New Puppy Handouts

Puppy Wellness Standard of Care

“Keep the teeth clean, keep the weight down”

• Exam every 3-4 weeks until 6 months
• Three intestinal parasite screens by 6 months of age
• Three Distemper/Parvo vaccines every 3 weeks
• One year Rabies at 16 weeks of age
• Bordetella / Influenza Vaccines
• Two Lyme / Lepto vaccines 3-4 weeks apart
• Year-round heartworm/flea/tick protection
• Baseline mini panel before 6 months of age
• Laser spay/neuter at 6 months of age
• Dental exam for retained puppy teeth at 6 months
• Diet adjustment after neuter: measure amount & feed 20-30% less
• Switch to adult dog food by 1 year of age.

Fear-Free Visits

We all know and understand how scary it can be to go to the veterinarian’s office. For this reason, our entire staff is dedicated to ensuring that your visit is a smooth one!

We approach each pet the way that they need to be handled. If they are afraid of other animals, we will get you right into a room. If your animal is scared, we will talk to him or her in a calming manner. We will try to make friends before even starting the examination. We will go slowly during the exam so that we don’t startle your pet. If your pet has special needs, please let us know how we can accommodate his or her needs to make the visit as pleasant as possible.

Puppy First Visit

“The Cookie Place”

Make the trip to the vet fun for your new puppy. Do not feed your pet too much before the visit and walk him/her well before the car ride so they can eliminate and be well relaxed for the visit. Give your pet a cookie with each step of the trip- getting in and out of the car, in and out of the office, etc. Upon arrival to our office, walk your puppy again briefly outside. (Often owners arrive last minute and their pets don’t get a chance to eliminate themselves. This can make them more stressed in the office). We will also be giving your puppy plenty more cookies once they arrive into the office. We want your pet to remember us as the “cookie place” and not the “needle place”. This way each visit will be fun, smooth and stress free for your new puppy.

* Let your pet eliminate before the visit to reduce stress

Your Pet's First Visit Will Cover The Following

• Comprehensive physical exam: make sure your new pet is healthy.
• Intestinal parasite screen: make sure your pet is free of internal parasites that can cause diarrhea and consume vital nutrients your pet needs to grow healthy. Please bring a fresh fecal sample with you.
• Nutrition, nutrition, nutrition! We will give you a fresh new perspective about how to feed your new addition to the family.
• Amino B Plex prescription pediatric vitamins: high in B vitamins to stimulate appetite, fructosamine to prevent hypoglycemia and iron to help with anemia. All are typical conditions found in young puppies in transition.
• Benebec: a probiotic supplement that helps prevent diarrhea, improves digestion and strengthen immunity.
• Revolution application: to prevent heartworm (a blood parasite), fleas, ticks, hookworms, roundworms, ear and skin mites. This is a monthly application product.
• Allergroom hypoallergenic shampoo: designed for sensitive skin to prevent dry flaky skin and for high frequency shampooing.
• C.E.T. toothbrush kit: start right away brushing your pets teeth gently, do it daily, ideally twice a day, make it short and fun. Always reward good behavior!
• Vaccines as needed: We usually shy away from vaccinating on the first visit just in case your pet is incubating a disease. If your pet is in perfect health, we will get your permission to proceed with vaccination
• Home Again Microchip: Microchipping provides peace of mind that you’ve given your pet the permanent, lifetime ID he/she needs for the best chance to come home. Microchips DO NOT hurt your pet, no more discomfort then a vaccination. They DO NOT require surgery - a simple, one-time insertion with a syringe.

*** Please print and fill out the New Client Form on our website and bring with you.

*** Please bring a fresh fecal sample with you.

*** Please be aware that the above items are OPTIONAL and are NOT included with your complimentary exam.

• Puppy Development | View pdf
• Home Care After Vaccinations | View pdf
• Puppy Vaccines At A Glance | View pdf
• Puppy Checklist | View pdf
• Get Your Pet Neutered | View pdf
• Spay/Neuter Spotlight | View pdf
• Ideal Dog Seminar | View pdf

Puppy Guide At A Glance

1. Feed complete and balanced diet from a well known company such as Purina/Hills/Royal Canin
   No grain free diets!
2. Water available AM to PM
3. Crate training is better then wee wee pad-short 3-5 min walks every 6-8 hours to start, use same location as bathroom, praise and reward your pet as soon as they eliminate, back to crate for first few to several weeks.
4. Your pet can and should go outside, on a leash, shy away from other dogs till fully vaccinated, don't let eat from ground.
5. Do not use baby shampoo - ask us for the hypoallergenic shampoo we carry, it is a high frequency shampoo that will moisturize the skin.
6. Vaccines are administered every 3 weeks on average.
7. Fecal screen for intestinal parasites, at least 3 times, bring a sample each visit.
8. Core vaccines are Distemper and Rabies
9. Non core / lifestyle vaccines are Lepto, Lyme, Bordetella, Influenza.
10. Revolution (flea/tick protection) will be dispensed monthly till 6 months of age. Proheart, 6 month injection and Bravecto, 3 month thereafter.
11. In the summer - enjoy the outdoors early am and late pm and watch for high temp in the middle of day - dogs can die from heat stroke!
12. No hard chew toys till all adult teeth erupt at 6 months of age.