Congratulations on your decision to bring in an amazing additional member to your family! If this is your first dog, be prepared to fall in love very quickly. Dogs are one of the most amazing side kicks. Some things you want to be aware of are listed below:
Vaccines
Every puppy needs a series of vaccines, just as a baby human would.
The core vaccines are Distemper, Leptospirosis, Bordetella and Rabies.
Distemper covers several respiratory viruses, a neurological virus and parvovirus. This vaccine will be boostered 3 times as a puppy (3-4 weeks apart) and then every 1-3 years depending on the dog's age.
The Leptospirosis protects against a bacteria called Leptospira. This is carried in wildlife urine and causes kidney and liver failure in dogs. This vaccine requires two shot series as puppies and then continued yearly as it protects a bacteria.
Bordetella protects against the most common type of "Kennel Cough". This vaccine helps prevent the severity of the disease and does not cover every cause of "Kennel Cough". It is still possible for your puppy/dog to catch "kennel cough", as there are several other causes for the disease. This vaccine series consists of two vaccines as a puppy and then boostered every 6 months to a year depending on what boarding/grooming facilities require. Every 6 months is the new recommendation.
Rabies protects against Rabies. It is a 1-3 year vaccine depending on the patients age and we will start this vaccine when your puppy is approximately 16 weeks of age.
Optional vaccines offered are influenza (H3N2/H3N8) and Lyme disease. These both will be boostered two times (2-4 weeks apart) and then yearly. H3N2 protects against influenza, which is a respiratory virus in dogs. Lyme disease protects against Lyme, which is carried by ticks.
Heartworm and Flea/Tick Preventative
These will be given for the remainder of your puppy's life. There are several options for all of these preventatives. I recommend asking your local veterinarian on what they recommend. Make sure to buy heartworm prevention through your local veterinarian or a reputable pharmacy to make sure the guarantee is in place!
For more information regarding Heartworm disease follow this link: https://www.heartwhttps://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/heartworm-basics
For more information regarding Tick Borne diseases follow the link below:
Nutrition
I recommend feeding a puppy specific diet until 8 months - 1 year of age. Feeed what is recommend on the back of the bag and adjust accordingly depending on if your dog is gaining too much or loosing too much weight - follow this link for a visual https://www.google.com/search?q=purina+body+condition+score+canine&rlz=1C1EODB_enUS592US593&espv=2&biw=1440&bih=794&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjv1OX2yIHSAhXKhFQKHTcZBh4Q_AUIBygC#imgrc=D5srd2kpWBMU1M:. Once your puppy is spayed/neutered, then the amount they need per day will decrease because their metabolism will also decrease. I recommend feeding 3/4-1/2 the amount recommended on the bag at that time. If you ever have trouble finding the correct amount, contact your veterinarian and I am sure they will be more than happy to help!
The brands of food I recommend feeding are Royal Canin, Hills, Purina Pro-plan, Iams or Fromms. Purine Pro-Plan.
Insurance is always a great idea to start as young as possible. I have seen it save hundreds of lives. The health insurance I am most familiar with is Trupanion, but there are several other choices as well. Things to ask: How much is the deductible? Do they cover genetic predispositions? What percentage of the bill do they cover? Do they cover preventative care? Do they pre-approve? There are several health insurances out there, so definitely feel free to research them.
Spay/Neuter
I recommend spaying/neutering your puppy aTraining
I recommend starting training as soon as possible. Start playing with their ears, feet and placing fingers in their mouth to get them used to being handled. I also recommend taking away their food regularly while they eat to decrease any possible food aggression issues. As a general rule, puppies can hold their urine as many hours as they are months old (2 months = 2 hours; 3 months = 3 hours, etc.). I recommend using a crate for potty training.
Insurance
Insurance is always a great idea to start as young as possible. I have seen it save hundreds of lives. The health insurance I am most familiar with is Trupanion, but there are several other choices as well. Things to ask: How much is the deductible? Do they cover genetic predispositions? What percentage of the bill do they cover? Do they cover preventative care? Do they pre-approve? There are several health insurances out there, so definitely feel free to research them.
Other insurance options I have heard and dealt with seldomly are FIGO and Nationwide. Here is a link that helps break down the different insurances for you and goes over how to choose:
Treats
I am okay with giving treats in moderation and some human food works just as well!! Good things to give are:
1. Peanut Butter (frozen in a kong is best). Make sure there is NO Xylitol in the product. Most do not have this artificial sweetener, but some brands are starting to sneak this in. I know JIF does not.
2. Cream cheese (frozen in a kong is best).
3. Vegetables: carrots, green beans, peas, cucmbers, etc.
4. Fruits: apples (no seeds), blueberries, strawberries
DO NOT FEED:
1. Grade and/or raisins
2. Chocolate
3. Coffee
4. Garlic or Onions (even food cooked with these)
5. Avacado
