Dog disease prevention

Your pet needs and deserves basic preventive care necessary to keep him safe from communicable diseases. Every new puppy faces a host of parasites and infectious organisms as it grows.

Some can pose a threat to humans too. So take your puppy to your veterinarian as soon as you can. As a pet owner, you are responsible for your pet’s health.

If you are a breeder, keep the kennels clean. Kennel runs and puppy cages should be cleaned of organic matter and then bleached before new animals are brought in. Adjacent runs should be bleached if they are contaminated by flowing water during the hosing.

Prevention, Not Cure

Newborn puppies acquire immunities against many diseases by nursing from their mother.

During the first two days of life, a puppy that nurses takes in the colostrum that is present in the milk that is first produced. The antibodies that are passed in the colostrum are vital to the puppy’s health and well-being.

These antibodies prevent the puppy from being infected by diseases like Canine Distemper and Parvovirus. These same antibodies are also the reason veterinarians suggest vaccinations to be given after six weeks of age.

For dogs and many other mammals as well, the immunity given by the colostrum loses its affect sometime around the fifth week of age. Unfortunately this is also the time when most puppies are placed into their new homes and exposed to a variety of new environments.

Take your puppy to a vet as soon as possible. He will then educate the owner on the needs of the new puppy, look for congenital defects as well as look for signs of parasitic or viral infections. If all looks well, the puppy will be started on what is commonly called puppy shots.

These puppy shots are also called five in one or DHLP-P vaccinations because they are a combination vaccine that will immunize against five very common but potentially deadly diseases.

First vaccination - 8 to 10 weeks

Puppy follow-up vaccinations - every 3-4 weeks until 16 weeks

Adult boosters - annually

How given: Subcutaneously, between the shoulder blades