Congratulations on the arrival of your new puppy!

We would be delighted to meet your new puppy and give him/her a complete checkup to make sure they are fit and healthy.

     FEEDING

Your puppy’s diet is extremely important especially in the first year of their life. There are lots of dog foods available giving you a wide choice. Generally for small and medium breeds it is recommended to feed a specific puppy diet until your puppy is 6-12 months of age before switching to an adult ration. It is recommended for large or giant breeds to feed a puppy/junior diet until 18 months of age.

It is important to follow the manufacturers’ feeding instructions as no two dog foods are the same. Both dried and soft rations are available but there can be big differences in the quality and price from one diet to the next.

Changing between dog foods can be a problem for some dogs so it is always advisable to make any changes over 5-7 days. Clean fresh water should always be available.

We also recommend that puppy’s teeth should be brushed once daily with special dog tooth paste, it is advisable to start this at a young age so that your puppy gets used to a daily routine. Ask at the surgery for more information.

• VACCINATION

 A vaccine is a substance which when administered to a puppy will stimulate the immune system and help to protect your puppy against particular diseases such as Canine Distemper and Canine Parvovirus.

Puppies can receive their first vaccination at 7-8 weeks and receive their second injection once they are 10 weeks old.

However it is important to remember that puppies are not fully protected until 2 weeks after their second vaccination. Yearly booster vaccinations are given thereafter to help maintain protection.

     WORMING

Most puppies are infected with roundworms while still in their mother’s womb and are born with developing worms. Therefore at 2 weeks of age puppies will have adult worms producing worm eggs in their intestine which are then passed in your puppy’s faeces.

As these worms can infect people, it is extremely important that all family members wash their hands after handling the puppy (especially if the puppy has not been wormed).We recommend worming puppies every 2 weeks from 2-8 weeks of age, then once a month up to 6 months. Thereafter dogs should be wormed for roundworm and tapeworm 3-4 times per year.

• PET INSURANCE

Progress in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in animals has been remarkable over the last 20 years. Previously untreatable diseases such as brain disease and cancer are becoming more treatable with advancing technology and treatments. As there is no NHS in the veterinary world all these costs fall on the pet owner. Pet insurance offers pet owners a means of affording the best possible care for their animals. Please speak to one of our vets who can advise you generally about pet insurance and what you might be looking for.

• MICROCHIPPING

It is now a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped. This involves injection of a small microchip into the scruff of the dog. Your puppy should have been microchipped by the breeder. Ensure the details on the microchip database are correct and are kept up to date.

• NEUTERING

Neutering of bitches is usually performed to prevent unwanted litters, reduce the incidence of mammary cancers and womb infections and the general inconvenience of bitches being in season. Neutering males can help to prevent male related aggression, misdirected sexual behavior, inappropriate urine marking and wandering behaviour.

As a general rule, we recommend neutering bitches between their first and second seasons, generally 2-3 months after the season is over but speak to us if you have queries about this.

Older bitches can be done as required but should be 2-3 months after their previous season has ended. Male dogs can be neutered from 5-6 months of age.

Any worries or queries, please phone 01862 894223 or email info@johnstonandfarrellvets.co.uk