Puppies come in all shapes and sizes, and all temperaments.  Some breeds have more specific needs than others.  We are happy to provide advice about any aspect of dog care – please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any specific questions that are not covered in this leaflet or during your first consultation.

Appointments can be made either with our veterinary surgeons or our trained nurses, depending on the nature of the problem or advice required.  Please discuss any queries with the receptionists who can always point you in the right direction.

Puppy Health
Puppies are generally acquired at 6-8 weeks of age, and can come from a variety of sources.  This can be a stressful time for some puppies depending on their nature and their previous lifestyle.  We generally like to let the puppies settle in to their new home for a few days before we first see them.  We can begin vaccination at eight weeks of age in most circumstances, with a second vaccination two weeks later.  However they will not be fully protected by the vaccine for about a week after the second injection.  In the meantime they should be kept away from busy dog areas and unknown dogs, but can happily socialise with known vaccinated dogs in enclosed areas.

Worms
All puppies are infected with worms from their mother.  We recommend that they are wormed before weaning and regularly thereafter.  Please ask about the specific recommendations for your pet as this will vary depending on lifestyle.  Modern, safe, effective and convenient products are available from us to treat both round and tapeworms.

• Parvovirus – a very contagious viral enteritis which can cause diarrhoea and death in young puppies

• Distemper – a severe viral disease which can cause fits or respiratory problems and often results in the death of the infected dog

• Infectious Hepatitis (Adenovirus) – can cause a fatal liver disease in all dogs

• Leptospirosis – this can cause liver or kidney disease and is potentially transmissible to humans

• Parainfluenza – a flu like virus which can be associated with kennel cough.

Annual re-vaccination is necessary for some of these diseases, as immunity is not life-long.
We can also vaccinate against kennel cough, which we recommend undertaking shortly before going in to boarding kennels, and rabies for dogs being exported or travelling under the Pet Travel Scheme.  Please ask for more details if either of these vaccines is of interest to you.

Fleas
Nearly every animal will come across fleas from contact with other animals or wildlife.  Flea infestations are much easier to prevent than treat and so regular treatment is advisable.  This is most conveniently done with the ‘spot-on’ products.  Several products are now available, and this is best discussed with a vet or nurse who will be able to risk-assess your pet’s exposure and advise accordingly.

Ticks
Ticks can be a regular issue for some animals.  They are generally found in the coastal fringe, or well protected inland areas as the ticks do not like severe frosts or dry heat.  Ticks rarely produce severe disease, but local irritation can be a problem.  We now have several products that can be used to minimise the chances of ticks affecting your dog.  Alternatively we can show you how to safely remove ticks which have attached to your dog.

Neutering and Breeding
It is often tempting to consider breeding from your dog.  There are many considerations to be made before committing to mating a bitch, or using a dog for stud purposes.  Time commitments in dealing with litters can be extensive, and we regularly have to deal with problems which can be life-threatening to both the bitch and the puppies.  It is widely recommended that many breeds are screened for hereditary diseases, including eye, hip and elbow problems.  Please discuss this with a vet before arranging for a mating to take place.
We generally recommend that most pets are better off being neutered at a young age.  Boys can be castrated from 6 months, or less if there are specific issues.  We regularly see prostate disease in old intact male dogs as well as testicular tumours and other problems which can be prevented by early neutering.  Girls can be spayed at either 6 months of age as long as they are showing no signs of coming into season, or 3 months after their season.  Most bitches will cycle twice yearly throughout their life, and early neutering can give significant health benefits, reducing their chances of mammary tumour development as well as eliminating the risk of a life-threatening womb infection (pyometra).

Diet
When you collected your puppy, most breeders will let you know what feeding routine they are used too.  Initially it is best to stick to this to reduce stress while they settle in.  We recommend that dogs are best fed on a commercial food depending on their life-stage and breed/size.  We are happy to provide advice tailored to you and your dog’s specific needs.  We will sometimes recommend specific diets that are used to help reduce the chance of certain diseases.

Identification
It is a legal duty for all dogs to wear a collar bearing their owners name and address.  We can order tags for you, please ask at reception.  Microchip identification can help improve the chance of a lost pet being returned to its owner.  This is a simple procedure that can be undertaken in any consultation, at any age.  Please ask for further details when making an appointment.

Grooming and routine care
Most long-haired dogs and many short-haired dogs benefit from some regular grooming and this can help reinforce the bond between the dog and their keeper.  This should include checking eyes and ears for discharge or soreness, checking the length of the nails and checking under the tail.  Regular visual checking of the mouth and teeth is beneficial, and if started at a young age regular tooth brushing is generally well tolerated and can significantly delay the onset of dental disease.

Exercise
Regular and consistent exercise is important for all dogs.  The amount of exercise appropriate for your dog will depend on its age and breed.  Most specifically, medium to large breed dogs should not be over-exercised or encouraged to repeatedly chase or fetch balls until they are mature.  They have relatively soft bones at their joints and damage to this bone can lead to early onset arthritis.  The level of exercise and food should be adjusted so that the dog maintains an appropriate weight.  Please note that the guidelines on many feeds are quite generous and many dogs need significantly less food than suggested on the pack.

Pet Health Insurance
We would hope that you and your dog will have a long and healthy life together, but unfortunately many dogs at some point in their lives require veterinary attention for unforeseen problems.  Modern veterinary medicine can be expensive as we follow advances in human medicine.  Specialist treatment can be particularly expensive – we regularly recommend courses of treatment that can cost several hundred pounds and sometimes will run in to thousands.  Insuring your pet at a young age, before the onset of problems can help take away the worry of having to deal with veterinary bills whilst you are coping with an unwell pet.  We are unable to recommend specific policies, and small print varies widely.  Generally cost of the policy varies with level of cover.  Some policies will only pay out for one year on a condition, where other polices will cover the condition for the life of the pet.  Leaflets are available at reception from several companies.