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Canine Vaccinations, Neutering

and Heartworm Prevention

Vaccinations

Newborn puppies receive disease-fighting antibodies in their mother’s milk. However, the antibodies normally last only 6 to 16 weeks. After that, vaccinations protect your puppy by introducing mild doses of modified disease-causing agents into his body to stimulate him to produce his own antibodies.

DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvo)

(Commonly called Distemper)

Boosters are started at 6-8 weeks of age and are given at 3-4 week intervals until the puppy is 16-20 weeks of age. This vaccination is updated yearly.

Rabies

Given at 14-20 weeks of age and then updated every year.

Bordetella (Commonly referred to as Kennel Cough)

Not given routinely; required by individual kennels and groomers. Given at 6 weeks of age or older and then updated yearly.

Lyme

Not given routinely; recommended if traveling to areas where Lyme disease is prevalent. Given at 12 weeks of age or older. A booster is given 3-4 weeks after the initial vaccination and then updated yearly.

Heartworm Prevention

Heartworm preventatives may be started anytime up to six months of age with no blood testing needed. After six months of age, a test needs to be performed before starting dogs on preventives. There are a number of heartworm preventives available; the doctor will discuss which type would be most beneficial in each individual case.

Neutering and Spaying

Both male and female dogs can be neutered anytime after 4 months of age. Females can be spayed even if they are in heat or pregnant, although there is a slight additional fee for females in these conditions. Surgeries are scheduled for Monday through Friday. Drop-off is anytime between 7:00-8:00 AM and pick-up is anytime between 4:30 PM and closing time (Mon. 7PM; Tue. – Fri. 6 PM). Most dogs are slightly sleepy the evening of surgery but usually no special care is needed. We will give a detailed aftercare sheet to go home that should help ease any anxiety.

Fecal Exam

We recommend testing your puppy’s stool for parasites at the first visit and then subsequently every year at vaccination time to keep your dog healthy inside and out.

Roundworms

This parasite can be transmitted from the mother to her pups before birth or during nursing. The thin, spaghetti-like parasite, about five inches long, can cause a potbellied appearance. The larvae migrate through a puppy’s body and are sometimes seen in a dog’s feces.

Hookworms

The hookworm can be transmitted from mothers to pups before birth and during nursing. This worm fastens itself onto the walls of the dog’s small intestine.

Whipworms

This is one of the most dangerous of all intestinal parasites.

Tapeworms

In larva form, this parasite usually enters a dog’s body when he swallows a flea. Rodents can also be a source of tapeworm. It seldom causes obvious symptoms, but visible segments can be found in the feces of an infected animal.

Coccidia

These organisms are a normal resident of the intestinal tract, but can at times become out of balance.

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