Dear Dr. Dog,
I just got a darling new puppy and I’d really like to know what steps I should take to keep my new best friend healthy.
Congratulations! Spring is a great season for puppies. Here are some tips to keep your new friend happy and healthy:
Vaccinations: Puppies need a series of vaccines to ensure proper immunity to disease. Puppies do get some immunity from disease from their mother’s first milk (colostrum). And in fact this early immunity actually blocks the vaccine from the puppy’s immune system. This does wear off over time, but since we do not want young pups to become susceptible to disease we give a series of vaccines to ensure ongoing protection. Some diseases can last a long time in the environment, so you need to keep your pup confined to your home until the vaccination series is finished.
Deworming and fecal tests: Puppies can get parasites from their mothers or from the environment. Young pups put everything into their mouths, including items that may be soiled with another animal’s feces. Some wild animals can also carry parasites that can be spread to dogs and children. Have your vet test your new puppy for parasites and make it a point to get regular fecal tests and deworming treatments. Testing is not 100% accurate; there is about a 20% chance of false negative readings. Therefore, it’s a good idea to deworm your dog on general principle and keep it up as a prophylactic measure.
Monthly flea and heartworm preventive: The Bay Area’s mild weather makes parasites an ongoing problem for our pets. Since pups are small, even a few fleas can affect the blood supply to the point where pups can become anemic! Fleas can also transmit intestinal parasites such as tapeworms. Flea control is very important for young puppies. In addition, mosquitoes spread heartworm disease, so every time your puppy ventures outdoors there is a chance of exposure. It takes six months for heartworms to mature to the adult form, so it is important to start prevention early. Many heartworm preventatives also control intestinal parasites. Make sure your heartworm prevention and flea control is kept up monthly because the parasite population is here all year. Flea and heartworm prevention programs can be started at 8 weeks of age.
Microchipping: We never think that our pups will get lost or escape, but accidents happen. Microchipping is a permanent form of identification which helps to reconnect you with your pet should it wind up in a shelter. Microchip information can be easily updated online if your address changes.
Spaying and Neutering: If you spay a female dog before her first heat, the chances of breast cancer decreases by 80%. It also prevents against pyometra, an infection of the uterus, which can be life-threatening. Unneutered male dogs are more likely to get prostate infections, prostate and testicular tumors, and cancers of the anal glands. Also, sexually active dogs of both genders are more likely to escape and roam, and thus are more likely to be hit by vehicles.
Training: Training classes are a great way for you to bond with your canine friend and to socialize your puppy with other pups and people. Once your puppy is fully vaccinated, make a point of taking your pup out to get maximum exposure to a wide variety of people and pets. Obedience classes are a great way to get to know other dog lovers in the area and to arrange “puppy play dates.”
Diet: All puppies need a calcium-balanced diet with higher calories and protein to allow proper growth. Large breed pups need to be given a diet designed for larger breeds to avoid problems as they grow. While there are many diets out there, an easy way to evaluate a diet is to look for a statement by from the Association of Animal Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) on the package. The statement should read “Animal feeding tests using AAFCO procedures substantiate that (pet food name) provides complete and balanced nutrition for growth in puppies.” This means the food has actually been fed to puppies in a feeding trial and it was shown to be a properly balanced diet. In contrast, a package may state “(pet food name) is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for growth in puppies.” This means that it has just been analyzed on nutrient content but that no first-hand observation of the health of puppies eating the food have been made. Homemade diets are often lacking in one or more nutrients and are often much more expensive than a good puppy food. Good nutrition is very important for puppies so please consult with your veterinarian if you have any questions.
Shanna Compton is a veterinarian at Presidio Way Veterinary Hospital in San Francisco, an dfcan be reached at shanna.compton.dvm@gmail.com.
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