Vaccinations - We recommend that puppies be vaccinated for distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza and parvovirus (DHPP combination vaccine) at 8, 12, and 16 weeks.

 We use a series of three vaccines because it is unclear when the immunity that puppies get from their mothers ends. We vaccinate several times hoping that we will help their immune systems while their maternal protection is fading, and to make sure that they receive their last booster vaccine AFTER their immune systems have matured and they no longer have maternal protection. Puppies that are vaccinated too late or too early are at risk of developing these devastating and preventable diseases.  At the 12 week visit, we also vaccinate for rabies, which only requires one vaccine. At 16 weeks, your puppy may be vaccinated for Bordatella (one of the causative agents of kennel cough) if he/she is boarded, groomed, or in contact with lots of other dogs.

After the original vaccinations, the combination vaccine is given yearly for the first year, then every other year after that. The rabies vaccine is given one year after the first vaccine, and then every other year thereafter. For the combination vaccine, there is also the option of having vaccine titers analyzed, and only vaccinating if titers are deemed inadequate for protection.

Parasites - The feces of puppies and some older dogs may contain parasite eggs and larvae ("worms") that can be harmful to people, especially young children. You should collect at least one, preferably more, samples of your puppies feces to be tested for parasites. Your puppy should be given a deworming medication even if worms are not found, but testing for the worms gives us an idea of what we need to treat and a means of making sure that the deworming medicine is working. Even after your puppy has been treated, we recommend that you pick up feces immediately to further lesson any risk to you or your family. It is our protocol to treat puppies for worms at 8 and 12 weeks, and then recheck the feces at 16 weeks.

Spaying/Neutering - Unless your puppy is a very high quality purebred and you plan to breed or show, it is STRONGLY recommended that all puppies be spayed or neutered.

Neutered males are generally less aggressive to other male dogs and people, show no significant sexual behavior, are less inclined to wander, do not engage in territorial marking of trees and shrubs, cannot contract testicular cancer, and are less inclined to acquire benign prostatic enlargement. 

Spayed females are 93% less likely to develop breast cancer if spayed before their first heat, will not contract uterine or ovarian cancer and will not suffer from pyometra (life threatening infection of the uterus). Spaying is still beneficial after the first heat, but the most significant preventative health effects are seen when spaying occurs before first heat. 

We offer pre-operative blood screening to minimize the risk of anesthesia in all of our puppies and older dogs.

Heartworm Prevention - Start on preventative before 4 months of age. No heartworm testing is necessary at this young age. Most current heartworm preventative products are given once monthly, either orally or topically, and also protect against intestinal parasites and may provide protection from fleas. They have been extensively tested and are quite safe for your puppy.  We recommend having dogs on preventative year-round. 

Flea and Tick Prevention - Gone are the days of messy dips and powders! Modern flea and tick control options are easy to administer and very effective! It is important to strive to keep your dog flea and tick free because tapeworms (transmitted by fleas), Lyme Disease, blood parasites, and other bacterial diseases (transmitted by ticks) can lead to health problems for both humans and pets. Fleas can also cause flea allergies and subsequent skin problems which can really decrease your pet's quality of life! Your choice of flea control will depend on your dog's environment - where you live, number of other pets, lifestyle, etc. We recommend Frontline for flea and tick control, as well as the Preventic collar for tick control. At this time, we DO NOT recommend the Lyme Disease vaccine as it has not been proved completely safe and effective. This recommendation is in accordance with the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine's vaccination guidelines. 

Training - There are excellent places for formal classes locally, or you can train your dog at home with the help of a number of books. Please ask us for recommendations. We recommend starting basic training - sit, stay, come - at home as soon as you get your puppy. We strongly recommend crate training for both housebreaking purposes and for teaching the puppy to entertain itself and be alone for periods of time.

Feeding  - We recommend feeding smaller puppies less than 5 months and larger pups under 3 months three times a day. Older puppies and adults should be fed twice a day. There have been studies that show that larger puppies (for example, Labrador retrievers) that are fed a measured amount instead of free choice live longer and develop fewer lameness problems later in life. Overweight puppies are at risk of other health problems as they mature. 

Basic Grooming - Nail trimming and teeth brushing can be introduced as soon as you get your puppy home. Get him used to the sight and sound of nail clippers, as well as you handling his feet. Also acclimate him to a toothbrush and doggie toothpaste. Please ask for advice on introducing these routines to your puppy. 

Microchipping -  We recommend microchipping to provide permanent identification of your puppy. A tiny microchip is implanted in your puppy's skin with a needle and when scanned by a scanner will produce a unique identifying number that can help you get your puppy back in the case that he is lost or stolen. Microchips also help prove identity for showing and breeding purposes. We recommend chipping be done at the time of spaying or neutering. 

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