All About Veterinary Care
Veterinary Care
Every puppy from our home will be thoroughly examined by one of our veterinarians prior to leaving us.
Our vet will check each individual puppy in the litter for things like:
* Heart Murmurs
* Eye Cataracts
* Loose Joints
* Both Testicles in male pups
* Problems with their Teeth
* Problems with their Ears
* Loose Patellas
* Hernias
* Skin Problems
Some of these problems are things that we would not be able to pick-up on without the expertise of the veterinarian.
We want to make sure you are going to be adding a healthy new puppy to your family! Different veterinarians will offer different options at your first visit, but we will include the basics so that you will be prepared.
INTESTINAL PARASITES:
You should take a stool sample to the first several vet appointments. This can be done by simply inverting a ziploc or sandwich style plastic bag (inside out), over your hand – pick up a small portion of the stool (the fresher the better) then invert the bag. Other options would be small plastic container etc… If you puppy has had loose stool, bloody stool, or mucous lined stool it would be best to take a sample that showed these signs. The vet is more likely to find a problem with one of these stools than one that is perfectly formed. If you cannot obtain one that is showing problems then take whatever your puppy provides you with.
The vet will actually be looking for the eggs of the parasites when checking a stool sample. If the parasite was not shedding eggs at the time the stool was given – your vet will give you a negative result – but one negative result does not mean that your puppy is free from parasites. If the worms were not shedding eggs or cysts at that particuliar time there will not be anything present for them to see – with this in mind, your puppy can definatly have worms even though you receive a negative result.
You should feel confident that the puppy is worm free after several stool samples in a row have been negative and the pup is showing no signs of parasite infestation. These signs can be weight loss, poor coat, diarrhea, bloody stool, poor appetite, lack of energy etc…
VACCINATIONS
Your puppy may not be ready for a second vaccination at the first visit. Check the date that your puppy had it’s first shot and do not let him be re-vaccinated for another 3-4 weeks from that date.
Your puppy will require a total of 4 vaccines ending around his 4th month. Each vaccine is given in this same 3-4 week interval. Different areas of the country often have differing vaccination schedules as well as variance in which vaccines they recommend. Talk to your vet about what your puppy should and should not be vaccinated for.
Your puppy will require a Rabies vaccine, generally between 3-6 months of age. This should also be discussed with your vet. We highly suggest that the rabies vaccine be given at a separate appointment – vs giving it along with his or her regular puppy vaccine – as these vaccines have 4 or 5 different vaccines in them already. This is a huge strain on their little immune systems.
After your puppy has had his final vaccine he will be all set for another year from this date. His rabies vaccine will need to be done again 1 year after it was given as well. After two rabies vaccines, spaced 1 year apart, he will then not need another one for 3 more years.
The vaccines we give to our puppies DO NOT contain Leptospirosis otherwise referred to as Lepto. You should discuss this with your veterinarian as this disease is not something that is prevalent in every area of our country. We do not routinely vaccinate all of our puppies for Lepto because it is one of the vaccines that is known for causing adverse reactions in some puppies. This vaccine is necessary for those puppies who may be able to come in contact with the feces of wild animals. BE SURE TO ASK YOUR VET IF LEPTO IS A CONCERN IN YOUR IMMEDIATE AREA. If he/she does recommend a Lepto vaccine – it would be advisable to give it as a stand alone vaccine at a separate appointment and not along with the regular puppy vaccines.
MISCELLANEOUS THINGS TO DISCUSS
Your vet will listen to the puppies heart in order to rule out heart murmurs. It is possible for your vet to hear a murmur that our vet did not hear. This can happen due to stress or just timing. Most heart murmurs go away within a short time if they are detected. Heart murmurs are not common but it is a possibility. They will also look in their eyes and do a complete physical examination.
Your vet will probably discuss heartworm and flea prevention products with you. If you have not had a dog for several years, you might not be aware of the growing risk of heartworm in dogs. Heartworm is transmitted by the common mosquito and is a dangerous and life threatening disease. Ask your vet about the prevalence of heartworm in the area you live before deciding if you will give it to your puppy or not. Different areas of the country are more likely to have this problem than others. Fleas are much more common in every area of the country and some sort of prevention will be necessary. You have a wide range of choices for fleas that you can discuss with your vet from natural products like brewers yeast and garlic tablets, monthly topical chemicals, monthly pills or sprays and powders. Ask questions and find the best option for you and your pet. Many of the monthly flea and or heartworm prevention products will also help to eliminate or prevent other pests like ear mites and other intestinal worms. Be sure to ask about these benefits as well when you are choosing the right product.
SPAYING OR NEUTERING
We highly recommend having your pet spayed or neutered AND IT IS A REQUIREMENT WHEN PURCHASING ONE OF OUR PUPPIES. Females that come into heat are susceptible to Pyometra – which is an infection in the uterus from the lining not shedding completely. This disease can effect your dog without any symptoms until it is too late. It can kill! Neutering your pet is the healthy choice for both male and female pets. Ask your vet about when the best time to schedule this procedure, it is most often done around 6 months of age.
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What To Expect At The First Vet Appointment
Different veterinarians will offer different options at your first visit, but we will include the basics so that you will be prepared.
You should always take a stool sample with you when you go to your appointment, even if you have done so previously and have gotten a negative result. You only need a small sample that you can take in any covered container or even a Ziploc bag.
When they check the stool sample and give you the result of negative – you should realize that this does not mean that your puppy does not have worms. It only means that they did not see any in that particular sample. When the vet looks at your sample they are actually searching for eggs from the worms – not always the worms themselves. If the worms were not shedding eggs you will not get a positive result even though the pup maybe loaded with worms.
You should feel confident that the puppy is worm free after several stool samples in a row have been negative and the pup is showing no signs of parasite infestation. These signs can be weight loss, poor coat, diarrhea, bloody stool, poor appetite, lack of energy, etc…
Your puppy may not be ready for a second vaccination at the first visit. Check the date that your puppy had it’s first shot and do not let him be revaccinated for another 3-4 weeks from that date.
Your vet will listen to the puppies heart in order to rule out heart murmurs. It is possible for your vet to hear a murmur that our vet did not hear. This can happen due to stress or just timing. Most heart murmurs go away within a short time if they are detected.
Heart murmurs are not common but it is a possibility. They will also look in their eyes and do a complete physical examination.
Your vet will probably discuss heartworm and flea prevention products with you. If you have not had a dog for several years, you might not be aware of the growing risk of heartworm in dogs.
Heartworm is transmitted by the common mosquito and is a dangerous and life-threatening disease. Ask your vet about the prevalence of heartworm in the area you live before deciding if you will give it to your puppy or not. Different areas of the country are more likely to have this problem than others. Fleas are much more common in every area of the country and some sort of prevention will be necessary.
You have a wide range of choices for fleas that you can discuss with your vet from natural products like brewers yeast and garlic tablets, monthly topical chemicals, monthly pills or sprays and powders. Ask questions and find the best option for you and your pet.
Many of the monthly flea and or heartworm prevention products will also help to eliminate or prevent other pests like ear mites and other intestinal worms. Be sure to ask about these benefits as well when you are choosing the right product.
Puppy Vaccinations
Our vaccines are manufactured by Nobivac. This is a modified live virus vaccine.
The first puppy shot is given between 6 and 8 weeks of age and is the first in a series of 4 vaccines. Each vaccine should be administered in 3-4 week intervals. When completed the puppy is generally in their 4th month of age and at this time will not require another vaccine of this type for another year.
If you pick-up your puppy at 8 weeks of age, he/she will have received only the first vaccine needed – as this is the age-appropriate recommendation.
This vaccine includes the following:
* Canine Distemper
* Adenovirus Type-2
* Parainfluenza
* Parvovirus
If you are taking your puppy home at 8 weeks of age, with one vaccine you must know that he/she is not fully protected against some life threatening diseases like Distemper and Parvovirus – even though both of these are contained in the puppies first vaccination. They must have at least two in the series and in some cases all four before they are really protected.
Understanding this – the new owner MUST USE SOME BASIC PROTECTION in order to keep your new member of the family safe from disease. More about this topic can be read in our “Puppy School” section.
We will give you a complete record of the vaccination history of your puppy so that you can take it to your own veterinarian for their review. They will be able to see exactly what your puppy has had done and what he or she still requires.
Please discuss vaccinations thoroughly with your veterinarian as different parts of the country do have different vaccine
recommendations. Some vets may recommend vaccines for Lyme Disease, Bordetella, Lepto, Giardia, and others.
LEPTOSPIROSIS VACCINE INFO:
The lepto vaccine is necessary in some cases – but please educate yourself about the pros and cons of this vaccine:
All puppies must be given a Rabies Vaccine – ask your vet when the best time is to administer this. Most often it is recommended between 3-6 months of age. We prefer that this vaccine be given at a separate visit from their regular puppy shot. Too much all at once can be very hard on their young immune systems.
Some veterinarians are suggesting that we are over immunizing our pets by giving new vaccines every year.
Click on the link above to read an article discussing this.