Caring for Your Canine Friend

What follows is some basic information for the new puppy owner. It is meant as a guide only. There are many books available on dogs and dog care, as well as breed specific books. The internet is also a good information source.

Remember:
If you are worried about your puppy's health, don't surf the net, see a vet!!

General Health and Care

Treat your puppy as a friend and companion which means taking proper care of him, as well as training him. Keep the puppy in a fenced yard so that he stays off of roads and out of other dangerous situations. Try not to keep him chained up for long periods of time. Also remember to:

• vaccinate your puppy when due
• worm your puppy regularly
• watch your puppy's coat for bare patches and grass seeds
• examine the puppy's nose, ears, feet and eyes regularly
• feed him a balanced diet
• ensure clean water is available for him to drink at ALL times
• give your puppy access to fresh air and exercise

Worming

Intestinal worms are a common problem of all dogs. The majority of pups are born with Roundworm, regardless of whether the dam has been wormed or not. This is due to the lifecycle of the roundworm. Hookworm is also a common "puppy worm" in other parts of Australia, but is rare in our area.

We recommend worming puppies with piperazine for roundworm every 2 weeks between 2-12 weeks of age, then every month till 6 months of age. Worming for tapeworms can be given from 8 weeks of age if fleas are a problem, as these transmit tapeworms.

Dogs over 6 months of age should be routinely wormed for roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm. We recommend DRONTAL as it is an allwormer that covers eleven species of worm, including the Hydatid Tapeworm, which is a major health threat to humans.

Frequency of worming differs according to the age of the dog, the climate, and which worms are prevalent in the area. Most adult dogs in the Bunbury area only require worming every 6 months or so. Note that re-infection can occur from parks, gardens and other dogs, so keep an eye on the dog's motions from time to time. If worms or tapeworm segment are seen, an additional worming dose will be required.

Worming summary

Ask YOUR vet:

1. Which worms are prevalent in your area;
2. Which worm treatment he recommends for your area;
3. How often your dog should be wormed.

Vaccinations

Vaccination schedules differ radically throughout the world so it is most important that you contact YOUR vet for advise on which diseases to vaccinate against, and when!

In Australia, all puppies should be vaccinated against the three major infectious diseases of dogs. They are Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus. Young puppies are temporarily protected against many diseases by antibodies received through the mother's milk.

Puppies should have their first vaccination between 6-8 weeks of age. This is a temporary vaccination.

The next vaccination can be given from 12-14 weeks of age, and a further vaccination may be deemed necessary at 16 weeks of age. These provide your puppy with protection for his first year of life.

Vaccination can take up to two weeks to take full effect, so isolation is recommended for your dog's health's sake.

Feed young puppies 3-4 times a day. Always include a meal of milk food into your puppy's diet. This provides the calcium he needs for healthy bone growth. Encourage your puppy to eat table scraps, including vegetables which contain trace elements and vitamins. It also makes for a less-fussy eater in the future!

Up until 12 weeks of age, we recommend that you feed cereal and milk only. A small amount of Pal Puppy Food is okay, but keep meat to a minimum. After 12 weeks of age and into adulthood, we recommend a diet consisting of one-third or less cooked meat products to two-thirds cereal, rice, pasta and vegetables.

There is a lot of debate over the subject of feeding bones. Generally, we advise against it. Bones can cause internal injuries, and choking, but more commonly, small pieces of bone compact in the dog's intestine, causing a nasty constipation or complete bowel blockage. This is a medical emergency requiring surgery. Fish, chicken and rabbit bones are especially dangerous.

Avoid feeding your dog "junk food". Chocolate is actually poisonous to dogs and can kill them in great enough amounts. Other sweet foods will only make him fat and can cause teeth problems.

All dogs require some sort of attention to their coat, ears, eyes, teeth, and nails. Always watch ears, eyes and nose for any signs of inflammation or discharge indicating the need for veterinary help. Daily brushing is absolutely necessary for long-haired dogs, and beneficial to all dogs to keep skin and coat in top condition.

During summer, grass seeds can find their way into dogs' coats. They may also enter the ears where they cause the dog to shake his head and scratch at the side of the face. The dog will need to visit the vet and have the seed/s removed. Do not attempt this yourself. Seeds may also lodge between the toes or under the front legs, where they cause small abcesses which will need to be lanced. Left untreated, the seeds will continue to travel in one direction, into the dog's flesh.

Never use flea collars or strong chemicals on young puppies under 6 months of age. Any very small animal should also be treated very cautiously (eg. chihuahua's, miniature pinschers, etc).

The most popular flea treatment on sale at the clinic RIGHT NOW is Frontline. Frontline is a spray which can safely be used in puppies from 2 days of age. It is very safe and works by interfering with the flea's nervous system. It is sprayed onto the dog as a measured dose where it binds to the oils in the coat, killing all fleas which come into contact with it within 24 hours. It only needs to be applied every 10-12 weeks. Washing (if not done within 2 days of spraying) does not seem to diminish the spray's activity noticably.

Heartworm is a worm that lives in the dog's heart and, as such, is not controlled by normal intestinal worm treatments. Heartworm disease is easily transmitted from one dog to the next by mosquitoes. A dog infected with Heartworm may have one or many worms in the heart, causing heart and/or respiratory problems. Treatment of dogs with Heartworm disease is both costly and carries some risk to the dog. Often, by the time the dog is noticably ill, considerable damage has already been done to the heart and blood vessels surrounding it.

Heartworm can be prevented by dosing with preventative tablets or syrup.

Puppies less than 5 months of age can be started on preventative medication immediately. ALL dogs should be tested for Heartworm at six months of age, and those not already on preventative can then be started on it, provided they test clear of infection. Should the test prove positive, the dog will usually need to be hospitalised and treated before a preventative regime is commenced.

Daily or monthly preventatives are available. Contact your vet who will help you choose which one best suits your dog and lifestyle.

If your dog is not a purebred, or you do not wish to breed, both males and females should be desexed at 6 months of age.

Male dogs who are desexed tend to wander less, are less aggressive (although they will still guard your property), do not 'embarrass' you in front of guests, do not lift their leg in the house, and cannot breed. Female dogs who are desexed do not come 'on heat' (which usually happens every 6 months or so) and so do not attract the neighbourhood's male dogs and do not drip blood in the house. They also cannot become pregnant.

Below are some basic training techniques. Obedience school is great fun and highly recommended.