Puppy Pediatric Care
Congratulations on your new puppy! And thank you for choosing Advanced Veterinary Care to help protect and care for the new addition to your family.
At Advanced Veterinary Care, we strive to ensure that your puppy gets 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, behavior and socialization.
It is important to schedule your puppy’s first exam as soon as possible. Until your puppy has received a series of vaccines, he or she is susceptible to many serious but preventable diseases. We will make sure your new puppy is protected against rabies, distemper and parvovirus among other diseases. Making sure your puppy is also tested and treated for intestinal parasites is also important, since they are very common and some can be transmitted to people.
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 .) 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. Roundworks are a zoonotic parasite, which means they can be transmitted from pets to people. By ensuring that your puppy is properly treated, you can keep your entire family safe from these and other parasites.
At Advanced Veterinary Care, our goal is to get your puppy started off right. Remember, the first year for a puppy is equivalent to the first 18 years of a child’s life! We examine them frequently as they are growing to make sure they do not have any developmental issues, behavioral problems, and are fully vaccinated for important diseases.
Here is a timeline of what to expect with your new puppy at Advanced Vet Care:
- 8 – 9 weeks old: This is usually the age when you bring your new puppy home, and your first visit should be scheduled as soon as possible. At this visit, we will examine your puppy from head to tail and make sure that your puppy is healthy and does not have any birth defects. We will also discuss any vaccinations your puppy may need (at this visit (usually the first distemper vaccine is given), how to house-train your puppy, why socialization is so important, and pet insurance. You will go home with a puppy kit filled with information for your new pet, as well as a free dose of a heartworm and a flea tick preventative. We also recommend that you bring in a stool sample with you to screen for intestinal parasites.
- 12 weeks old: This is the age where your puppy will have its second visit with us. Here we check again to make sure that your puppy is growing normally and is the healthiest it can be. We will also discuss with you any behavior problems you may be seeing and how to correct these while your puppy is still young and learning. Typically a second distemper vaccine and a rabies vaccine is given at this appointment. We also recommend you bring in a stool sample with you to screen for intestinal parasites.
- 16 weeks old: This is the last puppy visit. We will examine your puppy again and answer any questions you may have about obedience, socialization, and behavior. We will also discuss having your pet spayed or neutered at this appointment, which we recommend having done at 6 months of age. We will also discuss dewclaw removal, micro-chipping, and screening for breed-specific problems, such as hip dysplasia and glaucoma. Your pet will also receive its third distemper vaccine at this time to ensure it is fully protected against fatal diseases such as parvovirus, distemper virus, and hepatitis.
In addition to rabies and distemper vaccines, there are several other vaccines available that we will discuss with you during your visits here with us. Rather than vaccinating every pet against everything, we tailor a vaccination program specifically to you and your pet, depending on certain risk factors (such as exposure to ticks, swimming, day care, etc.).
We look forward to meeting your new puppy and answering any questions you may have ! Please call our office today to schedule your puppy’s first appointment.
