|
Why's How's and Wow's about dog health care protocol
What |
When |
Why |
| Physical exam | Puppy: Upon acquisition, then with every vaccination.
Adult: Once or twice a year. |
To ensure good state of health and absence of congenital defects and other diseases. |
| Worming | At 3 weeks of age, every 2-3 weeks until 12 weeks of age.
*see worm information. |
To eliminate intestinal round worms. |
| Fecal exam | Every 3-4 weeks until 3 samples are negative, then once or twice a year. | To identify worm eggs and other intestinal parasites. |
| DHPP-C/L vaccination | At 6-8 weeks of age., repeated every 3-4 weeks until 5
months of age (*Doberman Pinscher and Rottweiler dogs must be vaccinated
every 3-4 weeks until 6 months of age, due to breed sensitivity to
Parvovirus), then once a year.
*see vaccination information. |
Prevention of canine distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirosis, coronavirosis and leptospirosis. |
| Rabies vaccination | At 12-16 weeks of age, then once a year | Prevention of rabies |
| Heartworm test | Every spring (April/May) | To detect heartworm disease. |
| Heartworm medication | Every spring (April/May) until November/December.
Year around medication is recommended in some regions. |
To prevent Heartworm disease. |
| External parasite prevention | Every spring (April/May) until November/December. | To prevent flea, mite and tick infestation. |
VACCINATION
INFORMATION
Dogs are very susceptible to several serious
infectious diseases. Puppies get some temporary protection from their mothers,
mostly via milk, during the first few days of life. This protection lasts about
6-8 weeks and it is at that point that the puppy is at high risk of contracting
infectious diseases. In order to prevent these diseases, we stimulate and
"build-up" the puppy's immunity with a series of vaccinations.
Booster vaccinations are required yearly in order to maintain adequate protection, as antibody levels decrease over time if the immune system is not stimulated.
Common vaccines
DHPP-C/L - RV
DISTEMPER: a fatal contagious disease caused by a
Paramyxovirus, characterized by multisystem organ failure (respiratory,
digestive, urinary and nervous systems).
HEPATITIS: a fatal contagious disease caused by an
Adenovirus, characterized by damage to liver, kidney, eye, lungs and spleen.
PARVOVIROSIS: a fatal contagious disease caused by a
Parvovirus, characterized by gastrointestinal and cardiac damage.
PARAINFLUENZA: a contagious upper respiratory tract
disease caused by a Paramyxovirus influenza.
CORONAVIROSIS: a contagious potentially fatal disease
caused by a Coronavirus, characterized by gastrointestinal signs.
LEPTOSPIROSIS: a fatal contagious disease caused by
Leptospira bacteriae, characterized by kidney, lung and other organ damage. The
disease is transmissible to man.
KENNEL COUGH: a contagious upper respiratory tract disease characterized by severe cough and nasoocular inflammation caused by several organisms including paramyxovirus influenza, Adenovirus and Bordetella bronchiseptica. Vaccination is optional.
BORRELIOSIS (Lyme's disease): A contagous disease caused by Borrelia bacteriae, characterized by fever, anorexia and artritis. The disease is transmitted to humans and animals though tick bites (Deer tick). Vaccination is optional.
RABIES: a fatal contagious disease transmitted through bite of infected animals. All mammals including man are susceptible. The disease is characterized by severe neurologic signs that progress until death. Many wildlife animals (raccoons, skunks, foxes, bats) may carry rabies.
Worms
Worms are common parasites of dogs and cats. They can infect animals at any age with potentially fatal consequences. Many of these worms can be transmitted to humans and cause serious problems.
Puppies and kittens acquire worms from their mothers before or after birth. Adult animals can be infested any time by direct or indirect contact with contaminated environment.
It is extremely important to control worms by means of routine sanitation, immediate removal of fecal material and strict personal hygiene.
Heartworm
disease
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes and cause serious heart problems in dogs and also in cats. To prevent this fatal disease dogs are given preventative medication each year between April and November. Each spring, every dog should be tested (blood test) to ensure it is disease free. In some areas year around heartworm prevention is recommended.