Vaccinations
We routinely vaccinate our puppies against 5 diseases:
Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis and Canine Cough (both Bordetella and Parainfluenza). There are other vaccinations that are important such as Leptospira especially in tropical areas or other high risk areas.
A puppy should receive 3 vaccinations, the first at 6-8 weeks of age, the second at 10-14 weeks of age and the third at 16-18 weeks (It is very important the last vaccination is given at or after 14 weeks of age). To remain fully covered they will need repeated vaccines every year and/or 3 years, or have annual titre testing.
It is important to realise that your puppy is not fully vaccinated until at least 1 week AFTER their final booster. They should not be out in public or in contact with unvaccinated dogs until then.
Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm is a parasite transmitted via a mosquito bite. Heartworm is prevalent in the Brisbane area and it can be a fatal disease. There are many different heartworm prevention products. We will try and find a product that best suits you and your puppy. Prevention should begin at 6-8 weeks of age.
There are now many products on the market to prevent Heartworm. Most of these are monthly tablets or spot-on products. There is also an annual injection that is the currently the most convenient way to ensure your dog does not get heartworm.
Intestinal Worming
What do I need to worm my puppy against?
Puppies should be wormed for roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm (including the hydatid tapeworm). Puppies can be susceptible to gut worms and can be significantly affected by a small worm burden. These worms can also be spread to humans, especially children. So it is very important to keep up with your intestinal worming regime.
How often should I worm my puppy or kitten?
Puppies and kittens need to be wormed every fortnight from 2 to 12 weeks of age, then monthly up to 6 months of age, then every three months for life. However, this may change depending on the heartworm prevention you choose. Some monthly heartworm prevention also includes intestinal wormers.
Fleas
Flea control is very important as a large flea burden can cause anaemia and death in a small puppy. Get into a routine and start your puppy on flea prevention straight away. Please feel free to come in and discuss the latest flea control products with our expert nurses.
It is important that ALL animals in the household must be treated for control to be effective (including cats!!)
Microchips
A microchip is a small chip (about the size of a grain of rice) that is inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades via a simple injection. It can be done any time after 8 weeks of age.
The microchip holds a 15 digit number. Your details are linked to that number. If your puppy goes missing and is found and brought to a shelter or a vet clinic, the puppy can be scanned for a microchip. Once we have the chip number, we can call you immediately. The one-off fee includes the microchip and life-time registration on a nationwide database.
A collar and tag are also important however can get lost, but a microchip is there for life.
Diet
There are so many on the market, what should I feed? We recommend a good quality dry kibble for your puppy. There are a number of brands that are of good quality. These include Hills Science Diet, Eukanuba, and Royal Canin. You should select the puppy or growth variety for the appropriate breed you have.
What about bones? Bones are good for cleaning teeth but no bone is 100% safe. They are a common cause of oral trauma, broken teeth (especially in strong jawed breeds) and obstructions when dogs swallow lumps of bone rather than chew and gnaw. Please speak to your vet for more information on choosing appropriate chew toys.
Puppy Pre School
Since the primary socialisation period for dogs ends by 3 months of age, puppy socialisation classes are most valuable for puppies 8 -16 weeks of age. If all puppies in the class have had initial vaccinations, are healthy and parasite free, the health risks are low and the potential benefits are enormous.
Puppy preschool is an excellent way to socialise your new puppy to a variety of people, other dogs, and stimuli, in a controlled environment.
In addition, you will learn how to prevent problems before they can begin, or deal with them as they emerge, rather than having to find a way to correct problems that have already developed.
Pet Insurance
With the rising costs of veterinary medicine, it may be a good idea to consider pet insurance. There are many companies that provide this service. When comparing companies things to consider include
- How long has the company been in business and who underwrites the policy?
- Does the policy guarantee lifetime renewal?
- Does the policy stop cover once the pet reaches a certain age or does cover decrease as the pet ages?
- Does the policy place new exclusions or restrictions on cover at the time of renewal?
- Does the policy have an age limit for joining?
- Does the policy cover for hereditary and congenital conditions or are there breed specific exclusions?
- Does the policy have limits per claim as well as yearly limits?
You will also need to decide the type of coverage you want – accident, illness or both.
In general most companies will cover 70-80% of the veterinary bill and some offer coverage for routine health care. Most have no waiting period for accidental injury but they usually have a 30 day waiting period for illness. It is important you check their tick paralysis policy as these differ significantly between companies.
Some companies that provide house insurance also provide pet insurance. As with any insurance, it is important to read the product disclosure statements carefully and choose the one that suits you.
