PUPPY FIRST VACCINATION
"Congratulations" on your decision to adopt a new puppy! We will do everything possible to help acquaint you with information on rearing and health care to make your pet more enjoyable and insure the best health possible.
A veterinarian should give pups a thorough physical examination! A thorough physical examination should be given within 48 hours of purchase or adoption to insure you have acquired a healthy pup.
Immunizations should include DISTEMPER, HEPATITIS, LEPTOSPIROSIS, PARVOVIRUS, RABIES, and BORDETELLA. A series of vaccinations is required to build the resistance your puppy requires. Your puppy must be 6-8 weeks of age before the "adult" series of immunizations is started. After vaccination today, he will probably be sore for the rest of the day and cry or whine some. Place him in a warm room, offer food and water, and let him sleep. Do not give aspirin or Tylenol--they can be fatal in young pups!
Pups are DEWORMED on the first 2 visits for "roundworms" and "hookworms". Alternatively, we may recommend checking a fecal sample prior to deworming. You may see "roundworms" pass in the stool for a day or so after deworming. Hookworms are too small to be seen with the naked eye, although they are the most serious "worm" in pups. Your puppy should not vomit or develop diarrhea from the medications--let us know if this should occur. Tapeworms require a special type of medication. Watch your puppy's stools for small, white segments, looking similar to rice. Notify the clinic if these segments are observed so he can be treated for tapeworms.
Puppies are not immune to Distemper and Parvovirus until at least 2 weeks after the last injection in the puppy series. Your puppy may get sick with these diseases anytime before the entire vaccination series is finished. Do not expose him to other dogs any more than is absolute necessary until we finish the immunization series. Another dog may not be showing any signs of illness, but may still be a "carrier" of many infectious diseases harmful to your puppy.
After exposure to a disease, it takes time for the puppy to show clinical signs of illness. Therefore it is impossible to be absolutely sure that your puppy is healthy and free of contagious disease FOR AT LEAST 2 WEEKS after you obtain him. Please call us if any abnormal changes are seen--such as vomiting, diarrhea, listlessness, or loss of appetite.
Heartworm prevention is usually started at 3 months of age. It can be given seasonally or year-round.
We recommend flea and tick prevention using Frontline. This product is safe for use in puppies as young as 8 weeks of age. Remember not to apply it 24 hours before or after a bath.
Female dogs should be spayed at 4-8 months of age. It is much easier on the dog when spayed before she goes through the first "heat" cycle. Male dogs should be neutered at 4-9 months of age.
