VACCINATIONS

        START DHLPP VACCINATION (DISTEMPER, HEPATITIS, LEPTOSPIROSIS, PARVOVIRUS, PARAINFLUENZA) 6 TO 8 WEEKS OF AGE. DHLPP VACCINATIONS PROTECT AGAINST UPPER RESPIRATORY DISEASES AND DISEASES OF THE OF VARIOUS TISSUES AND ORGANS INCLUDING LIVER, KIDNEYS, SPLEEN AND LUNGS. ADDITIONALLY, THE VACCINE  PROTECTS AGAINST THE HIGHLY CONTAIGOUS PARVOVIUS WHICH CAN BE FATAL TO YOUNG PUPPIES AND UNVACCINATED DOGS AND BACTERIAL INFECTIONS CONTACTED THROUGH URINE OF INFECTED WILDLIFE, FOOD OR WATER.

        DHLPP IS A SERIES OF 3 VACCINATIONS FOLLOWED BY A BOOSTER. DHLPP VACCINATIONS ARE SPACED 3 TO 4 WEEKS APART. UPON COMPLETETION OF THE PUPPY SERIES, THE DHLPP IS DUE YEARLY.

        PUPPIES MUST BE AT LEAST 16 WEEKS OF AGE BEFORE RECEIVING THE RABIES VACCINATION. THE FIRST VACCINATION IS GOOD FOR 1 YEAR. THEREAFTER, THE RABIES VACCINATION WILL BE DUE EVERY 3 YEARS. STATE LAW REQUIRES ALL DOGS TO BE CURRENT ON THEIR RABIES VACCINATION.

        KENNEL COUGH IS A CONTAIGIOUS UPPER RESPIRATORY DISEASE. ANY DOG WHO COMES IN CONTACT WITH OTHER DOGS WHOSE VACCINATION HISTORY IS UNKNOWN (GROOMERS, KENNEL, DOG PARK) ARE AT-RISK FOR CONTACTING THIS DISEASE. THE BORDETELLA VACCINATION IS RECOMMENDED FOR THOSE DOGS. ALL KENNELS AND MOST GROOMERS REQUIRE THIS VACCINATION PRIOR TO SERVICE.

SPAY AND NEUTER

        OVARIOHYSTERECTOMY (SPAY, FEMALE) AND CASTRATION (NEUTER, MALE) IS RECOMMEND FOR ALL DOGS WHO WILL NOT BE USED FOR BREEDING PURPOSES.

THE SURGICIAL PROCEDURE FOR FEMALES INVOLVES REMOVING THE UTERUS AND OVARIES THROUGH AN ABDOMINAL INCISION.

        THE SURGICAL PROCEDURE FOR MALES INVOLVES REMOVING THE TESTES THROUGH A PRE-SCROTAL INCISION.

        UN-SPAYED FEMALES ARE AT-RISK FOR DEVELOPING MAMMARY CANCER AND PYOMETRA WHICH IS AN INFECTION OF THE UTERUS THAT CAN RESULT IN THE DEATH OF THE DOG. UN-SPAYED FEMALES HAVE A HEAT CYCLE ABOUT EVERY 6 MONTHS LASTING ABOUT 4 WEEKS. A FEMALE CANNOT BE SPAYED DURING HER HEAT CYCLE.

        UN-NEUTERED MALES ARE AT-RISK FOR DEVELOPING TESTICULAR CANCER AND PROSTATITIS. UN-NEUTERED MALES MAY ALSO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE, MAY TEND TO ROAM AND MAY DEMONSTRATE INCREASED MARKING.

        TO DECREASE ANY ANESTHETIC RISKS, MALES AND FEMALES SHOULD BE 6 MONTHS OLD FOR THE SURGERY. THE PUPPY IS MORE MATURE AND HAD DEVELOPED MORE MUSCLE MASS.

        THE RECUPERATION FOR BOTH MALES AND FEMALES IS 10 DAYS DURING WHICH THE ANIMAL MUST HAVE EXERCISE RESTRICTION. TOO MUCH ACTIVITY COULD RESULT IN REOPENING THE INCISION OR CAUSING INTERNAL BLEEDING.

        FEMALES HAVE SKIN SUTURES (STITCHES) WHICH NEED TO BE REMOVE 10 DAYS AFTER SURGERY.

        MALES HAVE SUTURES THAT WILL DISSOLVE OVER TIME, NO REMOVAL IS NECESSARY.

SOCIALIZATION

        ALTHOUGH THERE IS A GENETIC COMPONENT TO BEHAVIOR, OWNERS MUST BE PROACTIVE WHEN SOCIALIZING DOGS AT A YOUNG AGE. THERE ARE DIFFERENCES IN TEMPERMENTS AMONG BREEDS. IT IS RECOMMEDED TO UNDERSTAND BREED DIFFERENCES AND CHOOSE A PUPPY THAT IS SUITABLE FOR YOUR NEEDS AND LIFESTYLE.

        SOCIALIZATION PERIOD OCCURS FROM 19 DAYS TO 12 WEEKS AND BEYOND. PROVIDE LOTS OF POSITIVE EXPERIENCES WITH  FREQUENT, GENTLE HANDLING AND EXPOSURE TO PEOPLE, SITUATIONS, ANIMALS AND OBJECTS. A PUPPY NOT EXPOSED TO A VARIETY OF STIMULI MAY BE FEARFUL OF NEW SITUATIONS AND OF PEOPLE AS AN ADULT DOG.

        ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENCE WITH APPROPRIATE TOYS, LONG-LASTING TREATS AND SUPERVISED EXERCISE.

        AVOID SEPARATION ANXIETY BY NOT ALLOWING THE PUPPY TO FORM AN OVER-ATTACHMENT TO A PARTICULAR PERSON.

        NEUTER AND SPAY YOUR PUPPY. NEUTERING HAS A POSITIVE INFLUENCE ON INDOOR MARKING, MOUNTING, AGRESSION (TO PEOPLE AND ANIMALS) AND TERRITORIAL AGRESSION.

NUTRITION

        PUPPYHOOD IS THE TIME TO IMPLEMENT A GOOD DIET REGIME TO LAST THE LIFETIME OF YOUR PUPPY.

        COMMERCIAL DIETS ARE FORMULATED TO MEET THE NUTRITIONAL REQUIREMENTS OF YOUR PET. HOME-COOKED DIETS LACK THE NECESSARY COMPONONENTS OF A GOOD DIET. FEED A QUALITY FOOD SUCH AS IAMS OR HILLS SCIENCE DIET. GOOD OTC FOODS ARE PEDIGREE AND PURINA.

        PUPPIES SHOULD EAT PUPPY FOOD ONLY UNTIL 1 YEAR OF AGE BEFORE SWITCHING TO AN ADULT FOOD.

        NEVER MAKE A SUDDEN SWITCH TO A NEW FOOD. SLOWLY TRANSITION FROM THE OLD DIET TO THE NEW DIET.

        HARD OR COARSED-TEXTURED FOOD AIDS IN KEEPING TARTAR FROM ACCUMULATING ON THE TEETH. IN ADDITION, SOME DIETS INCORPORTATE A DENTAL DEFENSE COMPONENT INTO THE DIETS WHICH ALSO HELPS KEEP TARTAR BUILD-UP AT A MINIMUM.

        NEVER FEED "HUMAN FOOD". FEEDING TABLE SCRAPS CAN CAUSE VOMITING AND DIARRHEA. SOME FOODS ARE TOXIC TO ANIMALS.

        FEEDING GUIDELINES ARE ON FOOD BAGS. FOOD SHOULD BEMEASURED.

        IT IS RECOMMENDED TO ESTABLISH REGULAR FEEDING TIMES. FEED AT THE SAME TIME(S) EVERY DAY. IF THE FOOD IS NOT EATEN WITHIN 15 MINUTES, REMOVE IT UNTIL NEXT FEEDING TIME. INITIALLY, FEED YOUR PUPPY 3 TIMES A DAY.

HOUSEBREAKING

        START HOUSEBREAKING AT 8 TO 9 WEEKS OF AGE.

        PURCHASE A CRATE TO USE FOR THE UNTRAINED PUPPY. MAKE THE CRATE A "GOOD" PLACE - FEED TREATS, GIVE A FAVORITE TOY WHILE IN THE CRATE. NEVER USE THE CRATE AS PUNISHMENT.

        MAKE SURE THE CRATE IS LARGE ENOUGH FOR YOUR PUPPY, YOU CAN LINE THE TRAY WITH NEWSPAPER. REMOVE THE DOG COLLAR WHEN IN THE CRATE.

KEEP ON A LEASH WHENEVER YOUR PUPPY IS NOT IN THE CRATE (EVEN INDOORS).

        CHOOSE AN OUTSIDE AREA TO BE THE "ELIMINATION" AREA. DO NOT ALLOW THE PUPPY TO FULL REIGN OF THE YARD. STAND IN ONE PLACE IN THE AREA - DO NOT MOVE. REPEAT IN A MONOTONE - "DO YOUR BUSINESS", "GO POTTY", ETC. AFTER APPROPRIATE ELIMINATION - PRAISE, PRAISE, PRAISE! ALLOW ABOUT 12 MINUTES FOR THE PUPPY TO FINISH ITS BUSINESS.

        DO NOT PLAY OR EXERCISE WITH THE PUPPY UNTIL AFTER THE ELIMINATION.

IF YOU CATCH YOUR PUPPY IN THE MIDDLE OF AN "ACCIDENT, QUICKLY SNAP THE LEASE AND SAY "NO", THEN TAKE OUTSIDE TO THE ELIMINATION AREA. DO NOT PUNISH AFTER "ACCIDENTS".

IDENTIFICATION

        MICROCHIPPING INVOLVES INJECTING A MICROCHIP, ABOUT THE SIZE OF A GRAIN OF RICE, UNDER THE SKIN BETWEEN THE SHOULDER BLADES. THE MICROCHIP IS ENCASED IN A BIOCOMPATIBLE MATERIAL. ON THE RARE OCCASSION A MICROCHIP CAN MIGRATE. THE VETERINARIAN OR A TECHNICIAN CAN SCAN THE PET AT ANNUAL EXAMS TO DETERMINE IF IT HAS MOVED.

        A MICROCHIP WILL LAST THE LIFETIME OF THE PET.

        EACH CHIP CONTAINS AN UNALTERABLE ID CODE WHICH IS READ BY USING A HAND-HELD SCANNER MUCH LIKE THE ONES USED IN GROCERY/DEPARTMENT STORES.

        TO BE USEFUL OWNERS MUST REGISTER THE PET WITH THE RECOVERY PROGRAM. MOST VETS AND SHELTERS HAVE UNIVERSAL SCANNERS THAT READ ALL MICROCHIPS REGARDLESS OF THE MANUFACTOR. STAFF ALERT THE SPECIFIC RECOVERY PROGRAM WHO IN TURN NOTIFIES THE OWNER.

        ID TAGS ARE ANOTHER FORM OF IDENTIFICATION. MAIL-IN FORMS ARE AVAILALBE IN MOST VETERINARIAN OFFICES. EVERY DOG 3 MONTHS AND OLDER NEEDS TO BE LICENSED IN THE COUNTY IN WHICH HE LIVES. LICENSES MUST BE RENEWED ON A YEARLY BASIS. OWNERS CAN BE LOCATED THROUGH THE LICENSE NUMBER ISSUED TO THAT DOG.

FLEAS

        FLEAS CAN LIVE IN GRASS AND FIBROUS MATERIALS (BEDDING, CARPETS, CUSHIONS, ETC).

        IMMATURE FLEAS THRIVE IN COOL, SHADY AREAS LIKE OUTSIDE FURNITURE, UNDER THE HOUSE, ETC.

        FLEAS CAN BE TRANSMITTED TO YOUR YARD BY OTHER DOGS AND CATS AS WELL RACCOONS, SQUIRRELS AND OTHER WILDLIFE.

        ANEMIA, FLEA ALLERGY DERMATITIS AND TAPEWORMS CAN RESULT FROM A FLEA INFESTATION.

        CLEANING THE ENVIROMENT WITH FREQUENT VACCUMMING, REGULARLY WASHING PET BEDDING AND CUSHIONS AND MOPPING IN CONJUCTION WITH USING A FLEA AND TICK PREVENTATIVE WILL HELP CONTROL FLEAS INDOOR.

THE BEST PROTECTION AGAINST FLEAS IS USING A PRODUCT THAT KILLS FLEAS, THEIR EGGS AND LARVAE, AS WELL AS TICKS. FRONTLINE PLUS,  A TOPICAL APPLIED DIRECTLY ON THE SKIN, IS FAST ACTING AND CAN BE EFFECTIVE 30-60 DAYS.

ALL DOGS AND CATS IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD SHOULD BE TREATED.

TICKS

        SOME SPECIES CAN LAY 100 TO 8,000 EGGS AT A TIME.

        TICK-BORNE DISEASES CAN AFFECT BOTH ANIMALS AND HUMANS SUCH AS LYME DISEASE.

        TICKS ARE USUALLY FOUND IN LONG GRASSES OR IN WOODED AERAS AND TEND TO LIKE WARM, MOIST WEATHER.

        TICKS HAVE BARBS ON THEIR MOUTHPARTS THAT ATTACH TO THE SKIN TO OBTAIN A BLOOD MEAL. A CEMENT-LIKE SECRETION HELPS ADHERE THE TICKS TO THE SKIN.

        ALWAYS CHECK YOURSELF AND YOUR PET AFTER BEING OUTSIDE.

        TO REMOVE AN ATTACHED TICK USE FINE-POINT TWEEZERS TO GRASP THE TICK AS CLOSE TO THE MOUTH AS POSSIBLE; KEEPING EVEN PRESSUES, PULL SLOWLY AND AWAY FROM THE SKIN.

        FRONTLINE PLUS IS AN EFFECTIVE PREVENTATIVE TO USE AGAINS BOTH FLEAS AND TICKS. THE TICK WILL ATTACH ITSELF BUT DIES AS IT TAKES A BLOOD MEAL. THE PREVENTATIVE SHOULD BE APPLIED MONTHLY TO GUARD AGAINST TICKS.

HEARTWORM

        HEARTWORM DISEASE, A SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY FATAL CONDITION, IS TRANSMITTED BY INFECTED MOSQUITOES.

        AFTER BITING THE PET, THE LARVAE WORK THEIR WAY THROUGH THE BLOOD SYSTEM. HEARTWORMS LIVE IN THE HEART AND THE LUNGS. RESEMBLING ANGEL HAIR PASTA THEY CAN GROW UP TO 14 INCHES IN LENGTH. IT TAKES ABOUT 6 MONTHS FOR THE LARVAE TO MATURE INTO THE ADULT WORMS.

        MOSQUITOES NEED WATER TO BREED. AVOID ANY STANDING WATER, KEEP BUSHES TRIMMED AND AVOID OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES AN HOUR BEFORE AND AFTER DAWN AND DUSK.

        ADMINISTERING A MONTHLY HEARTWORM PREVENTATIVE YEAR-ROUND PROTECTS YOUR DOG AGAINST OTHER PARASITES, SUCH AS ROUNDWORMS, HOOKWORMS AND WHIPWORMS.

        PREVENTATIVES CAN BE USED WITH PUPPIES BEGINNING AT 6 WEEKS OF AGE.

HEARTWORM TESTING IS RECOMMENDED YEARLY IF DOGS ARE NOT ON A PREVENTATIVE AND EVERY OTHER YEAR IF ON A YEAR-ROUND PROGRAM. A BLOOD DRAW IS NECESSARY TO PERFORM THE HEARTWORM TEST.

        TESTING IS DONE IN-HOUSE USING THE SNAP 3DX DEVICE. BLOOD DROPLETS ARE MIXED WITH A MIXING AGENT AND POURED INTO THE TESTING DEVICE. THE TEST CAN BE READ IN 10 MINUTES.

        THIS TEST ALSO SCREENS DOGS FOR TWO TICK-BORNE DISEASES; EHRLICIA AND LYME.

DENTAL CARE

        INTRODUCE ORAL CARE DURING PUPPYHOOD.

        TEETH BRUSHING SHOULD BEGIN AS SOON AS BABY TEETH EMERGE. BRUSHING DAILY REMOVES PLAQUE WHICH IF LEFT WILL TURN INTO TARTAR.

        POOR DENTAL HYGIENE RESULTS NOT ONLY IN "DOGGY" BREATH BUT CAN PROGRESS TO PERIODONTAL DISEASE. IN ADDITION TO TOOTH LOSS AND PAIN, LIVER, KIDNEY, HEART AND LUNG ISSUES MAY BE CAUSED BY CHRONIC ORAL INFECTIONS.

        BRUSHING SHOULD BE DONE ON A REGULAR BASIS USING A SOFT-BRISTLE TOOTHBRUSH OR FINGERBRUSH.  DOG TOOTHBRUSHES HAVE CONVENIENT FEATURES THAT MAKES BRUSHING EASIER. CHOOSE A TOOTHPASTE THAT IS FORMULATED FOR ANIMALS. TOOTHPASTE IS AVAILABLE IN BEEF, LIVER OR CHICKEN FLAVORS. DO NOT USE HUMAN TOOTHPASTE.

        YOUR VETERINARIAN SHOULD DO AN ORAL EXAM AT LEAST TWICE A YEAR.

MOST DOGS WILL NEED A PROFESSIONAL CLEANING BY AGE 4.

        FEEDING A HARD OR COARSE-TEXTURED FOOD THAT CONTAINS A "DENTAL DEFENSE" COMPONENT WILL ASSIST IN KEEPING TARTAR OFF TEETH. GIVE APPROPRIATE CHEW TREATS, SUCH AS GREENIES, C.E.T. CHEWS, IAMS TARTAR CONTROL BONES, PURINA DENTAL CHEWS, SCIENCE DIET T/D AND VETRADENT CHEWS.

        NEVER FEED RAWHIDES OR BONES!! INGESTING RAWHIDES MAY CAUSE GASTROENTERITIS, VOMITING AND DIARRHEA. PIECES OF RAWHIDE MAY BECOME LODGED IN THE INTESTINES CAUSING AND OBSTRUCTION THAT REQUIRES SURIGICAL CORRECTION.

INTESTINAL PARASITES

        IT IS VERY COMMON FOR PUPPIES TO HAVE INTESTIONAL PARASITES (WORMS).

THE VETERINARIAN NEEDS TO LOOK AT A FECAL SAMPLE UNDER A MICROSCOPE TO LOOK FOR EGGS. IF THE HOST PARASITE IS NOT SHEDDING EGGS AT THE TIME THE SAMPLE WAS TAKEN, A STOOL CHECK MAYBE NEGATIVE FOR WORMS ALTHO THE PET DOES INDEED HAVE WORMS.

        SYMPTOMS OF A PARASITIC INFECTION MAY INCLUDE DIARRHEA, VOMITING, "POT" BELLY, WEIGHT LOSS AND PALE GUMS. PUPPIES SHOULD BE ROUTINELY DEWORMED SEVERAL TIMES STARTING AROUND 3 WEEKS OF AGE.

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT FECAL SAMPLES SHOULD BE CHECKED 2 - 4 TIMES UNTIL AGE 1.

        ADULT PETS SHOULD HAVE FECAL CHECKS DONE TWICE A YEAR.

        ZOONOTIC DISEASES ARE ILLNESSES THAT CAN BE TRANSFERRED FROM ANIMALS TO HUMANS LIKE ROUNDWORMS AND HOOKWORMS OR  DISEASES THAT AFFECT BOTH PETS AND PEOPLE SUCH AS LYME DISEASE.

        PARASITES ARE TRANSMITTED TO ANIMALS THROUGH NURSING, INGESTING FLEAS, LICKING FEET AFTER WALKING THROUGH CONTANIMATED SOIL, DRINKING CONTAINIMATED WATER, ETC.

        PARASITES ARE TRANSMITTED TO PEOPLE THROUGH CONTACT WITH CONTAMINATED ENVIRONMENT (YARDS, PLAYGROUNDS, ETC) BY LARVAE PENETRATING THE HUMAN SKIN.

        HEARTWORM PREVENTATIVES PROTECT AGAINST ROUNDWORMS, HOOKWORMS AND WHIPWORMS.

INSURANCE

        PET INSURANCE OFFERS OWNERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENROLL THEIR PUPPY IN A HEALTH CARE PLAN WHICH WOULD HELP DEFRAY HEALTH-RELATED EXPENSES.

        MOST COMPANIES OFFER PLANS RANGING FROM ACCIDENT TO MORE COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE TO ROUTINE CARE.

BEFORE BUYING:

*CHECK THE REPUTATION AND EXPERIENCE OF THE INSURANCE COMPANY.

*ASK IF THE PLAN COVERS HEREDITARY CONDITIONS.

*CHECK EXPERIENCE RATING. INITIALLY, SOME COMPANIES OFFER LOW PREMIUMS BUT WILL INCREASE THE PREMIUM EACH TIME A CLAIM IS SUBMITTED.

*ASK IF PLAN COVERS TREATMENT FOR CHRONIC CONDITIONS.

*ASK FOR THE BENEFITS SCHEDULE.

*ASK IF CUSTOMIZED POLICIES ARE AVAILABLE.

BELOW IS A PARTIAL LIST OF INSURANCE COMPANIES.

ASPCA PET HEALTH INSURANCE    1-866-861-9092  www.aspecapetinsurance.com/info

PETS BEST              1-877-738-7237 EXT 4  www.petsbest.com

PETCARE                         1-866-275-7387  www.petcareinsurance.com

PET FIRST HEALTHCARE              1-866-205-7387  www.meijer.com

PURINA (SPRING OF 2008)             www.purinacare.com

TRUPANION              1-800-569-7913  www.trupanion.com

VETERINARY PET INSURANCE            1-800-872-7387   www.petinsurance.com

Submitted by Lu