The ABC’s of a Healthy and Happy Canine Friend

Annual vaccinations. Puppies require a series of vaccinations (“puppy shots”), starting at 6 weeks of age. The vaccinations are given every 2-3 weeks until the puppy is 4 months old. A typical puppy is vaccinated at 6,9,12, and 16 weeks of age. This series is vitally important to protect puppies from potentially deadly infections from diseases such as canine distemper, parvo virus, and corona virus. A puppy’s immune system is not fully competent until around 16 weeks of age; therefore, a full series is given to ensure full protective immunity. Dogs 3 months of age or older which have not received any vaccinations or that have an unknown vaccination history (e.g., a stray) receive an initial set of vaccinations (distemper, parvo, corona, bordetella) and a second booster set 2-4 weeks later. Rabies is administered at 3 months of age or older, does not require a booster, and is then administered annually. Lyme vaccination is also available at our hospital and is recommended for dogs at risk for contact with ticks, such as dogs that hunt, go camping with their owners, or have had problems with tick infestations in the past.

Beware of Intestinal parasites. Intestinal parasites can present a severe health risk to young puppies and even adult dogs. The presence of intestinal parasites can be detected by examining a small amount of the animal’s stool with a microscope. Most intestinal parasites cannot be seen with the naked eye (tapeworms and roundworms are often large enough to see). They attach themselves to the lining of the intestines and absorb nutrients from the dog or suck blood from the intestinal lining. This can cause malnutrition and potentially life-threatening anemia. Other symptoms can include vomiting or diarrhea. Intestinal parasites can be transmitted in a number of ways, including from mother to puppy, ingestion of eggs, skin contact with contaminated soil, or in the case of tapeworms, through eating fleas or rodents Several types of intestinal parasites are also transmissible to humans, and so eradication of these parasites is of utmost importance. Therefore, we recommend that puppies be dewormed at least twice within a 2 week period. Pregnant dogs should be dewormed during the pregnancy. Adult dogs should have a fecal examination every 6  months and receive an appropriate deworrning, if necessary.

:Care enough to protect your dog from heartworm disease. Heartworms are deadly parasites that are spread by mosquitoes. These worms, which live within the heart and great vessels, cause damage to the lining of the arteries and can physically damage the heart itself, leading to congestive heart failure and death. This disease is so  prevalent in Texas that it is not a matter of if your dog will become infected, it is when. All puppies and dogs should receive a monthly heartworm preventative from 3 months of age and older. In Texas, the medication is given year-round. Dogs older than 6months that have not received regular preventative must be tested for heartworms prior to placing them on the medication. Dogs that have heartworms can be safely and effectively treated to kill the heartworms, and then placed on the preventative. We require dogs be tested every 1-2 years (depending on the type of preventative used) while on the preventative.

Dental care. Yes! Dogs need dental care too. Neglect of the teeth and gums can cause premature tooth and bone loss, abscesses, periodontal disease, and even damage internal organs such as the heart and kidneys. Prevention is the key to protect your dog. Get your puppy used to your finger in his/her mouth along the gum line. This will lead to using a toothbrush later. We recommend all puppies and dogs’ teeth be brushed daily. You can also use a product like Nolvadent solution that can be added to the drinking water. If your dog already has signs of dental disease (bad breath, plaque and tartar buildup on the teeth), the teeth must be cleaned and polished first. Ask us! Remember, taking care of your dogs teeth now could add as much as 5 years to his/her life, and to your special relationship with him/her.

:Examination by a licensed veterinarian. Your dog should be examined yearly as a young adult, and as he/she ages, every 6 months. Why so often? Dogs age much more quickly than people. If you use the old rule of 1 human year for every 7 dog years, you can see for one annual examination for a dog is similar to one physical examination every 7 years for a person. We recommend puppies receive a physical exam early in life to check for any congenital problems, and discuss behavioral questions (housetraining, socialization, etc.) and future health maintenance (spay/neuter, vaccinations, heartworm prevention, dental care, etc). Dogs should receive examinations yearly to check for problems early, such as ear infections, skin problems, dental disease, heart disease, etc. If caught early, many potentially life-threatening health problems can be completely curable, or much more easily managed. We also recommend older dogs have periodic blood work performed to check far internal problems.

Flea and tick control. Fleas and ticks are more than unsightly and a nuisance; they can many deadly diseases. Some of these diseases are also transmissible to people (Lyrne disease, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and others). There are several excellent flea and tick products available now such as Advantage, Frontline, Revolution, Capstar arid preventive tick collars, all available through us. They are very easy to use, are extremely effective and non-toxic to people and children. We no longer recommend bathing and dipping for flea and tick control due to the effectiveness and ease of application of these products. We also carry proven favorites like Program and Sentinel, oral tablets taken once a month. These sterilize adult fleas rendering them incapable of reproducing. Your flea control program should also involve treating your home and yard; many good products are available at most pet stores and department stores. Please ask us about one of these great products!

Good nutrition. This is actually pretty simple. Feed the highest quality pet food you can afford to buy. We recommend premium brands such as Iams, Eukanuba, or Science Diet. Other good brands include Nutramax and Purina. Those products work by supplying high quality, highly digestible nutrients to your dog; therefore, your dog will eat less of the food, and have a smaller stool volume. We also recommend finding a brand you and your dog like, and sticking to it. Switching brands frequently can cause upset stomachs, diarrhea, and gas. Proper nutrition is essential for optimal health and performance of your dog. Puppies should be fed a  puppy food until 1 year of age, and then switched to an adult maintenance diet. Dogs 6 years of age and older should be fed a senior diet, one that is restricted in calories, protein and salt. Puppies and dogs on a commercially prepared diet do not need vitamin and mineral supplementation unless specifically recommended by a veterinarian. Some vitamins and minerals can be toxic, if ingested in too large an amount. If you feel your dog needs additional supplementation, please feel free to call us!

Healthy dogs are spayed and neutered. Spaying puppies before their first heat cycle dramatically reduces the risk for developing mammary (breast) cancer later in life, and eliminates the possibility of diseases such as pyometra (a severe bacterial infection of the uterus that can be deadly) or cancers of the reproductive tract (ovaries and uterus). Neutering dogs significantly lowers the risk of prostate problems (benign enlargement of the gland, abscesses, and cancer), perianal tumors (tumors around or near the rectum), and eliminates the chance of testicular cancer. If done early (around 6 months of age), neutering is also highly effective at preventing unwanted behavioral problems, such as urinating in the house, aggression, and roaming. Spaying and neutering is also one small part you can do to help reduce the pet overpopulation problem.

HOME