Health and your puppy

Taking your puppy to the vet for regular checks is an important part of ensuring they have good ongoing health. Your vet will undertake thorough health checks and look for common problems and signs of any other potential health problems. By having a good schedule with your vet you are assured piece of mind. It's just the same with making sure you have your car serviced regularly- taking your puppy to the vet for a check-up will ensure your puppy is in top condition.

When you are at the vet they will generally provide good advice on:

• dental health
• keeping nails short
• coat care
• looking after their paws
• exercise
• ongoing worm treatment and vaccination
• or any other issues that concern you.

Your puppy will probably have received regular worming treatment before leaving the breeder, and perhaps the first of a series of vaccinations to protect it from potentially fatal diseases. Make sure you obtain a copy of your puppy's vaccination certificate and worming routine and take this with you when you visit your vet. It will help you both keep track of where you are with these important health tasks and if necessary rectify any vaccinations that may need to be done.

If your pup has not been vaccinated, it's important to get it done as soon as possible to ensure your puppy is not susceptible to any disease risk that may be present. Keeping current with vaccinations will help to avoid your puppy contracting any major infections.

The most important thing to remember is if you are ever unsure about anything to do with your puppy's health, contact your veterinarian. They will usually be more than happy to discuss any of your concerns and can often help to lay your mind to rest.

Dental care

While most of us take good care of our own teeth, it is easy to forget that our canine companions also need regular dental care.

The most effective way to help keep your puppy's teeth in good condition is to encourage them to chew. Giving your puppy something to chew on not only helps strengthen their teeth, it also helps brush away any build-up of plaque and tartar which, if left untreated, can cause gum disease.

Most supermarkets stock products that encourage chewing and are specifically designed to reduce plaque and help to freshen breath. Some pet stores even stock special toothbrushes and toothpaste to help keep your puppy's teeth sparkling and white.

If you are concerned about the condition of your puppy's teeth, talk to your vet who can check for signs of gum disease and recommend a suitable treatment.

New teeth

Similar to people, puppies begin life with one set of teeth, lose them and grow a second and final set that remains with them for life. Depending on the breed, most puppies start to lose their 'milk' or 'deciduous teeth' at four to five months old.

Permanent adult teeth replace the milk teeth. This process is usually complete by seven months of age, although there are variations among breeds. Any deciduous teeth that are not shed naturally can damage the permanent teeth so it is a good idea to talk to your vet about having these removed.

As with babies, the teething period can be a difficult time for both of you. Your puppy may drool and be grouchy and will want to chew on anything in sight to relieve the discomfort, but remember the teething period is a natural and temporary stage in its life.

Claw trimming

Trimming your puppy's claws in an important part of maintaining it's health and well being.

Excessively long claws can be painful for your dog to walk on and can even cause it to slip on smooth surfaces such as floor boards or tiles.

Similar to grooming, trimming your pup's claws can be a great opportunity to spend time together and, if done carefully, your puppy will learn to love these sessions.

Special dog nail clippers are available from most pet stores so you can trim your puppy's claws at home (for a smaller dog, use cat nail scissors). If your puppy has lighter coloured claws, you should be able to see the pink quick inside.

Try to cut the tip of the claw, being careful not to cut the quick. If your puppy has darker claws and you can't see the quick, just clip small bits at a time. As you approach the quick, the dry, flaky centre of the claw will appear darker and shiny. If you don't feel confident clipping the claws yourself, get your vet or a professional groomer to show you how.

Vaccinations

One of the most important responsibilities of puppy ownership is making sure your puppy's vaccinations are up to date. Without them, your puppy is susceptible to life-threatening diseases. Vaccination requirements are:

PUPPIES - at six weeks old for Distemper, Hepatitis and Parvovirus.

At 12 weeks for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Kennel Cough and the first Leptospirosis vaccination.

At 16 weeks for Kennel Cough and the second Leptospirosis vaccination.

ADULT DOGS - annual boosters for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, and Kennel Cough.

Depending on where you bought your puppy, it may have already received the first in a series of vaccinations. If so, make sure you obtain a copy of your puppy's vaccination certificate (and worming routine) and take them with you when you visit your vet. If your puppy has not yet been vaccinated you should arrange for it to be done as soon as possible.

Preventing parasites*

Dogs need to be wormed regularly to remove parasitic worms that live in the intestine. Puppies should be treated for roundworm and hookworm every two weeks until three months of age, using drops or tablets. After this, all dogs should be treated for roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm once every three months. We recommend consulting your vet to discuss a treatment regime best suited to your puppy.

Heartworm is transmitted by mosquitoes, and treatment can be expensive and very involved, so it is certainly preferable to prevent infection. All dogs other than young pups must be tested by a vet before starting a heartworm prevention program.

Fleas and ticks are most prevalent during the warmer months and a combination of products is usually required to treat them. Your vet can recommend the most suitable approach for your situation. Remember to treat not only the adult fleas visible on the dog and any other pets, but also the flea larvae and eggs in the surrounding environment. If you live in an area where ticks are a problem, your dog should be checked daily throughout the summer. If you find a tick, consult your vet immediately for advice.

*This parasite treatment information relates to Australian conditions only. We recommend consultation with your vet for individual requirements in all other countries.

Desexing

Dogs and bitches may be more suitable as pets if desexed, and are generally healthier. Your puppy, male or female, should be desexed at around six months of age unless you have a valid reason for wishing to breed. In addition, Pets World recommends that all pet dogs be desexed to help reduce unwanted litters.