Congratulations on your new puppy! We’re so glad you chose us to help protect and care for your new addition to your family, and can’t wait to watch them grow up into a happy, healthy adult.
Our puppy wellness program is designed to help get your puppy started on the right path to a long and healthy life. The first few months are a critical period in your puppy’s development, and we can give you the support and tools necessary to help him or her grow into a well-mannered, healthy dog, including information and advice on nutrition, training, behaviour, and socialization.
After adopting your puppy, it’s important to schedule them for their first exam as soon as possible. Until your puppy has received a series of vaccines, they are susceptible to many serious but preventable diseases. Typically, we vaccinate puppies a minimum of three times over a period of three months.
During this time, they will receive their core vaccines that will prevent rabies, distemper, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and more. We will also recommend a set of elective vaccines based on your puppy’s anticipated lifestyle. Your team will ask you a series of questions to figure out what your puppy may be susceptible to in the future. For example:
- Do you plan on spending time in the wilderness with your dog?
- Will your puppy spend time off-leash in wooded areas?
- Do you anticipate boarding them or enrolling them in doggy daycare?
This will help us to understand how to plan your puppy’s vaccine schedule!
Your puppy will also need to be tested and treated for parasites, which are common in young dogs. Most puppies have roundworms, which are intestinal worms that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal signs (although dogs can have worms without showing any symptoms). Although this does cause the cute puppy bellies we all love, it is important for puppies to be treated for roundworms, not only to rid them of the infection but also to prevent you and the rest of your family from becoming infected. Roundworms are a zoonotic parasite, which means they can be transmitted from pets to people. By ensuring that your puppy is treated, you can keep your entire family safe from these and other parasites.
We look forward to meeting your new puppy! To join our practice, please give us a call or visit our New Client page.
