Our Health Program
We follow a strict health program for our
dogs that includes frequent dewoming, vaccination schedules,
and a prevention program for coccidiosis and giardhia.
Our puppies are first dewormed at about 2 weeks of age, and are re-treated every two weeks. By the
time they leave us, they will usually have been dewormed
three to four times, and have been exposed to at least two different types of dewormers (typically
Strongid and Safe-Guard) to ensure broad-spectrum control of
normal puppy parasites.
Our puppies will also have been given
preventative care for coccidiosis, which is a very common
intestinal infection in puppies in the United States.
Coccidiosis causes diarrhea, and often occurs after a period
of stress (weaning, leaving littermates for a new home,
etc.) .
Another common protozoa affecting puppies is giardhia. We
preventively treat puppies for this as well.
Around 6 weeks of age, our puppies are given
their first puppy vaccination. We have given vaccinations
such as the Duramune Max CVK 5
or Galaxy DA2PPv, though others with the same coverage are also
available. This is the first
in a series of vaccinations that should be continued after
you pick up your puppy (see a more detailed sample schedule
here, or a
summary below). Contact your veterinarian for
his/her vaccination timeline recommendations.
We give vaccinations here at home, having
received instruction through our veterinarians and years of
experience with with cattle and horse health care. If you
would like your puppy to receive his/her vaccination from a
veterinarian, we will be happy to take him/her to the
veterinarian at your expense (probably $30 per puppy per
vaccination).
WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR DOG TO THE
VETERINARIAN, DON'T LET HIM/HER TOUCH THE FLOOR:
When we go to the vet, I carry my dog and never let him/her
touch the floor. Straight from my arms or the carrier right
to the exam table, back to my arms, and out the door. "Out
the door, never on the floor" is a good motto for places
frequented by dogs, and especially dogs that might have been
there due to being ill. :-)
Canine Vaccinations
- Distemper - an airborne viral disease of the lungs, intestines and
brain.
- Hepatitis - a viral disease of the liver, also known as adenovirus.
- Leptospirosis - a bacterial disease of the urinary system.
- Parainfluenza - infectious bronchitis.
- Parvovirus - a viral disease of the intestines.
- Rabies - a viral disease fatal to humans and other animals.
- Corona - a viral disease of the intestines. Many veterinarians no
longer recommend Corona vaccination for puppies.
- Bordetella - a bacterial infection (kennel cough)
Puppies - 6 weeks to 1 year
- 6 to 8 weeks - First puppy shot (DHLPP), + Corona (optional). Some do
not recommend Lepto for puppies this young.
- 11 to 12 weeks - Second puppy shot (DHLPP), + Corona
(optional)
- 15 to 16 weeks - Third puppy shot (DHLPP), + Corona
(optional)
- Over 4 months - Rabies (repeat l year later)
- 7 to 9 months - First heartworm test. Monthly heartworm prevention.
Adult Dogs - After 1 year
-
Monthly heartworm prevention.
- DHLPP - Yearly
- Heartworm test - Yearly
- Rabies - Every 3 years (after second Rabies shot)
- Bordetella - Yearly
Note: Some states have their own laws
regarding the frequency & requirement of certain vaccinations. When in
doubt, always ask your veterinarian or local humane society.
Deworming Schedule
Veterinary recommendations vary for deworming puppies, but
all resources we've encountered recommend deworming at LEAST by 6 weeks of
age and again at 3 months of age. THAT IS A VERY POOR EXCUSE FOR A
DEWORMING SCHEDULE, but many people follow it.
A schedule beginning at 2 weeks with deworming every 2 weeks
through the 8th week is recommended by some vets, while others recommend
deworming for the first time at 6 weeks. We deworm our puppies about three
to four times prior to weaning, and hope you'll continue
with at least monthly deworming to 4 months of age unless your veterinarian recommends
otherwise.
Training/Growth Stages for Puppies
Check out our Puppy
Development page for more info. Also, this is a neat and short article about the stages of puppy
growth. Knowing what to expect for that first year can help you both
train and cope with your puppy's changes in personality and abilities.
Click Here to read the article.
