Puppy Vaccinations ~ Wellness
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Health Care for Puppies
It is exciting when a new puppy is added to the family. Veterinarians at Dunedin Animal Medical Center are committed to the lifelong health of your puppy. Our pediatric wellness and health screen program provides important preventative health care services designed to give your puppy every chance at having a long and healthy life.
First things 1st
It is critical for your puppy to have an overall wellness-exam as soon as possible.
Your puppy's wellness-exam includes a fecal examination for parasites, the exam will include checking your pup’s mouth, teeth and gums for abnormalities, making sure its ears, eyes, nose and skin are free of infection, verifying healthy weight and temperature (a puppy’s temp should be between 100.5° and 102.5° F), and examining lungs, heart and other internal organs. This first exam is also an opportunity for your puppy to receive its first round of vaccinations, which will help protect it from distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, parainfluenza, bordetella, and rabies (see Puppy Vaccinations below). |
Questions or Appointments, Please call 727-738-2273 - For Your Convenience, Dunedin Animal Medical Center is OPEN 7-Days a week. |
Puppy Nutrition
A high-Quality puppy food may help your puppy and adult dog avoid many medical conditions.
Puppy feeding; Do’s and Don’ts, “Good canine health begins at puppyhood",
DO follow the feeding guidelines. One of the worst things you can do is allowing your puppy to become overweight – it has serious health implications.
DON'T feed your puppy from the table. People food often adds unneeded calories, particularly in the form of fat, and it can contribute to obesity as well as finicky eating.
DO feed your dog at the same time(s) every day; 3 times a day for young puppies, 2 times per day for older puppies, and at least 1 time per day for adults (this amount can be broken into 2 or more feedings per day).
DO make sure there is plenty of fresh water available at all times. |
Canine Heartworm Disease...
Is easy and relatively inexpensive to prevent however, it is difficult and costly to cure. As with most medical situations "Prevention is the best Medicine".
Heartworm preventative can aid in the prevention/control of many other parasites in your puppy. Depending upon which one you choose, current heartworm preventatives can also control fleas and many intestinal parasites.
Your Veterinarian at Dunedin Animal Medical Center will recommend the best heartworm preventative for your puppy.
Read more... http://www.heartwormsociety.org/pet-owner-resources/canine-heartworm.html |
Are Vaccinations Safe?
Yes. The majority of pets respond well but as with human vaccines, there are some risks. Fortunately, serious side effects are rare. The most common side effects of vaccination are low-grade fever, depression or decreased appetite. These are usually short-lived (24-48 hours), require no treatment and are similar to what people experience after a flu or tetanus shot. Vomiting, diarrhea, itching, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or extremities and hives are some of the rare allergic reactions that can occur.
After vaccination, if your pet experiences any these allergic-reaction signs immediately call Dunedin Animal Medical Center 727-738-2273. |
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Human-Animal Bond -- Under Construction
The human-animal bond is very important to all of us. We want you to enjoy every aspect of your new pet and if you have questions please call us and/or research the AVMA site below. We can help! We have many brochures with helpful information on a variety of issues, including:
- Socialization
- Dental Hygiene
- Obedience
- House-training
- Behavioral Issues
Read More... http://www.avma.org/issues/human_animal_bond/default.asp |
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