Caring For Your New Puppy

Olivia talks about puppy care, and sheds some light on the most important health checks that your new pup needs to undergo for a healthy, happy life.

Before bringing your puppy home, it is important to puppy proof  your home, and to purchase the essentials such as collars, leads, puppy food, toys and a crate if you are going to crate train.

Bring your puppy in to the vet soon after you take him/her home so we can give a thorough physical exam, Microchip and vaccinate your pup.  We Check over the puppy to ensure they are in good health.  We look in the ears, check the mouth, listen to the heart, take their temperature just to make sure they are in good health, and pickup on any potential problems if there are any.  Potential problems we can find include heart murmurs, umbilical hernias, checking the dentition and alignment of the jaw, make sure the reproductive organs are looking ok.

Puppies need vaccinations to boost their immune systems and produce their own antibodies against various diseases. Some diseases such as parvovirus can be fatal for young puppies if they’re not protected.  We vaccinate for Distemper, Viral Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Para influenza and Kennel Cough.  Most puppies are between 6-8 weeks when they receive their first vaccination, and we give them boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until they are about 16 weeks of age.

Flea Treatment and worming is also very important. We can give advice on those schedules and the correct doses.

Council registration and Microchipping is required by law for all pet dogs, except working farm dogs.  We register all microchipped pets with the New Zealand Animal Companion Register.

De-sexing is important if you are not intending to breed from your dog, as they have a reduced or eliminated risk of diseases of their reproductive organs.  De-sexed dogs are less likely to roam and get in to fights, so therefore less likely to get lost or injured.  De-sexing is generally done around 6 months of age.

It is an exciting time bringing home a new puppy, and hopefully the start of a long and happy life together.