Congratulations on your new member of the family.

VACCINATIONS

Vaccinations are one of the most important preventative health care measures that you as a responsible pet owner can provide your new puppy.

Like with humans, puppies must also have vaccinations in order to build their immune system to protect them against common but fatal dieses. These vaccines are vital and require 2 vaccinations 2 to 4 weeks apart in order to give your puppy the best prevention.

Before any vaccination is administered, your puppy will be given a thorough health check by one of our Veterinary Professionals to ensure they are in full health and allows you to ask any questions or queries you may have.

The first vaccination can be administered from 8 weeks of age. In some cases the breeder may have already started the course for you so please check with them if, when and which vaccination has been previously used.

The second vaccination can be administered 2 to 4 weeks from the first vaccination but no earlier than 10 weeks of age. They will then require yearly vaccinations thereafter. Your puppy should not be outside until at least 2 weeks after the second vaccination has been given to ensure that optimal immunity has been reached.

These vaccinations cover puppies for; Canine Distemper Virus, Canine Parvovirus, Canine Parainfluenza Virus and either 2 or 4 strains of Leptospirosis.

SOCIALISING AND TRAINING

Socialisation refers to the process of introducing your puppy to new sights, sounds and experiences. This helps them get used to the world and teaches them to be confident in new situations. 

Whilst you cannot let your puppy outside until 2 weeks after their second vaccine, you can introduce them to a variety of situations including socialising your puppy at home with other fully vaccinated dogs. Once full immunity is achieved you may begin puppy classes and walking outside on the streets. This will further your puppies interactions with real life situations.

Effective socialisation is vital for you and your puppy as it can have a huge impact on a puppy’s long term physical and mental wellbeing. The lessons puppies learn whilst young can guide them for a lifetime. Making new experiences positive for your puppy will reduce anxiety and fear in the future. 

Puppies are known for having accidents on the carpet, make sure you take your puppy into the garden as often as possible especially after food, play and sleep. Like babies their bladders are only small and need training to hold larger amounts of urine for longer.

Please speak to the practice if you have any questions surrounding socialisation or training.

FLEA AND WORM CONTROL

Your puppy will receive one free preventative treatment on either their first or second vaccination consultation. The product of choice here is Nexgard Spectra which is a tablet given orally to your puppy. It is given monthly and covers your puppy for; fleas, ticks, heartworm, roundworm, lungworm, demodex and sarcoptic mange. This product can be applied to your puppy from 8 weeks of age.

With puppies because they grow quickly we like to have them come in once a month until fully grown for a free weight check. This enables your puppy to receive the correct dose of preventative treatment and gives them a positive experience of being at the vets.

There are many products available for flea and worm prevention and should you feel this particular product is not suitable for your puppy please discuss this during your consultation.

OTHER VACCINES

Our puppy vaccines do not include the Kennel Cough or Rabies vaccination. If you would like your puppy protected against these diseases please talk to the team about getting booked in for these.

MICROCHIPPING

Microchips are the size of a small grain of rice and implanted beneath the skin between the shoulder blades. It is a legal requirement for your puppy to be microchipped no later than 8 weeks old. Your breeder may have already done this for you. 

Once your Puppy has been microchipped we will register this microchip with the online database PetLog. We will complete the initial set up to include yours and your puppy’s details however, it is your responsibility to keep these details updated.

Microchips are permanent and assist in identifying and reuniting your pet with you should they get lost.

NEUTERING

We recommend neutering for both males and females. It has some definite health benefits and eliminates unwanted pregnancy.

Please discuss with us the best time to neuter, this varies from breed and size and gender.

DENTAL CARE

Dental disease is one of the most common conditions found in pets, if left untreated it can lead to other serious health concerns later on in life. Dental care at home such as; brushing teeth, feeding the correct diet and having regular Vet check-ups is key to delaying the effects of dental disease. Introducing dental care at a young age will allow your puppy to be comfortable with you carrying out a routine.

DIET

Your puppy’s diet is an important factor in helping your puppy grow and stay healthy. The food should contain all the nutrients they need for each stage in their development, you will be required to adapt the food and rations you provide as they grow.

You should stick to the same diet your puppy has previously been fed for at least one week after bringing them home, you will then be able to gradually switch to a puppy food of your choice should you prefer an alternative diet. A sudden change in food can cause digestive upset and stress.

The stress of moving to a new home may mean that your puppy does not eat much at first, but once settled their appetite should return.

Vets and pet owners share a common interest to keep animals in our care as healthy as possible. Nutrition is the foundation of health and so it is important that any diet fed to our pets is nutritionally balanced and complete. 

The WSAVA (World Small Animal Veterinary Association) recommend that both dogs and cats should NOT be fed raw diets. A statement made by the WSAVA is as follows “There is no evidence that raw meat-based diets provide health benefits over commercial or balanced homemade cooked diets…There is growing evidence that feeding raw meat can be a health risk both for the animal and the owner.”

Homemade Raw diets have a high risk for contamination with bacteria, parasites and other pathogens. In addition to the risks of nutritional inadequacy and contamination with bacteria and parasites, other health concerns for an animal eating a raw diet includes risks of consumption of bones (leading to constipation, diarrhoea, dental fractures and gastrointestinal obstructions) and the risk of diet induced hyperthyroidism from excessive ingestion of thyroid tissue. 

There is currently no properly documented evidence of health benefits for feeding a raw diet but there are well documented risks which should be taken into consideration when choosing your pets diet. 

Should you have any questions regarding your puppy’s diet or eating habits then please discuss this with us.

PET INSURANCE

Whilst we cannot recommend insurance companies we strongly recommend getting your puppy insured with a company and policy that best suits you. Lifetime polices are the most beneficial policies out there. Having insurance will help cover the cost of unexpected Veterinary bills due to accidents or illness.

At your puppy’s first or second vaccination we can introduce you to a company called PetPlan who will provide you with 4 weeks free cover. There is no obligation to continue with this company once your 4 weeks has run out. PetPlan will however, contact you regarding their policies near the end of your free cover.

This 4 week cover will provide you with peace of mind whilst allowing you more time to search for a long term policy. Please make sure you read all the information provided by these companies when searching to ensure it is best suited to you.

Never hesitate to give us a call on 01634 854411.