Regular Veterinary Visits
Perhaps the most loving, responsible thing you can do for your puppy is to see that he receives timely health care from a veterinarian. It’s important to establish a relationship with a veterinarian right away so he or she becomes a trusted partner in your puppy’s upbringing.

Regular visits to your veterinarian should begin as soon as you acquire your puppy. Puppies get some immunity from their mothers, but this immunity begins to decrease soon after they are weaned. Puppies should be vaccinated against canine diseases and checked periodically for worms and other parasites. Your puppy should also have an annual medical examination.

Emergency Pet Clinic
Be sure to ask your veterinarian for the name, address, phone number and location of the nearest emergency pet clinic. Write the information down with your other emergency phone numbers, so that you can find it quickly. It’s a good idea to drive by the emergency facility to become familiar with its location.

Pet Insurance
Both regular veterinary visits and trips to emergency pet clinics can be covered by comprehensive pet insurance coverage. With this kind of coverage, you’re ensuring your pet has access to routine wellness care as well as the latest in veterinary medicine and technology. Insuring your pet at the puppy stage provides coverage for early wellness needs like initial vaccinations, spaying/neutering and microchipping. It also means you’ll already have coverage if something serious, hereditary or costly occurs unexpectedly. Best of all, pet insurance is a great way to make sure a healthy pet stays that way.

Your Watchful Eye
One simple, but very important way to care for your puppy is to watch for changes in his appearance or behavior that may indicate that he is sick. To do this, you need to become familiar with the following signs of normal health. You should also be familiar with your puppy’s usual behavior so you can easily detect signs of illness and injury. This will help you spot potential problems early so your veterinarian can begin treatment sooner.

Eyes
should be clear and bright. The whites of the eyes should have no red or yellow discoloration. If there is any discoloration, tearing, cloudiness, heavy discharge or other abnormal conditions, take your puppy to the veterinarian immediately. A slight buildup of mucus in the corners of the eyes is not unusual. This discharge can be cleared away with a cotton ball moistened with warm water. If there is a heavy discharge, consult your veterinarian.

Ears
should be clean and free of discharge and odor. Check the ears at least once a week or more often for puppies who are more prone to ear problems (such as long-haired puppies or those with pendulous ears like Cocker Spaniels).

• Trim away excess hair which might prevent air from getting into his ears. If the ear canal is red, inflamed, hot, or has a foul odor or is sensitive to your touch, consult your veterinarian.
• Your veterinarian may recommend weekly ear cleanings. If he/she does, have the veterinarian recommend a cleansing solution and have him/her show you how to clean your puppy’s ears.

Mouth
should have pink, healthy gums with no redness or swelling at the tooth margins. The lips should be free of sores or growths. Teeth should be free of tartar buildup and there should be no bad breath.

Nose
should be clean and there should be no discharge or sores.

Body and Haircoat
should be free of tumors, lumps, fleas and ticks. Check by running your hands over your puppy’s coat. A normal coat is thick, shiny and silky–without greasiness, dandruff, or bare patches.

Legs
should be checked for swollen joints. Inspect feet between the toes for excess hair or objects lodged there. Check the condition of his nails.

Anus
should be free of swelling and intestinal parasites. For instance, tapeworm segments look like particles of rice. Scooting along on the ground might be an attempt to relieve swollen anal glands. If you notice any of these conditions, see your veterinarian.

The Routine Exam
During your puppy’s routine examinations, your veterinarian will listen to his chest for heart and breath sounds; feel his abdomen; check the coat condition and inspect the eyes, ears and mouth.

The routine exam also may include examination of the feces to check for internal parasites, so you will be asked to bring a stool sample.

Vaccinations
Newborn puppies receive disease-fighting antibodies in their mother’s milk. However, these antibodies normally last only 6 to 16 weeks. After that, vaccinations protect your puppy by introducing mild doses of modified disease-causing agents into his body to stimulate him to produce his own antibodies.

Diseases are easily transmitted between pets. Your veterinarian will recommend a timetable for the vaccinations your puppy needs to prevent these diseases. Most vaccinations are given in a series over a period of time. This usually involves several vaccinations between 6 and 16 weeks, followed by boosters at regular intervals. Vaccination protocols may vary. Always follow your veterinarian’s recommendation and schedule.

Disease	Symptoms	Preventative Measures
Canine Distemper—A highly contagious viral disease that affects a dog’s respiratory, gastrointestinal and nervous systems. It can be spread through the air or by contact with an infected animal, its feces or urine and can be fatal. Because a puppy’s natural immunity may wear off before he is vaccinated, reduce risk of exposure by limiting contact with unfamiliar dogs until the vaccination series is completed.	Symptoms include coughing, sneezing, nose and eye discharge, fever, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea and seizures.	Vaccination is the only effective control. Initial vaccinations are given as a SERIES beginning as early as 6 weeks, followed by boosters. Distemper vaccinations are often given in combination with vaccines for other diseases.
Infectious Canine Hepatitis—This viral disease, also known as adenovirus, is spread by contact with infected animals, their feces, urine or saliva. It affects the liver, kidneys and cells lining the blood vessels.	Symptoms include high fever, thirst, inflammation of nose or mouth, diarrhea, abdominal pain and tenderness, loss of appetite, hemorrhage and depression.	Vaccination provides excellent immunity. Initial vaccinations are given as a SERIES beginning as early as 6-8 weeks, followed by boosters. The vaccine for canine hepatitis is often combined with one for distemper.
Leptospirosis—An extremely contagious bacterial disease that spreads through contact with nasal secretions, urine or saliva of infected animals. Early signs are not apparent, so infection can go undetected. Recovered animals can continue spreading the disease, which can also affect humans.	Leptospirosis affects the liver and kidneys. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite and listlessness. Note that early signs of the disease may not be readily apparent.	Vaccination is available for leptospirosis. Initial shots are given as a SERIES beginning as early as 6 weeks, followed by boosters. Leptospirosis vaccinations are often combined with vaccinations for distemper and hepatitis (DHL).
Parvovirus—This viral infection is a common, deadly viral infection and usually strikes puppies. It is spread by contact with an infected dog’s blood, feces or vomit.	Symptoms include severe diarrhea, fever, vomiting, loss of appetite and dehydration.	A SERIES of vaccinations are given from 6 to 20 weeks, with booster vaccines. Animals that often stay in kennels, travel to dog shows or are exposed to other dogs, should be vaccinated every 6 months. For most other dogs, an annual inoculation is sufficient. Check with your veterinarian.
Parainfluenza—A highly infectious virus that can be one of the causes of “kennel cough.” It spreads quickly among dogs kept in close quarters and can seriously damage the respiratory system.	Symptoms include a dry, hacking cough, loss of appetite, depression and runny nose and eyes.	Initial vaccinations are given beginning as early as 6 weeks, followed by boosters.
Rabies—This is an infection of the central nervous system that results in paralysis and death. Rabies is always fatal. It is usually transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. Rabies is a serious public health threat, so it is essential to vaccinate your dog. Most states have laws requiring vaccination.	Symptoms include high excitability, unprovoked biting and sensitivity to noise. Seizure, paralysis, and excess salivation are also common.	Initial inoculation should be given as early as 3 months of age, with a second inoculation later (check with your veterinarian). After the second vaccination, the dog should receive a booster vaccine at regular intervals, depending on the vaccine used and local laws.
Coronavirus—A highly contagious viral infection of the gastrointestinal tract. Again, this disease is spread through contact with infected blood, feces or vomit.	Symptoms include vomiting, fever, diarrhea and dehydration.	Consult a veterinarian about a possible vaccination, depending on your puppy’s risk. Initial vaccination SERIES begin as early as 6 weeks, followed by boosters.
Bordetella—This is an airborne bacterial infection that can cause “kennel cough.” Dogs may catch this when exposed to other dogs in kennels, dog shows and field trials.	Symptoms include persistent coughing, sneezing and retching accompanied by nasal discharge.	Ask your veterinarian about your puppy’s need for vaccination against the Bordetella virus. Vaccination may be given by injection or by nasal applicator.
Lyme Disease—This is a tick-borne disease that affects both dogs and humans.	Symptoms include arthritis with the sudden onset of severe pain and lameness, fever, lethargy, loss of appetite and depression.	Ask your veterinarian about the vaccine for Lyme Disease. The vaccination may be recommended depending on the risk to the puppy in your location.

Neutering
Neutering is a generic term which refers to the sterilization of male or female dogs. Unless you have a purebred for breeding purposes, neutering is recommended. Millions of puppies and dogs, many of which are purebred, are euthanized each year because there are not enough homes for all the unwanted pets.

There are also many other characteristics of a neutered dog that make neutering a positive choice. A neutered dog:

• Is less concerned with marking his territory with urine (both indoors and outdoors)
• Has less desire to run away or roam in search of a mate
• May be a calmer, gentler pet
• Avoids certain health risks—such as pyometra, a life-threatening infection in females
• Is at lower risk of breast cancer in female and prostate problems in males

Spaying (For Females)
Spaying is the removal of the ovaries and uterus. It involves a general anesthetic and abdominal surgery. The veterinarian may keep your puppy in the hospital for a few days, depending on her age and condition.

A pre-anesthetic laboratory screening may also be recommended to prevent any complications from the anesthetic. Female dogs mature sooner than males, and spaying should be done before the first heat cycle. The operation will eliminate heat cycles and possibly contribute to longer life by reducing or eliminating the chance of many health problems.

If your female puppy is not spayed, you will have to keep her confined or put her on prescription drugs when she is in season. An unspayed pet has an increased risk of uterine infections, mammary tumors and other health problems common to unspayed female dogs.

Neutering (For Males)
Castration is the removal of the testicles through surgery. Neutering is a relatively safe procedure. In most cases, it produces mild soreness and requires only a brief hospital stay. A pre-anesthetic laboratory screening also may be recommended.

Consult your veterinarian about the best age to neuter your puppy. Neutering can help calm your male puppy’s temperament, make him less likely to roam and help reduce his risk of developing prostate infections or prostate cancer.

Did You Know?
A dog’s body uses water for virtually every bodily function. That’s why it’s important to make fresh drinking water available in a clean bowl at all times.

Parasites
Parasites are organisms that can live in or on another living thing. Parasite checks must be conducted early and often, since parasites can be transmitted to puppies from their mothers.

If left unchecked, parasites can make life miserable for you and your puppy. As with most health problems, prevention of parasites is easier and less expensive than treatment. So be alert for early signs and symptoms.

Internal Parasites
Internal parasites usually live in a puppy’s digestive system and are detected by an examination of the puppy’s stool.

Treatment for worms and parasites can begin at two weeks of age and be repeated every two or three weeks as determined by your veterinarian. Researchers believe that many puppies are infested by roundworms and hookworms from their mother.

Roundworms
These parasites can be transmitted from the mother to her pups before birth or during nursing. The thin, spaghetti-like parasites, about five inches long, can cause a potbellied appearance. The larvae migrate through a puppy’s body and are sometimes seen in dog feces.

Stunted growth, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, and sometimes pneumonia can result from roundworm infection or no symptoms may be visible.

Hookworms
These dangerous intestinal parasites can be transmitted from mothers to pups before birth and during nursing. Hookworms fasten onto the walls of the dog’s small intestine. Hookworm infection may produce lethargy, anemia, poor appetite and black tarry stools containing blood.

Whipworms
These parasites settle into the lower end of a dog’s digestive tract, causing chronic bowel inflammation, mucus in the stool, weight loss and diarrhea.

Tapeworms
In larva form, these parasites usually enter a dog’s body when he swallows a flea. Rodents can also be a source of tapeworms. Tapeworms seldom cause obvious symptoms, but small, rice-like segments can be found around the anus and in the feces of an infected animal.

Mature tapeworms feed from the intestines, causing the dog to eat more than normal without weight gain. Because of the chance of reinfestation, your dog should also be treated for fleas when he is treated for tapeworms.

Coccidia
To avoid these organisms, which can live in a puppy’s intestines, make sure your puppy doesn’t eat raw or undercooked meat. Symptoms can include diarrhea, fever, weight loss and loss of appetite. Sometimes infected puppies show no symptoms.

Heartworms
Transmitted by the bite of a mosquito, these dangerous parasites live in a dog’s heart or near it in major blood vessels. Heartworm disease can be fatal. It causes heart or lung damage, coughing, lethargy and fatigue. Heartworms can be detected by a blood test.

Heartworms are difficult to cure but easy to prevent with medication from your veterinarian. A blood test is taken to ensure that heartworms are not already present before administering a heartworm preventative. The medicine is usually administered in monthly doses during the mosquito season or, in most areas, year-round. Never treat a dog for heartworms except under the supervision of your veterinarian.

Did You Know?
An obese dog is defined as one that is at least 20% more than ideal body weight. 25-44% of dogs seen by veterinarians are obese.

External Parasites
External parasites live on a puppy’s body. They are diagnosed by physical examination and skin tests.

Fleas
Puppies may acquire fleas from their mother, another dog or from their environment. Examine your puppy for fleas during routine grooming. If you think your puppy has fleas, consult your veterinarian for a safe and effective treatment.

A puppy infested with fleas scratches or bites himself frequently. Small red spots may show up on his skin. Black specks (flea dirt) may cling to the fur on his neck or rump. Fleas may also cause allergic dermatitis, which shows up as encrusted lesions on the puppy’s skin.

Since the flea spends less than half his time on your puppy, the only way to fight flea infestation is to treat both your puppy and his environment. Depending on where you live, the flea season can last many months and you don’t want your puppy to be in misery.

There are several ways to combat fleas. Recent innovations have brought new, easy-to-administer treatments and preventative measures for flea control. These are available through your veterinarian. Ask your veterinarian for a safe and effective flea-control plan to follow.

Don’t be tempted to buy spray or powders to help control fleas. Certain combinations of insecticides can be harmful to your puppy, and the treatments available from your veterinarian are more effective at controlling fleas both on your pet and in the environment.

You must also wash your puppy’s bedding in hot, soapy water. Use flea-killing room foggers according to your veterinarian’s instructions to make sure all newly born fleas are destroyed. Clean the carpeting with a commercial rug cleaner safe for dogs. Vacuum throughly and throw away vacuum cleaner bags after vacuuming. Consult a professional exterminator if the problem gets out of hand.

Ticks
Bites from certain ticks can transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Lyme Disease and other diseases.

A dog is most likely to pick up ticks in wooded areas during spring and summer. If you live in a region that has a large tick population, consult your veterinarian for advice about specific products recommended for dogs in your area.

If you find a tick on your pet’s skin, you can reduce the chance of infection by removing it promptly and carefully. Wearing protective gloves, use a tweezers to grasp the tick near its head and pull the tick out. Make sure the head is removed. Dab the spot with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to prevent infection. Your veterinarian can determine if further treatment is necessary.

Lice
Lice can be controlled through most flea products. Use only those that are safe for puppies.

Manage Mites
The most common types of mange mites are sarcoptic and demodectic. These mites live on the dog’s skin or in hair follicles and are not visible to the naked eye.

Sarcoptic mites lay their eggs in tunnel-like formations under the skin. The dog scratches and rubs; the skin becomes dry, thickened, and wrinkled; hair falls out; and crusts form. Itching is very severe. Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious to both animals and humans. It must be treated by a veterinarian promptly.

Demodectic mites live in the hair follicles. They cause skin lesions with either bare spots or pustular areas. Either variety of mange mites can spread quickly and may be difficult to cure. Follow your veterinarian’s advice for treatment.

Ear Mites
Ear mites can cause your puppy to scratch or paw at his ears or shake his head. Ear mites can lead to secondary ear infections and are highly contagious to other dogs. You can detect these pests by checking your puppy’s ears for dark earwax or material resembling dried blood or coffee grounds. If your puppy has mites, he will need veterinary care.

Ringworm
Ringworm is very contagious and can be transmitted to humans. Ringworm is caused by a fungus and appears as oval, bare patches on the puppy’s skin.

To help prevent ringworm, limit your puppy’s contact with other dogs. Your veterinarian can treat ringworm with medication.

Symptoms of Illness
Even the best cared-for puppy may become ill or injured, so it’s a good idea to be aware of the following signs of illness. Often a change in behavior is the first sign of illness. If your puppy exhibits these or other unusual symptoms, call your veterinarian:

• Loss of appetite for more than one day.
• Diarrhea, constipation or difficulty with urination. Take your puppy to the veterinarian immediately if he is unable to urinate or defecate, but continues to try, or if there is blood in the urine or stool. If your dog has diarrhea or blood in his stool, take a stool sample with you when you visit your veterinarian.
• Vomiting. Take your puppy to the veterinarian immediately if vomited material contains blood or other unusual contents.
• Fever. Fever is indicated by a dry, hot nose, dull eyes, and a -noticeable rise in body heat.
• Pain. For severe or continuous pain, immediate veterinary attention is required.
• Excessive panting or difficulty breathing. Immediate care is required if there is noisy respiration, blue tongue or gasping for breath.
• Coughing and sneezing.
• Head shaking. May indicate an accumulation of ear wax, an infection or foreign body in the ear.
• Limping. Be especially suspicious of sudden lameness without apparent cause.
• Constant scratching or biting may require immediate care if so severe that the puppy risks self-mutilation.
• Biting and other aggressive or unusual behavior by a normally even-tempered puppy.
• Listlessness or hiding.
• Scooting along on the ground.
• Bad mouth odor.
• Lump beneath the skin.
• Dull hair coat.
• Anything unusual for your puppy.

Giving Medication
If your veterinarian prescribes pills or liquid medication, give it to your puppy directly. Do not try to mix it with his food. Most dogs can sense when something unwanted has been added to their food and will leave the medicine untouched.

Whenever you administer medical treatment, stay calm, be patient and speak reassuringly to your puppy.

Giving a Pill
To give your puppy a pill, wrap one hand over his muzzle and lift his head up with thumb and forefinger on either side of the upper lips. With the other hand, gently but firmly pull down his jaw and place the pill at the very back of his tongue. Close his mouth and hold it shut. Firmly stroke downward along his throat until he swallows.

Giving Liquid Medication
To give liquid medication to your puppy, gently tilt his head back. Slowly place the medication into the pouch formed by the puppy’s cheek and teeth. Encourage him to swallow by stroking his throat.

Did You Know?
To avoid frostbite, be sure and remove ice and snow from your pet’s paws and coat right away. Frostbite occurs most often on the ears, tail, scrotum and feet, and once an animal has suffered frostbite, he is more susceptible to repeated freezing.