Puppy Information
Buying and raising a puppy is an exciting time that can be quite involved and demanding. We have put together some points to help you raise a healthy and energetic dog.
This is one of the most important things that have to be done for your puppy. Vaccinations cover Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus and Kennel Cough. It is recommended that puppies be vaccinated at 6-8 weeks, 12 weeks and 16 weeks of age, (i.e. 3 times in total). After this they must be vaccinated yearly.
Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus is caused by viruses and are potentially fatal diseases. Your pup doesn’t have to come into contact with other dogs to contract these diseases. With Parvovirus your dog only has to walk through the grass where an infected dog has defecated to become infected with the disease. Parvovirus is a very resistant virus that can remain active in the environment for over 12 months. These 3 diseases MUST BE VACCINATED AGAINST.
Kennel Cough is an infection of the upper respiratory tract and causes a harsh and distressing cough for up to 2 weeks which if untreated can lead to pneumonia. Two of the major causes of Kennel Cough can be vaccinated against and lower the chances of your dog getting this disease.
Intestinal worms can be a significant cause of your puppy not growing and can also be a significant cause of blood loss in your puppy that will make him/her weak and more susceptible to disease.
We recommend you de-worm once fortnightly until 12 weeks of age, then once monthly until 6 months of age, then every 3 months for life if using a worming tablet such as drontal. If you decide to use an “all in one” spot on treatment such as advocate or revolution (they also prevent against heartworm and fleas) then from 6 months of age it is a monthly dose.
Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes so all dogs are at risk. This fatal disease is on the increase and your must start your puppy on preventative medication before he/she is 4 months of age, preferably by 8 weeks of age . A yearly injection (“Proheart SR-12”) is available for dogs. Proheart injections are suitable to be given to dogs over 12 weeks of age, and are repeated at 6 months of age, 15 months of age, then yearly for life. Proheart is safe for use in Ivermectin sensitive breeds e.g. Collies. Heartworm prevention also comes in monthly chewable treats or spot-on treatments (such as advocate or revolution and also cover fleas and some worms too).
- FEEDING
Puppies on soft diets should be gradually weaned onto hard biscuit diets. We recommend feeding premium brand biscuits as they are a complete diet containing everything they need, are made from high quality ingredients and are better for their teeth and digestive system. Ensure plenty of fresh water is available at all times.
We recommend sterilization of your puppy at 6 months of age. Sterilisation has been shown to have the following benefits:
In Male dogs
- Prevents prostatic disease and cancer
- Decreases undesirable urine marking
- Decreases sexual activity and thus roaming
- Decreases aggression towards other dogs
- Decrease dominance associated problems
In Female dogs
- Significantly decreases the risk of mammary cancer if performed prior to 1st season
- Stops cycling in heat and thus male dogs visiting
- Prevents unwanted pregnancy
- Decreases aggressive behaviour
It is not necessary to wait for the 1st season or wait for a litter of pups, prior to sterilization for female dogs. Sterilisation also does not alter their personality or character.
Some breeds may be predisposed to weight gain after sterilization and we recommend regular exercise combined with the appropriate level of nutrition to prevent this.
All pets should be microchipped and many council shires will require this for registration of your pet. A small electronic chip is placed under your pet’s skin generally just behind or in front of the shoulder blades. This can then be picked up by a scanner. Your and your pets details are recorded in a central database against the specific chip number.
Microchip placement can be done from 6-8 weeks of age.
- TICK AND FLEA CONTROL
Tick and flea control is vital for your puppy. Both of these parasites transmit various diseases as well as worms. Fleas are also notorious for causing severe allergy problems. The most common products recommended are spot-on formulations such as Revolution/ Frontline/ Advantage/ Advocate etc. Please ensure that the product you purchase is safe for use on puppies. If unsure, please just give us a call, as there are numerous supermarket spot-ons that are not safe for use in young dogs and can cause severe toxicity.