Getting a new family member is always an exciting time but can be full of questions and new experiences. In honour of “National Puppy Day”, we’ve written a guide on things you should know when you get a new puppy.
Vaccinations
Puppies require 3 core vaccinations which protect against the following:
- Parvovirus
- Hepatitis
- Distemper
- Kennel Cough
These occur at: 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks and 14-16 weeks, then yearly boosters. As most puppies go to their new homes after 8 weeks of age, they should already have had their first vaccine.
Puppies can also be vaccinated against Leptospirosis, which is a disease that is becoming more common in Victoria. Check out our Leptospirosis blog post for more info!
Parasite Control
Puppies should be given worm, flea and tick prevention regularly. There are a variety of products that can be used, but we recommend purchasing them at either a vet or pet store – supermarket products are often ineffective.
Worming should be done every 2 weeks until 3 months of age, every 6 months of age, and every 3 months until 6 months of age. Flea and tick prevention schedules will depend on the product. Always check the packaging for instructions! These can be tablets or spot-on, and there is also a yearly injection that is available.
Heartworm is another parasite that is becoming more prevalent in Melbourne and is found in warmer climates further North (even in Northern Victoria!). Heartworm infection can be fatal, so we highly recommend giving preventative treatment. This can either be done with some oral or topical wormers, or with an injection given at 12 weeks, 6 months and then yearly.
Desexing
Desexing your pet reduces the risk of many diseases, such as pyometra and some types of cancer. It also eliminates the risk of unwanted pregnancy. The recommended age of desexing often depends on your dog’s breed and predicted size. Bigger dogs should often be desexed later to allow their bones and joints to develop and to reach full maturity.
Feeding
Growing puppies need a complete, nutritionally balanced diet to make sure that they can develop and grow into healthy dogs. Home-made meals can be difficult to balance appropriately without the help of a veterinary nutritionist, so we recommend feeding a high-quality puppy diet, such as Hills or Royal Canin.
We recommend feeding puppies 3 to 6 months old 2-3 times a day, and dogs older than 6 months 1-2 times a day. Transition to an adult food is recommended at different ages depending on breed and size. We are more than happy to discuss this with you!
Dental Care
Much like humans, dogs need regular dentistry to keep their teeth clean and healthy. It can be helpful to get your puppy used to getting their mouths touched at a young age, as this can make dental checks and tooth brushing easier.
Most smaller dogs need dentals ever 9-12 months and larger dogs every 15-18 months, however this may differ depending on the breed, genetics, and other factors. Regular dentistry means that dental extractions are less likely to be required in the future.
Puppies will usually have a full set of adult teeth around 6 months of age. Prior to this, you may notice your puppy chewing more while it teethes. Make sure to give your puppy plenty of soft toys to chew on to help this process!
Do not feed your dog bones as these can cause dental fractures and bowel obstructions, as well as other issues. As a good general rule, if you can leave a fingernail indent in a material advertised as a dental chew, it is less likely to cause dental fractures.
Socialisation
Socialisation is very important for a puppy, not only to meet new people and pets, but to provide them with positive experiences. Puppy school is an excellent way of doing this!
Another way to do this is to socialise your puppy with other dogs you know. Once your puppy has reached a point in its vaccination schedule where it is safe, they can meet and have play dates with friends’ and family’s dogs, either at your house or their house. It is imperative to make sure that the other dogs are up-to-date with their vaccinations prior to this.
Council Registration
Puppies must be registered with the local council. This can be done via your local council website. You will need to provide your puppy’s microchip number.
Hopefully this guide has answered all the questions you may have about owning a new puppy. It’s an exciting time of life but can also be challenging! At Northside Vets, we are here to help out in any way we can, so do not hesitate to call us on (03) 7053 7730 if you have any more questions!
