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Caring for Your Puppy or Adult Dog |
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Owning a dog is an extremely rewarding experience, but it also carries with it responsibilities. We hope this information will give you some help and guidance. Please click on any of the links below for information on caring for your puppy or adult dog: ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() For additional information concerning any subject
related to your puppy's health VACCINATIONSThere are many diseases that are fatal to dogs. Fortunately, we have the ability to prevent many of these by the use of very effective vaccines. In order to be effective these vaccines must be given as a series of injections. HOW DO VACCINES WORK?Vaccines contain small quantities of "modified live" or "killed" viruses, bacteria or other disease causing organisms. When administered, they stimulate your cat's immune system to produce disease fighting cells and proteins or antibodies to protect against disease without causing the disease. ARE THERE ALTERNATIVES TO VACCINATION?There are homeopathic alternatives to vaccinations. However, until there is scientific evidence that any of them actually work, any claims about effective protection should be treated with caution. With vaccines such as the ones which we use, you have the reassurance of a product that has been approved through the FDA. This approval is only granted when all of the claims made for a vaccine 's performance and safety have been rigorously tested and proved in stringent clinical trials. HOW COMMON ARE SIDE-EFFECTS?Dogs may occasionally react adversely to vaccination and appear listless and under the weather for a short time. Such side-effects are very rare and almost always of a fairly minor nature, but if they persist for more than a day or two, you should contact us for advice. DO VACCINES EVER FAIL TO WORK?Very occasionally, a puppy is unable to respond to vaccination, usually because its levels of MDA (Maternally Derived Antibody) are too high. This is why puppy vaccines are given in a series. As the puppy matures, the Maternal Antibody diminishes and the puppy has more receptivity to the vaccine. Equally infrequently vaccines may also prove ineffective if the dog 's immune system has been damaged in some way, or, of course, if the disease has already been contracted before the vaccine has been administered or had time to work. It should be stressed however, that ineffective vaccination and side-effects are both extremely uncommon and such minor drawbacks are far outweighed by the positive benefits of protecting your dog against diseases that could kill.
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VACCINATION PROGRAMDHLPP7-8 weeks initial injection 10-11 weeks old - second injection Every 3-4 weeks until 4 months of age While the vaccine is taking effect, it 's helps to minimize the risk of infection by keeping your puppy away from other dogs (except the mother). RABIESInitial vaccine is given after 3 months. The first vaccine is provides protection for a year and then is repeated every 3 years. Annual booster vaccinations are required to ensure continued immunity. LYMEInitial series of 2 vaccinations Yearly booster KENNEL COUGH 1-2 vaccinations initially Yearly booster |
Heartworm prevention is essential as heartworms are potentially fatal to dogs. Prevention involves an annual blood test to determine whether the parasite is present and regular dosing with preventive medication. Heartworm infestation is dangerous; untreated dogs may die and treated dogs may go through weeks of discomfort while the worms are killed and expelled from their bodies.
Parasites go through several life stages before emergence as adults and need two hosts to complete the cycle. In heartworms, a mosquito serves as the intermediate host for the larval stage of the worm, also known as the microfilariae. The mosquito ingests the larva when it bites an infected dog and deposits its cargo in an uninfected dog when seeking another blood meal. The microfilariae burrow into the dog and undergo several changes to reach adult form, then travel to the right side of the heart through a vein and await the opportunity to reproduce. Adult heartworms can reach 12 inches in length and can remain in the dog's heart for several years.
The first sign of heartworm infestation may not manifest for a year after infection, and even then the soft cough that increases with exercise may be dismissed as unimportant by the owner. But the cough worsens and the dog may have difficulty with exertion; he may tire easily, become weak and listless, lose weight and condition, and may cough up blood. Breathing may become more difficult as the disease progresses and can result in congestive heart failure and eventual death.
Intestinal worms are common in puppies. Puppies can become infected
with worms in utero before they are born or later in her milk. Modern
worming preparations are safe and effective and we recommend that puppies
be dewormed and a fecal sample (to look for the microscopic eggs) checked
along with the regular vaccination series. A fecal sample will determine
if the deworming has been effective and will check for other parasites
such as coccidia or giardia which are not worms but protozoa. It is important
that the medication be repeated since it is only the adult worms that
are killed. Within 3-4 weeks the larval stages will have matured and
will need to be treated again. If coccidia or giardia are found they
are treated with the appropriate medication. It is a good practice to
check fecal samples and/or deworm your adult dog once per year.
Tapeworms are the most common intestinal parasite of dogs. Dogs become infected with them when they swallow fleas. The eggs of the tapeworm live inside the flea. When the puppy chews or licks it 's skin as a flea bites, the flea may be swallowed. The flea is digested within the dog 's intestine; the tapeworm hatches and then anchors itself to the intestinal lining. Exposure to fleas may result in a new infection; this can occur in as little as two weeks. Tapeworm eggs seldom are seen in fecal samples since they are passed in the segments. They are often only discovered by the observant owner or during an exam. Dogs infected with tapeworms will pass the small segments of the worms in their feces. The segments are white in color and look like grains of rice. They are about 3 mm (1/8 in) long and may be seen crawling on the surface of the feces. They may also stick to the hair under the tail. If that occurs, they will dry out, shrink to about half their size, and become golden in color.
There are two main types of mange in dogs, demodectic mange and sarcoptic mange (scabies). Both are caused by mites which live in the skin of the dog.
Demodectic mange is found in two forms - localized and generalized. The localized form is often found in puppies whose immune system is still developing. Usually the mange causes areas of alopecia (hair loss) which may progress to skin irritation and infection. The mite is diagnosed by doing skin scrapings and seeing the mites under the microscope. This mange does not usually cause itching.
The generalized form of mange is more severe an extensive. It is also more likely to cause secondary infections, crusting and irritation of the skin. Severe generalized demodex in adult dogs is often associated with other underlying diseases and has a poorer prognosis.
Treatments vary depending on the severity of the case. Very mild lesions may heal spontaneously. Ointments, dips and insecticides may be needed in more severe cases. This type of mange is not contagious to humans.
Scabies is a type of mange that produces severe itching on the host dog and in some cases very severe irritation and infection. The mites are more difficult to find on the skin scrapings because they are fewer in number than in demodectic mange. Often treatment is begun in suspected cases even if the mites can't be seen. This disease can be transmitted to humans and causes severe itching. Dogs are treated with various dips and medications and usually respond well.
Diet is extremely important in the growing months of a puppy's
life, and there are two important criteria that should be met in selecting
food for your puppy.
Feeding a dry, canned, or semi-moist form of dog food is acceptable. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Dry food is definitely the most inexpensive form, and can be left in the dog 's bowl without spoiling. Canned food contains about 75% water compared with only 10% in dry food: so dry food usually works out to be less expensive. With only a 10% moisture content in a dry food, compared with 70-80% in a canned food, your puppy will appear to drink more if fed a dry food.
Semi-moist and canned foods are also acceptable. However, both are considerably more expensive than dry food. They often are more appealing to the dog 's taste however, they are not more nutritious. If you feed a very tasty food, you are running the risk of creating a dog with a finicky appetite. In addition, the semi-moist foods are high in sugar.
Table foods are not recommended. Because they are generally very tasty, dogs will often begin to hold out for these and not eat their well-balanced dog food. If you choose to give your puppy table food, be sure that at least 90% of its diet is good quality commercial puppy food. We enjoy a variety of things to eat in our diet. However, most dogs prefer not to change from one food to another unless they are trained to do so by the way you feed them. Do not feel guilty if your dog is happy to just eat one food day after day, week after week.
Commercials for dog food can be very misleading. If you watch carefully you will notice that media commercials promote dog food on one basis, TASTE. Nutrition is rarely mentioned. Most of the "gourmet" foods are marketed to appeal to owners who want the best for their dogs; however, they do not offer the dog any nutritional advantage over a good quality dry food, and they are far more expensive. If your dog eats a gourmet food for any length of time it will probably not be happy with other foods. If it needs a special diet due to a health problem later in life, it is very unlikely to accept it. We do not encourage feeding gourmet dog foods.
Ticks are small spider-like arthropods and fleas are insects. They are both parasites that feed on your dog's blood and can cause discomfort and more serious health problems. Flea bites may go unnoticed in some pets, cause slight irritation in others and produce extensive itching, red lesions, hair loss and even ulcers in those animals with flea allergy dermatitis, which is the result of extreme sensitivity to flea saliva. Severe flea infestations can cause anemia, especially in puppies and kittens. Fleas can also transmit several diseases as well as tapeworm. Ticks are "vectors" or carriers of a number of diseases, including Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever which can be transmitted to humans.
The best way to control flea and tick problems is to prevent them from happening.
Many effective flea and tick control preparations for use on adult dogs are not suitable for use on puppies so please consult us regarding appropriate products. Today there are new, innovative products which are suitable for use on even very young puppies.
Puppies have very sharp toenails. They can be blunted and shortened using an emery board or a piece of carpenter 's fine sandpaper. They can also be trimmed with nail scissors or with clippers made for dogs and cats. However if you remove too much nail, you will cut the quick and cause bleeding and pain. If the puppy has clear or light colored nails it is possible to see the quick as a pink line running through the nail. With black nails this is more difficult and therefore these should be trimmed a little bit at a time until the puppy is beginning to resent it: at which time it is likely you are getting very near to the quick and should stop. It is useful to have a shaving styptic pencil available so that if you inadvertently cut the quick you can stop the bleeding without causing pain or discomfort to the puppy. We will be happy demonstrate how to trim your puppy's nails or do it for you at any time.
Ear mites (otodectes cyanotis) are tiny parasites that live in the ear canal of dogs (and cats). The most common sign of ear mite infection is scratching and shaking of the ears. Sometimes the ears will appear dirty because of a black discharge in the ear canal. Sometimes, we can find the mites by taking a small amount of the discharge from the ear canal and examining it with a microscope. Transmission is by direct contact between animals and the mites can be transmitted between dogs and cats. Ear mites are common in litters of puppies if the mother is infected or has been brought in contact with a cat with mites. Many ear infections are caused by bacterial or fungal (yeast) infections. There are different treatments and medications that can be prescribed for the various causes of ear infections.
Spaying offers several advantages. The female 's heat results in about 2-3 weeks of vaginal bleeding. This can be difficult if your dog is kept indoors. During this period she is attractive to male dogs and this can be a considerable nuisance. In some cases, despite your best efforts, the female will become pregnant. Your female will have a heat about every 6-12 months. Spaying is the removal of uterus and ovaries. Heat periods (and their associated problems) no longer occur and unplanned litters of puppies are prevented. It has been shown that as the female gets older, there is a significant incidence of breast cancer and uterine infections if she has not been spayed. Spaying - ideally before her first heat - will help to avoid these problems. If you do not plan to breed your dog, we strongly recommend that she be spayed at approximately 5-6 months of age.
Neutering offers several advantages. Male dogs are attracted to a female
dog in heat and will "wander" to get to her. Male dogs are
more aggressive and more likely to fight, especially with other male
dogs. As dogs age, the prostate gland frequently enlarges and can cause
difficulty with urinating and defecating.
Intact males are also susceptible to anal tumors and testicular tumors. Neutering will solve, or greatly help, all of these problems. The surgery can be performed any time after the dog is 5-6 months old.
Responsible ownership involves having a well-trained dog and this training should be commenced as soon as the puppy is acquired. Puppies are continuously learning from the moment their eyes are open and responsible breeders will ensure that the elements of training have commenced long before you acquire the puppy at 6-8 weeks of age. Remember training is not some formal process but should occur all the time that you are together with your puppy. Training and socialization are intermixed. A well socialized dog is invariably a well trained dog and vice versa. So puppies should be socialized. They should be handled by family members and strangers as soon as possible and be introduced to other dogs and puppies, as soon as they are vaccinated.
Stimulating play is important during the first week. Stalking and pouncing are important play behavior in puppies and are necessary for proper muscular development. If given a sufficient outlet for this behavior with toys, your puppy will be less likely to use family members for these activities. The best toys are lightweight and movable. These include wads of paper and rubber balls. Any toy that is small enough to be swallowed should be avoided.
Disciplining a young puppy may be necessary if its behavior threatens people or property, but harsh punishment should be avoided. Hand clapping and using shaker cans or horns can be intimidating enough to inhibit undesirable behavior. However, many trainers prefer remote punishment. Remote punishment consists of using something that appears unconnected to the "punisher" to stop the problem. Examples include using spray bottles, throwing objects in the direction of the puppy to startle (but not hit) it, and making loud noises. Remote punishment is preferred because the puppy associates punishment with the undesirable act and not with you. We recommend professional trainers to help you with the proper disciplining techniques particularly for new pet owners.
Just as parents "childproof" their homes, pet owners should "puppy proof" their. The following are tips to help ensure that your pet enjoys and long, happy, accident-free life in your care:
Puppy housebreaking can be accomplished by many different methods.
Keep in mind that puppies are unable to fully control their bowels until
they are a few months old. You will have some success during the early
months; however you should expect a few accidents. To avoid difficult
clean-ups, keep puppies supervised at all times until you are certain
that your puppy is housebroken. Once you allow your puppy to urinate
in the house, he is likely to return to the same spot the next time he
has to relieve himself.
Your puppy should be let outside to relieve himself just before you retire for the night. Likewise, as soon as he wakes up in the morning, the first thing your puppy will need to do is relieve himself. You should waste no time in taking him outside as soon as he awakes. When your pup hears you get up in the morning, it will be his signal to wake, so attend to him before going about your morning routine. Some pups may cry that they need to go outside at the first sign of light, and if you want a dry floor it is usually necessary to immediately respond to their needs. Your pup will also have to relieve himself shortly after a meal, and will need to urinate more often during the summer when his water intake is higher. As soon as your puppy finishes dinner, place him outside for several minutes until he relieves himself. At other times, you may notice your pup sniffing the floor for a suitable place to relieve himself. He may whimper or start to squat. Scoop him up immediately and place him outside.
Puppy housebreaking may be quickened if your pup sleeps in his crate. Dogs dislike sleeping in a soiled area, and your pup will soon learn to wait until you let him out of his crate to do his business. Of course, it may take a few months before your pup is able to hold his bowels all night. As he gets older, he will have fewer and fewer accidents. Expect this, and never scold him for accidentally soiling his area at night.
If your puppy does have an accident during the day, only scold him if you catch him in the act. If you scold him even a minute or two after he has soiled, it will confuse him because he will not know why he is being scolded. If, however, you catch him in the act of relieving himself in the house, pick him up and say "No" in a firm voice. Do not yell at the pup. Immediately take him to the outside area where you want him to go. Never rub his nose in the mess or hit him; this will cause him to fear you and will make future obedience training more difficult. Be sure to clean the soiled area with a product intended for housebreaking accidents. It should be formulated to remove both the stain and the odor so your pup will not be tempted to soil the same spot.
For additional information concerning any subject
related to your dog's health
call Companion Animal Hospital of Milford at (203)
882-1100
or email info@companionvetmilford.com