BEFORE ADOPTING

So, you are thinking about adding a new member to the family? Stop and think again!!

Are you prepared to take on the responsibility? You must know that to adopt/ purchase a dog means that from then on you are responsible for the pups/dogs physical & mental health. They are no different from any human kid who requires their families love, care and attention. They feel and respond like little children. Just like human children, puppies are not born with the sense of where to dirty and where not to. It is only with age and training do they learn to relieve themselves on walks. Till then the family has to be patient and has to continuously keep teaching the pup right from wrong without hitting or torturing the pup. Hitting or torturing the pup will only make him rebellious and angry. That’s something we all can relate to in relation to human beings also.

Your pup/dog will require regular vaccination shots and twice a day long walks. Have you discussed who will do the running around with the dog??

When you feel like traveling where will your dog be?

The most important point of consideration is WHY DO YOU WANT A DOG? Is it because your friends/neighbors/family have one? Is it that when you see the dog in the Hutch ad you feel like having one of your own? Before you adopt/purchase one go and spend time with your friends/ family members or neighbor’s dog and talk to the person who feeds him/her and takes him/her for their vaccinations and walks. Try and spend a few days at a place where you can take the responsibility of a dog entirely. Take care of the dog/pup right from the morning till evening- walk, food, cleaning, playing etc. This might be the reality check that one needs.

Note : Keeping the dog isolated, leashed or beating the dog is not only illegal but also in-human and shameful on your part. If that is your idea of having a pet just try and live that life for yourself for few days and you’ll know exactly how one feels. Dogs/pups are JUST LIKE A HUMAN CHILD.

NEW PUPPY – CARE

Well, you’d really given it a good deal of thought and research and were up to the task of bringing home a new life…so you went and welcomed one into your family and hearts. Now you have a little pup to bring up and love and care for. If you’ve had dogs before you surely can recall the excitement and enthusiasm you must’ve felt each time that you brought a furry little bundle home for the first time. And IF this is your very first time then there just might be just a bit of “What have I done?” anxiety about this major moment in your life. And well anxiety is perfectly fine and somewhere good also, coz owning and caring for a puppy is a huge responsibility. With the right kinda care, love, good health you’ll see the little pup grow into a beautiful dog of whom you’d be so proud to have as your family.

VACCINATIONS & VACCINE RELATED QUESTIONS

WHEN TO VACCINATE

It is only natural to call and ask friends and relatives who have or have had a dog before, for advise on your new pets care. The fact is that the only advice that you need is the veterinarians. Each veterinarian will have his/her own preferred protocol for vaccinations and for follow-up vaccinations throughout life. On your way home after you have adopted/bought the little one is actually a good time to have the pup seen by your veterinarian, and its even better if you can give a stool sample from the pup for analysis for worms. Getting rid of any intestinal parasites is the first step in having the pup’s nutritional efficiency at an optimum level.

During the examination the veterinarian will look at the pup’s medical/vaccination history. If the person from whom you have got the pup had already started the vaccinations, your vet will see the pets vaccination card and according advice you about his/her next booster (A “Booster” shot refers to giving a vaccine more than one time. The follow-up vaccinations will BOOST the immune level up higher and the patient will be even better protected from the disease) or next vaccination. If the pup is healthy and unvaccinated, your veterinarian will suggest vaccinating right away.

Multivalent vaccines are those that have more than one disease antigen combined into one injection

 

A typical multivalent vaccine is the DHLPPCv vaccine for dogs. Instead of giving six different injections, all these “vaccines” or antigens can be given in a single small volume injection. Certainly this is easier on the dog than getting six separate injections.

DHLPPCv stands for:

D - Canine Distemper Virus - a serious viral infection. This disease has neither relationship to nor connection with a dog’s temperament. Distemper poses no risk to humans. For more info –

http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&articleid=419

http://www.petplanet.co.uk/petplanet/health/vaccinationsdog.htm

http://www.2ndchance.info/dog%20distemper.htm

H – Hepatitis - a viral infection caused by two related viruses that mainly affects the liver.
L – Leptospirosis - a bacterial infection affecting the kidneys. This class of bacteria can infect humans, cows, dogs, pigs and other mammals.
P – Parainfluenza - a virus that along with the Hepatitis virus can cause upper respiratory infections.
P – Parvovirus - a severe and often fatal virus affecting the lining of the intestinal tract.
Cv – Coronavirus - is very similar to the Parvovirus, can be very severe, but has a somewhat different effect on the intestinal tract and generally is not fatal.

 

Vaccination Protocols and Schedule

Presented below is just one veterinarian’s general schedule of vaccinations for puppies.

Your veterinarian’s vaccination protocols may be different.

Vaccination protocols for dogs are changing almost yearly as new research is done on duration of immunity.

 

6 to 7 weeks of age: Give first combination vaccine. (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza, Coronavirus)
9 weeks of age: Give second combination vaccine.
12 weeks of age: Give the third combination injection and possibly a LYME Vaccine inoculation. Generally a LYME vaccine is then repeated two weeks later, then once a year.
16 weeks of age: Give the last combination vaccine.
12 to 16 weeks of age: Rabies vaccine is given. (Local and State laws apply regarding Rabies vaccine since this can be a human disease, too. Your veterinarian will tell you the proper time intervals for booster vaccines for Rabies.)
Special considerations: Many veterinarians believe some breeds such as Rottweilers and Dobermans should have at least two Parvo vaccines with the last one being given at 20 weeks of age.

DO YOU REALLY NEED SO MANY VACCINATIONS?

YES!! One vaccination does not assure that the pup will actually mount a good antibody response to a disease. If the pup has lots of immunity (called PASSIVE IMMUNITY) that was borrowed from the mother during early nursing. The idea is to get the vaccine into the pup just as soon as the mother’s passive immunity wears off (NOW the pup is very susceptible to sickness if it is exposed to the disease!) so that the pup can make more lasting immunity of its own.

ATTENTION: If your puppy has any trouble breathing after a vaccination, or seems weak, staggers, has pale gums or seems at all unresponsive… contact your veterinarian immediately!

How does a vaccination work?

Vaccinations help the dog’s immune system to protect itself against disease. For detailed information consult your vet.

Are their any vaccine reactions?

Reactions such as a low-grade fever or muscle aches and pain are more common in young and toy breed dogs. It causes them to eat less and sleep for longer than usual hours.

ATTENTION: If your puppy has any trouble breathing after a vaccination, or seems weak, staggers, has pale gums or seems at all unresponsive… contact your veterinarian immediately!

How many shots does a dog or puppy need?

There is no fixed answer for this question, but a few basic rules apply.A minimum of two multivalent vaccinations (including distemper and parvo) given three to four weeks apart are required for every dog or puppy over three months old. An additional vaccination against rabies is also necessary. Vaccinations against coronavirus, Bordatella, or Lyme disease are based on owner’s needs and veterinarian’s advice.

For young puppies, vaccinations usually start at six-to-eight weeks of age and are given every three-to-four weeks until the puppy is 16 weeks of age. Recent information regarding parvovirus may extend this recommendation to 18 or even 20 weeks, especially for Dobes and Rottweilers.

PLS CONSULT your VET to follow the exact vaccination routine for your dog or pup.