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Canine GuidelinesVACCINATIONS:DISTEMPER COMBO: This vaccination contains a combination of viruses that commonly affect the canine species. This includes distemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus. Start no earlier than 6 weeksVaccinate every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks of age or older5 months and older only need 1 vaccination THEN, revaccinate 1 year after initial series, then every 3 years thereafter.LEPTO: This vaccination is used to prevent against a bacterium called Leptosporosis. This bacterium can be found worldwide in soil and water. Leptospirosis is zoonotic meaning it can be transmitted to humans. This disease can cause kidney and/or liver failure and sometimes severe lung disease and difficulty breathing.Start no earlier than 8 weeks.Administer two doses 3-4 weeks apart. THEN, revaccinate yearly thereafter.BORDETELLA (KennelCough): This vaccination is used to prevent against a bacterium that causes a painful whooping cough that can last 6-8 weeks and is spread by airborne droplets. We recommend that you vaccinate if your pet will be going to the groomer, boarding facilities, dog park, or any training facilities.Start no earlier than 8 weeks of age.Oral vaccination is a single dose onlyInjectable vaccination requires two dose 3-4 weeks apartTHEN, revaccinate yearly thereafter.RABIES: This vaccination is recommended to help protect your pet from contracting the rabies virus which is spread by bites from infected mammals such as raccoons, skunks, bats, and foxes. IF YOUR PET BITES SOMEONE and is NOT current on rabies, the law will require quarantine and possible euthanasia depending on the case. This vaccine ismost important because rabies is zoonotic (can be transferred to humans). No earlier than 12 weeks.THEN, revaccinate after initial dose, and then every 3 years thereafter.EXCEPTIONS: hunting animals or those who have increased exposure due to lifestyle or location of where they live. (Farm/Rural/near wildlife areas)We do have specialty vaccines depending on your pet's lifestyle that includesLyme disease, Canine Influenza, and Rattlesnake toxoid.SPAY AND NEUTER:SPAYING (female): No sooner than 4.5-6 months of ageRecommend before their first heat cycle - It greatly decreases the chance of mammary cancer.Any age is always recommended! It helps prevent a condition called pyometra (a condition in which the uterus fills with infection) which is serious and can be fatal. NEUTER (male): Done at 8-9 months of ageThis allows the males urinary system to mature and the testosterone to give him some male characteristics. If they begin marking or showing aggressive behaviors, we will neuter them sooner. Neutering has many health benefits including decreasing the chance of prostate enlargement or infection.PREVENTATIVES:FLEA AND TICK:Fleas and ticks carry pathogens and other parasites that put your pet at risk.We recommend using flea and tick products sold by veterinarians.There are more reactions to the OTC brands and we cannot guarantee effectiveness. We also cannot guarantee safety of these products because of unknown distribution (where did it really come from?)Flea/Tick Collars and Shampoos are not true preventions and if misused can cause illness in your pet and/or skin irritations.Flea and Ticks are active YEAR ROUND! You don’t always see them, but they are there.WE CARRY A VARIETY OF THE MOST ADVANCED TOPICAL AND ORAL PRODUCTS AVAILABLE!HEARTWORMS:Heartworms are transferred by mosquitoes.It takes 6 months for a larvae heartworm to become an adult.These parasites can cause exercise fatigue, a cough that is caused by migration of heartworms to the lungs, decreased appetite, weight loss, and an enlarged heart. Eventually this condition will cause heart failure from the stress of the heartworms on the heart. PREVENTION IS KEY!!Prevention costs under $10 dollars a month.Treatment if your pet has heartworms can cost into the $1000s of dollars!TESTINGAt 7 months of age your pet should receive their first heartworm test. This tests to see if there are adult heartworms in your pets heart. It is an in house test that is ran in less than 10 minutes.Required YEARLY to receive heartworm preventionIf you gave heartworm medicine without testing and your dog did have adult heartworms, it can cause a fatal reaction to your pet by killing adult heartworms too fast.We recommend testing before any anesthetic event if they haven’t within the year. There has been some drug resistance to heartworm medication, so testing is very important!OUR NEW TESTS WILL BE SCREENING FOR TICK BORNE DISEASES AS WELL!!!Tests for ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, and anaplasmosisDEWORMING: Minimum of two rounds of general deworming medication 2-3 weeks apart.Always check a fecal sample as a puppy.MAJORITY OF WORMS ARE NOT SEEN WITH THE NAKED EYE. If you are seeing worms, your pet has a large parasite infection.Some protozoa and a few other worms are not covered by general deworming medication and left unchecked can cause illness.If you choose to use heartworm prevention, it also deworms your pet monthlyYEARLY FECAL TESTING IS RECOMMENDED AT THEIR ANNUAL EXAMINATIONDIET AND TRAINING:What to feed?We recommend Hills Science Diet, Purina, Eukanuba, Iams, Royal CaninThese are all foods with great quality control and are science based with a staff of board certified veterinary nutritionists.Check that your brand of food has a board certified veterinary nutritionist(s)You can find this online or call the company Ingredients are wordy, its not always about how ingredients are listed. Ingredients are important, but how the food is made and the quality control is what allows those healthy ingredients to not be destroyed in the formulation process.Grain Free, Boutique, Exotic, Raw, or Homemade Diets are not necessary and can actually pose potential health risks to your pet from lacking certain nutrients your pet requires. There are certain cases in which these diets may be appropriate, but it is not common practice.Dilated Cardiomyopathy (enlargement of the heart) is a disease that has been linked to some of these diets.VISIT: This website has a wide variety of articles and publications related to this topic. It also answers many questions about which diet is appropriate for your pet.How much to feed? Start by following the feeding guidelines on the bag of food. If you feel these guidelines on the bag do not properly fit your dog, feel free to discuss with the veterinarian or veterinary technicians how we can alter it to fit your pet.Monitor your pet’s weight and adjust as needed. Every bag of food will require different amounts so there is no set amount. When to feed? For most dogs, we recommend feeding on a SCHEDULE! We recommend 2-3 times a day depending on your schedule and the size/age of your pet. Only leave the food available for 10-15 minutes, then pick it up.Also make sure to feed separately away from distractions to allow them to be fully focused on meal time. You will be able to notice sooner if they are choosing not to eat, which can be an indicator of illness.Some toy and small breed dogs do better on free choice feeding. FEEDING ON A SCHEDULE HELPS WITH POTTY TRAINING!House Training:We prefer crate training for the safety of your pet.It helps prevent them from getting into things while being unsupervised.Visit our website for tips on crate training.If complications arise with your method of choice, we prefer consulting with a trainer for further advice. Some trainers can visit your home to help provide further instruction as well.SocializationPuppies should be introduced to an abundance of peopleand pets as it grows. We recommend socializing with other pets as long as all pets meeting one another are current on vaccinations.We do not want your new puppy catching sickness from other pets, so socialize with care!Avoid puppy parties!Avoid dog parks until fully vaccinated.There are doggy day cares in our area which provide a more controlled environment to allow for healthy socializing. These locations require up to date vaccinations.If you ever have difficulty with socializing or have questions, please seek advice from a trainer.MicrochipA small rice like chip implanted under the skin that provides an identification number. This number will be linked to your information once you set up a profile online.Veterinary Clinics, humane societies, rescues, and some police stations carry these universal readers to read the implanted chip.It is a one time fee that lasts a life time and can be done at any age.IT IS NOT A GPS!Remember, collars and tags can easily be removed or lost which can make returning your pet to you much more difficult.What to expect each year at your veterinary visit:ExaminationVaccinationsHeartworm TestingEven if using heartworm medicine, there is evidence of resistance to medication.Fecal TestingEven if using dewormer, not all worms are covered.Using monthly parasite preventions including:Flea/Tick PreventionHeartworm PreventionIntestinal Parasite Prevention (usually covered in your heartworm prevention)The Animal Health Clinic strives to provide the most up to date vaccination, parasite prevention, and medical protocols in the veterinary field. Our clients and their pets deserve the best care available. If you have any questions about any of our recommendations, Please Call our clinic at 605-665-4291 or email at animalhealth@For additional information on canine care, please visit our website where you can find documents such as the ones listed below.- Canine Nutrition- Choosing Your Dogs Food- Homemade Diets- Crate Training- Destructive Chewing- Separation Anxiety- Potty Training a Puppy- Behavior Problem Barking- Taking Care of Your Pregnant Dog- Dogs and Babies- Puppy Excitement and Submissive UrinationYou can also find general care information such as the topics listed below.- Pet First Aid Emergency Handbook- Allergies and Your Pet- Tick Borne Diseases- Flea Removal and Control- Vaccines and Blood Titers- What Is That Bump?- Pet Age Chart- Fading Puppy or Kitten- Understanding Your Pets Bloodwork- Snack Comparison Chart- Therapy Options for Osteoarthritis in Pets- Essential Oils and Pets- My Pets Mouth- Picking Pet Health Insurance- Introducing Pets to a New Baby- Litter Box Training a RabbitWe have an ONLINE STORE to purchase preventions, medications, food and much more. You can find the link to our store on our website. ................
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