1. Vaccination Program: The following diseases can be prevented with scientifically advanced vaccines. The vaccination schedule outlined below will greatly contribute to the life span and well being of your pet.

D Distemper A: highly contagious, potentially fatal virus which can cause pneumonia, vomiting, diarrhea, and nervous system disorders.

A Adenovirus: A virus causing hepatitis and respiratory infections.

P Parainfluenza: A respiratory virus primarily responsible for a harsh cough.

Pv Parvovirus: A highly contagious, potentially fatal virus resulting in severe vomiting and diarrhea.

L Leptospirosis: A bacteria which causes liver and kidney damage.

R Rabies: A fatal virus which affects the nervous system.

B Bordetella: A bacteria which causes coughing and bronchitis. For your dog's protection, it is highly recommended and necessary for boarding, grooming, and obedience training.

Vaccination Series

6 - 8 weeks: D, A, P, Pv
9 - 11 weeks: D, A, P, Pv, L
12 - 14 weeks: D, A, P, Pv, L, B
15 - 17 weeks: Pv, R

Note: Puppies are not fully vaccinated until they have received the complete vaccination series. It is very important to keep your puppy in your own yard until he receives all of his vaccines. After the initial vaccine, boosters are necessary at 3 week intervals until the pup is around 16 weeks of age. Rabies vaccine is required between 12 - 16 weeks of age. After your puppy's vaccination series is complete, it is necessary to follow up with yearly boosters. Rabies is to be boostered one year after the initial vaccine, then every three years thereafter.

2. Internal Parasites: Intestinal worms and protozoa. Always bring a stool specimen from your pup for examination at the time of vaccination. Many pups are born with intestinal worms or acquire them soon after birth. Proper treatment will allow for healthy growth, and will prevent potential debilitating effects of the worms. Roundworms and hookworms are zoonotic, which means humans can acquire these parasites. To help avoid human infections it is best to clean up feces daily and wash hands well after disposal.

Common Intestinal Parasites

Roundworms: Long, "spaghetti-like" worms which steal nutrients.

Hookworms: Tiny worms, but voracious blood suckers, which attach themselves to the intestinal wall.

Tapeworms: Long worms which steal nutrients. They pass small "rice-like" segments in the stool. Usually acquired from fleas.

Whipworms: Microscopic, but debilitating worms which attach to the intestinal wall, steal nutrients, and prevent normal intestinal function.

Coccidia: A one-celled protozoa which injures the intestinal lining.

3. Heartworm Prevention: Heartworms are carried by mosquitoes and result in long, thin worms which live inside the adult dog's heart and lungs. It takes six months from the time a carrier mosquito bites the dog until the adult heartworms develop in the heart and can be detected by a blood test. For this reason, we recommend all pups be placed on a highly effective preventive at one of the initial visits to the hospital. Thereafter, yearly blood tests for the parasite are recommended when your dog is an adult.

Research shows that preventative must be maintained two months beyond mosquito season, therefore, year-round administration is recommended in the Tidewater area.

4. Nutrition: Young, rapidly growing puppies require approximately twice the energy and nutrients of adult dogs of the same weight. Puppies are considered to be growing until they reach adulthood, or at about 9 - 18 months, depending upon the breed. Puppy foods (i.e., Purina Proplan, Puppy Chow) provide higher protein and fat content and are higher in quality than general purpose foods, thus meeting the needs of the growing puppy.

Large and giant breed puppies are at an increased risk of developing hip dysplasia if they gain weight too fast. They should be fed puppy food until about 4 - 5 months of age, then gradually changed to a high quality maintenance food (24% protein, 12% fat). No exact amount of food can be recommended. Instead, warning must be given against overfeeding, or any abrupt change in diet. Chronic overfeeding may result in obesity, or too rapid growth. The general feeding guidelines printed on food packages are usually excessive. I usually cut the amount recommended by 1/3. The goal is to feed the pup so it looks and feels healthy and to adjust the amount as necessary to prevent obesity or malnourishment. A guideline is that you should be able to feel the pup's ribs easily, but they should not be able to be seen. The pup should be fed three times daily until about 3 - 4 months of age, then gradually changed to twice daily feeding.

5. Spay/Neuter: It is highly recommended that all dogs be spayed or neutered around 6 months of age. Spaying (ovariohysterectomy) of the female dog involves the removal of her ovaries and uterus. It eliminates the heat cycle and reduces the risk of mammary cancer. Neutering of the male dog involves removal of his testicles. It will reduce or eliminate the tendency of the dog to roam, eliminate the possibility of testicular disease, and will reduce the chances of prostatic enlargement, cancer, or infection. Spaying or neutering your dog will also help control the pet population.