dog diseases. The examination we perform at each visit will also help us detect any common puppyhood problems or illnesses. Remember that we are always pleased to answer any questions about raising your puppy; please feel free to bring a list with you or call at any time. Here's a schedule of visits and vaccinations that we ask you to follow:

AGE OF PUPPY:                                               VACCINATION / PROCEDURE
6 - 8 weeks	First examination, first (of 3) DHLPP vaccination. This is the distemper multiple 5 in 1 vaccine. It protects against Canine Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus. Bring a stool sample so we may check for intestinal parasites.
9 - 12 weeks	Second DHLPP booster and exam. This is done 3-4 weeks after the first vaccine. A second fecal exam should be performed.
12 +   weeks	Rabies vaccination. This first rabies vaccine is good for 1 year; subsequent vaccinations last for 3 years.
13 - 16 weeks	Third (and final) DHLPP booster and exam. This is done 3-4 weeks after the second booster. This vaccine will last for 1 year and will then need to be boostered annually. This booster concludes the series of routine puppy vaccinations. If a puppy starts the series at an early age, 4 vaccines may be needed; if it starts at a later age, only 2 vaccines may be needed in the series.

FURTHER VACCINATIONS
There are two other vaccinations available which you may need to have your puppy receive. We can advise you on whether or not they should be given.

BORDETELLA
This is commonly known as the "kennel cough" vaccine. It protects against a severe upper respiratory infection whch causes a cough caused by a bacterium know as Bordetella bronchiseptica and Canine Parainfluenza virus. If your dog will be exposed to other dogs in closed situations such as shows, groomers and boarding kennels this vaccine is recommended. In fact, most groomers and kennels require this vaccine before admission. It is a nasal spray vaccine and can be given to puppies over 3 weeks of age. Immunity lasts for 1 year and annual re-vaccination is needed. Dogs which are shown or boarded regularly may receive this vaccine more often.

LYME DISEASE
If your dog will be exposed to ticks at all, we recommend that it receive the Lyme disease vaccine to help protect it against this serious disease. It can be given to puppies over 12 weeks of age. A second booster is required 2-3 weeks later and will last for 1 year. Annual re-vaccination is required.

HEARTWORM PREVENTION
Heartworms are a worm-like parasite that are transmitted through the bite of a mosquito. They can grow in the heart and cause serious heart disease. There are several medications which we have that you may give to your puppy on either a daily or monthly basis that will prevent it from developing the disease if it's bitten by a carrier mosquito. We will begin your puppy on this preventative medication once it has reached 8-12 weeks of age. You should continue to give it year-round. An annual or bi-annual blood test will be performed to test for heartworms and to make sure the medication is working. We will try to coordinate the heartworm test with one of your pet's annual vaccination visits.

MICROCHIP IMPLANTATION / PERMANENT IDENTIFICATION
We want to make sure that you and your pup are never separated. Your puppy should be permanently identified so that if it is lost it can be readily returned to you. Collar ID tags are a good idea but can be easily lost or stolen. Tattooing can also be done but may become hard to read as the dog ages. We recommend permanent identification through using the Home Again microchip. This is a small microchip about the size of a grain of rice which is injected under your dog's skin and stays there for its entire life. If your pet is ever lost or stolen a special scanner can read the code in the chip. This information is then kept at a registry maintained by the AKC which allows the dog's owner to be located and the two reunited. We are pleased to offer this new technology. Ask us for a demonstration at your next visit.

FLEA AND TICK CONTROL
There are many new products on the market which can be applied topically or taken orally to control fleas and/or ticks. In general, supermarket products are not very effective. Those available from pet stores work better. However, we have many products available only through veterinarians that work very well. Our clients have been very pleased with their effectiveness and safety. Ask us about Frontline Topspot and Advantage once a month topicals, Program oral flea control preventic and Vetkem Collars and shampoos, sprays and dips. We'll help you find a product that's best suited to your needs.

SPAYING/NEUTERING
We recommend that if you don't plan to use your puppy for breeding purposes in the future, it should be surgically altered. Please see the flow chart to the right to see if your puppy is breeding material (Click image to see full size). Altering should be done between 4 and 6 months of age. Spaying and neutering your dog at this age will prevent many health and behavioral problems later in life.

PET HEALTH INSURANCE
We also want to let you know that there are insurance companies that provide Pet Health Insurance. These policies function much like your major medical policy and will provide assistance in paying for illnesses and veterinary emergencies. For more information, please call Veterinary Pet Insurance at (800) 872-7387 or Petshealth Care Plan at (800) 807-6724. We also have brochures available at the front desk.

We hope you find this information helpful. Keeping your puppy healthy is important. We will help you keep track of your puppy's vaccination schedule; we'll send you a reminder when a vaccine is due. Remember that we are available to help you in any way we can with your new puppy. We love to answer questions!

Best of luck with your new puppy!