Preventive Health Care Recommendations for
Dogs
Puppies - should be
vaccinated according to the following schedule:
6 weeks old - Canine 6 way vaccine
9 weeks old - Canine 6 way and Canine
Cough vaccines
12 weeks old - Canine 7 way vaccine (incl.
Leptospira Vaccine)
16 weeks old - Canine 7 way and Rabies
vaccines
Adult Dogs - 14
weeks or older dogs with no history of vaccination:
First Visit - Canine 7 way, and Canine
Cough vaccines
3 Weeks Later - Canine 7 way, and Rabies
vaccines
Canine 7 way and Canine Cough vaccines
yearly
Rabies vaccine 1 year after the first
dose, then every 3 years
Vaccination has been shown to be effective
in developing immunity in healthy dogs. However, if a dog is already developing disease,
is malnourished, parasitized, or stressed due to adverse environmental conditions, it may
not be able to develop an adequate immune response following vaccination. For this reason,
your dog will be examined by a veterinarian prior to vaccination. A general physical
examination will be given by the veterinarian on the initial visit of any series of
vaccinations. Briefer examinations are given on the follow-up visits.
The Canine 6 way vaccine protects against
Distemper, Adenovirus Hepatitis and Pneumonia, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus Enteritis and
Coronavirus Enteritis. The 7 way includes all of these plus the Leptospirosis vaccine.
The Canine Cough vaccine protects against
bordetella pneumonia and parainfluenza virus. This vaccine should never be given to
pregnant dogs.
Lyme Disease vaccine is recommended for
dogs that spend time in the woods where they may be exposed to the ticks that carry the
disease. This disease is most common in the Eastern United States. If you have further
questions about this vaccine or disease please ask us.
Rabies is a fatal viral infection of the
central nervous system that can affect all mammals including man. The virus is transmitted
primarily through the bite of an infected animal. Routine vaccination is the key to
controlling this dreaded disease.
Poor dental hygiene can cause gingivitis,
pain, and bad breath. It can also cause systemic diseases that damage other areas of the
body such as the heart and kidneys. Preventative dental care for your dog should begin as
soon as possible after weaning. This should include regular at home teeth brushing or
application of a product like Maxiguard Gel (at least three times a week) and periodic
examinations by a veterinarian. If dental problems are detected and treated early, major
problems can usually be entirely avoided.
Feeding crunchy food and dog biscuits will
help maintain a healthy mouth by chipping off some of the disease causing tartar, but
crunchy food alone won't keep teeth clean enough to prevent dental disease. Even adult
dogs can get used to home dental care, but the earlier you start in the dog's life, the
better.
Because of the fact that roundworms are a
health hazard for small children, we routinely worm all new dogs two times for roundworms.
Remember to bring in a fresh stool sample on the first or second office visit and we will
run a fecal exam to check for other intestinal parasites. We recommend fecal exams be
repeated yearly throughout the pet's life. Fecal tests may also be recommended by the
veterinarian for dogs with health problems.
We recommend all female dogs be wormed for
roundworms prior to breeding. Puppies should be wormed at 3, 5, and 7 weeks of age. We
will worm any puppy starting vaccinations that has not been previously wormed.
Tapeworms are commonly missed on fecal
exams as they are only shed periodically. Dogs should be wormed for tapeworms whenever
tape segments are detected in the stool or on the rear of the dog.
We recommend that all dogs that are not
being kept for use in controlled breeding programs be spayed or neutered. Spaying or
neutering your pet is loving, responsible pet care. If your pet remains intact and is
given the chance to wander, you may be responsible for unwanted litters. Uncontrolled pet
breeding is the number one reason why millions of cats and dogs are euthanized in this
country each year. Spaying and neutering can help control pet overpopulation and reduce
the numbers of cats and dogs that are abandoned or must be destroyed.
There are also health benefits to spaying
and neutering. Early spaying will dramatically reduce the incidence of mammary cancer, and
can prevent other health problems, such as accidental pregnancy, pyometra (uterine
infections) and dystocia which can require expensive surgical and medical care.
Neutering male dogs will reduce or
eliminate fighting and the resulting injuries. It will also reduce the tendency to roam.
Either surgery can be done any time after
5 months of age. Dogs gain no benefit from going through a heat cycle or having a litter
prior to surgery. Mammary cancer is extremely rare in dogs spayed prior to their first
heat. If you have a young animal, call our office today to arrange for a spay or neuter
operation. We'll make sure your pet is safe and comfortable, but neutered!