Congratulations on your new family member! Puppies are a lot of fun, and there is a lot that you, as a new “ parent,” need to do to maintain your pet's well-being. As you go through the following information, be sure to ask the veterinarian any questions that you may have.

---- Be sure your puppy gets all the vaccinations that it needs (please refer to our vaccine schedule sheet.) Puppies need to have a complete series of vaccines (“shots.”) usually beginning at approximately 6 weeks old and continuing approximately every 3-4 weeks until they are 16 weeks old. They do not need vaccines any sooner than this. Required vaccines are the distemper-parvo combination vaccine (that also protects against other viruses) and the rabies vaccine. Your veterinarian can explain to you about other recommended vaccines.

---- Be sure that your puppy is kept away from other dogs, and from places where other dogs may have been, at least until after its second set of vaccines. Until this time, the puppy may not be fully protected against viruses such as parvo virus, etc. This means no trips to the park/ beach/ neighbor dog's house: there may be microscopic remains of another dog's feces in the soil that my infect your puppy.

---- Make sure that your puppy has had an appropriate series of dewormers for roundworms and hookworms (that may cause infections in people as well) and that fecal samples are examined for other parasites. After the “ puppy series,” this is done every 6-12 months.

---- Return to the veterinarian every year for your dog's annual examination and booster vaccines (if needed) you can run titers to see if the dog is still immune to the vaccines given earlier.

---- Begin heartworm. prevention medication when your puppy is 8-12 weeks old. It is extremely important that your dog stay on this medication, without interruption, for the rest of its life. Your dog should be tested every year to make sure that the medication has been effective, and to refill the prescription for the medication..

--- Feed your puppy a well-formulated diet.... There are many good High Quality Feeds on the Market. Stay away from foods based on corn or by-products.

---- If you ever switch your dog's food, do it slowly over a course of about 3 days: gradually increase the amount of the new food and decrease the amount of the old food until only the new food is being fed. This will help minimize the chance of diarrhea or stomach upset from a sudden diet change.

---- Once your puppy is fully grown, switch him/her to a High Quality Natural Feed.

---- As long as a well-balanced, high-quality dog food is being given, there should be no need for supplements.

---- Make sure your puppy can be returned to you in case he/she is ever lost. Put a name tag with your phone number and address on the dog's collar. After the rabies vaccine is given, make sure he/she wears the rabies tag at all times. Injecting a permanent microchip under the dog's skin provides a permanent, unchangeable means of identification. Tattooing is another means of pet identification. that is usually done when the pet is asleep during its spay/neuter.

---- Make sure your puppy is spayed (females) or neutered (males) before it reaches sexual maturity. This should be done before he/she is 7 months old. It is best to wait until the vaccine series is completed before doing the surgery, but it can be done sooner if needed. Spaying/neutering is generally recommended when the puppy is 5-6 months old. If you have any questions about the procedure or why it is important that it be done, please ask your veterinarian.

---- Dogs need things to chew on. Make sure that there is no access to any possible harmful objects. Keep all electric cords, small items/toys, etc. out of the puppy's reach to avoid electrocution/choking/etc. A good chew toy should not have the potential to harm the dog's teeth, gums, or digestive tract. Gumabone and Kong toys meet these requirements. Hard toys may break teeth or scratch the gums. The felt on tennis balls and string on rope toys may rub away the enamel of the dog's teeth. Toys that can be chewed up may cause stomach problems.

---- Make sure there are no toxic substances within reach of the puppy. Old batteries, antifreeze, and pennies are common household items that may be fatal if ingested.

---- Begin now to get your puppy used to having baths, ear cleaning, and toenail trims.

---- Consider purchasing health and accident insurance for your puppy. Accidents may occur at any time, or sudden health problems may develop in any dog. Being covered by insurance will minimize the amount of money required out of your pocket to pay for the care of these problems. Policies vary, so be sure you understand what is and is not covered on your policy.

---- Consider providing monthly flea medication to your puppy now..Frontline and Advantage are two topical products given once a month to every 3 months to pups 8 weeks or older. If there are no fleas on the puppy now, then it is the best time to start the medication.

---- Take your puppy for car rides other than to the veterinarian's office. If the only time he/she goes in the car is to get shots, he/she may begin to fear the car. Go for short rides around the block, and give a reward when you get home.

---Get a book on puppies, such as the Super Puppy Handbook. It can give you lots of other suggestions on how to provide your dog a long, happy life. It may also be beneficial to get a book on your specific breed of dog. Call your veterinarian whenever you have any questions!

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