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What a Puppy Needs
In addition to good food, extensive training, love, daily grooming, regular exercise, and lots more, puppies need a lot of scheduled preventive veterinary care during their first 6-7 months of life. Preventive care includes items, services, and procedures that are planned and that help keep your puppy healthy now and for the rest of his/her life! In many cases, a lot of preventive care will have already been done before the pup comes home with you.
Dewormings: treatments for roundworms and hookworms (these parasites can be passed directly from mother to pup) should be given at 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks of age to all puppies. If your pup has not had these early treatments, be prepared for lots of dewormings. Pups can be temporarily or permanently stunted from worms, and can even die due to these parasites.
Stool tests: to be sure all parasites/worms have been removed. Usually done between 8 and 10 weeks of age, and repeated every 3 to 4 weeks until the pup is 4 months of age or until we have two consecutive negative tests. If your pup has more parasites, he/she will need additional deworming treatments.
Physical examinations or checkups: the first puppy checkup should be done between 6 to 9 weeks of age. Additional checkups are due every 3 to 4 weeks until the pup is 4-5 months old. Any abnormalities (skin problems, ear mites, runny eyes, etc.) will need treatment. Many breeders, rescue leagues, and shelters do not have a veterinarian examine their pups before sale or adoption. Ask if your puppy has had a veterinarian’s exam - serious problems like bad knees or heart defects can be found during these exams!
Monthly: Heartworm medication & Flea/tick control products (Frontline or generic Frontline is best).
Vaccinations for Bordatella (Infectious Bronchitis or Kennel Cough): either as a single dose (around 10-12 weeks of age), or a temporary vaccine at 4-6 weeks of age and then a booster at 10-12 weeks.
Vaccinations for DAP (Distemper/Adenovirus/Parvovirus): given in a series, starting at 6 to 8 weeks of age and repeated every 3 to 4 weeks until the pup is around 16 weeks old. This usually means 3 to 4 DAP vaccines. Our last vaccine in the series is good for 3 years; some other places give 1 year vaccines.
Vaccination for Rabies: given as a single dose at around 16 weeks of age (good for one year).
Additional vaccines? CIV (Canine Influenza Virus) and/or Leptospirosis vaccines may be recommended for your puppy. These vaccines are not recommended for every dog, so ask the veterinarian if you should consider them for your puppy based on his/her risk factors.
Spay or neuter, usually done between 4 and 7 months of age. This surgery prevents unwanted puppies as well as helping prevent serious medical issues for your dog as he/she gets older. Some rescue leagues and a few breeders do early spay/neuter surgeries, as young as 8 to 10 weeks of age. This is OK, too.
Microchip – this is ID your pup can’t lose and will allow him/her to be returned to you from anywhere in the country. It is a very wise investment in your pup’s future!
Puppies from all reputable breeders, some shelters, and almost all rescue leagues will have had a significant portion of their routine puppy preventive care done already. However, unless your pup is already 6 months of age it is unlikely to have had all that is needed! If you are not sure what your puppy still needs, bring a copy of his/her records to us and we can look them over and tell you. Remember that no matter how much preventive care your pup has already had, he/she has not completed the puppy preventive care program until the age of 4 to 7 months (depending on the pup and the circumstances)!