This section has a lot of useful information for anyone who has a new puppy or is thinking about it.
If you already have a new addition to the family in the shape of a puppy, congratulations.We know you will love your new puppy and do your best to keep him or her healthy and strong.
Food
For the first week, try to give foods that your new pup is already used to.Make any changes gradually to avoid bowel upsets.
Good quality puppy foods (tinned and dry) are well balanced. The best ones are the "super premium" puppy foods. These include foods such as Advance (Australian made) and Eukanuba. These foods contain high quality protein mostly from meat and fish. If you decide to feed your puppy a home-prepared diet, make sure you include meat, fish, vegetables, cereals, rice, pasta and a mineral supplement containing calcium. You should consult your veterinarian to make sure the diet is properly balanced for correct nutrition during growth. Keep your pup’s weight under control; this is essential in large breeds like Retrievers and German Shepherds.Also, raw bones are very good for keeping your pup’s teeth and gums healthy.
As a general rule, puppies should have three meals a day up to the age of six months, two meals up to twelve months and one daily meal from then on.
Vaccinations
Your puppy should be vaccinated at 6-8 weeks, again at 12 weeks and once more at 16 weeks.
The vaccine protects pups against distemper, canine hepatitis, parvovirus and kennel cough.
These visits allow us to check your pup’s physical condition during the early stages of growth and give you any advice you need on puppy care.
Heartworm and Flea Prevention
Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes and is simple to prevent, much harder to treat.Pups can be started on heartworm prevention from 6 weeks of age, preferably before 12 weeks.A number of products can be used: Heartgard is an effective monthly chewable, an alternative is Proheart SR12, given by injection at 3, 6 and 15 months thence yearly.
For flea prevention, Frontline is safe on puppies from 8 weeks of age and Advantage from 6 weeks.
Revolution and Sentinel are convenient products that combine protection against fleas, heartworm and other parasites and are safe to use from 6 weeks of age.
Intestinal worms
Use an “allwormer” preparation such as Drontal or Milbemax.It will get rid of any of the different kinds of intestinal worms.
Worming is advisable at 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks.You should then worm your pup every 3 months.It is important to remember that some dog worms can pose a risk to humans, particularly children.
Socialising and Training
A dog’s adult personality is strongly affected by experiences during puppyhood.Between 3 and 12 weeks of age, puppies should be exposed to lots of different experiences: different people (adults and children), noises, other dogs, etc.
Be sure to avoid contact with dogs you don’t know and with dog droppings until your pup has been fully vaccinated.
Set the rules for behaviour right from the start and be consistently firm but fair.Puppy school helps with socialisation and sets you on the right track.Obedience training is also advisable when the pup is a little older.
Toilet training
Put your puppy outside after meals, after sleeps and when he or she starts sniffing the ground.If the pup urinates or defecates outside, give lots of encouraging praise.Don’t reprimand your puppy for going to the toilet inside unless you can catch him or her in the act.
Generally, positive reinforcement is far more effective than punishment.
Microchipping and Registration
Microchipping is a means of permanent identification. A tiny microchip implanted into the loose skin at the back of the neck will allow a lost dog to be identified and returned to its owner. If your puppy is not already microchipped, this will need to be done before you can apply for dog registration with your local council.All dogs in the Whitehorse, Boroondara and Manningham council areas are now required to be registered by the age of 3 months.If not yet done, a microchip can be implanted at the 12 week vaccination prior to council registration. It is a quick, simple and virtually painless procedure.
Desexing
We recommend that desexing be done at 5 to 6 months of age.Dogs need to stay with us for the day (not overnight) and there are usually no stitches to remove afterwards.
Please remember that the information on our website is of a general nature and should not be used to make important decisions about your pets' health needs.It does not substitute for the advice you would receive during a consultation with a veterinarian.
