CANINE VACCINATIONS
Fortunately for you dog,
vaccinations are available to prevent many dog diseases.
Vaccinating your dog is the best and least costly way to prevent
disease. Continued protection can be assured by yearly
booster vaccinations.
DHLPP is a five in one
vaccine which protects against the following diseases: Canine
Distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, and
parvovirus. This vaccine is required for all hospitalized,
boarded, or groomed dogs.
Puppies between the ages of 6 and 18
weeks need a series of DHLP-P boosters every 3 weeks. During
this age the puppy's immune system is still developing and is more
susceptible to these diseases than an adult. Once the puppy
is finished with this series of boosters, annual boosters are
given.
Adult dogs should receive a yearly
DHLP-P vaccination. An adult dog that has never been
vaccinated should receive an initial series of two vaccines 3-4
weeks apart.
RABIES vaccinations are
required by law for all dogs over 4 months of age to prevent both
humans and pets from infection with this deadly disease. In
our country, most rabies occurs in wildlife, especially raccoons,
skunks, foxes, and bats. Rabies is spread by saliva of
infected animals.
Puppies should receive their first
rabies vaccine at 3-4 months of age. This vaccine is
protective for one year.
Adult dogs receive a rabies vaccine
every three years.
BORDETELLA is a
vaccination to help prevent "kennel cough", a respiratory
infection. It is often required when boarding your pet or
enrolling in an obedience class. It is also strongly
recommended for dogs with a history of chronic respiratory disease
or heart problems. This stubborn respiratory infection
can keep dogs coughing for weeks or months. The vaccine
is most effective when given more than 48 hours before boarding or
training your dog. Annual boosters are necessary.
LYME'S DISEASE
Vaccinations are available and recommended for dogs that travel to
the northeast or Wisconsin/Minnesota. The disease is
sporadically present in Ohio, especially in the Goshen area.
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OTHER HEALTH
CONCERNS
INTESTINAL PARASITES
such as roundworms, tapeworms and hookworms cause sickness and
problems with growth and digestion. Most intestinal worms
cannot be detected without a microscopic examination of a fecal
specimen. We recommend semi-annual stool examinations for
early detection and treatment of intestinal parasites.
FLEAS often go
unnoticed and cause discomfort, chewing, skin disease and even
anemia. If swallowed fleas can transmit tapeworms. A
flea program is necessary to prevent flea infestation. The
pet's environment must also be treaded with a premise spray or
borate powder. DO NOT waste your money on over-the-counter
flea products. Most do not work, and some can even be harmful
to your pet. Consult with your veterinarian before problems
arise.
We also have available a once a
month flea pill, called Program, that will prevent any new fleas
from hatching and break the flea lifecycle. Ask our flea
experts for more details and information.
Frontline and Advantage are also
available for flea control. These products are applied as a
small amount of liquid over the shoulder once a month.
HEARTWORM Is a serious
parasite that infects dogs hearts and lungs. The parasite is
common in our area and transmitted by mosquitoes. Dogs often
have the disease for a long time before symptoms become obvious and
eventually cause death. Symptoms include coughing, weakness
and weight loss. Young puppies (6 months) can be started on
heartworm preventive right away. However, most dogs require a
blood test before starting on monthly heartworm
preventive. Preventives are only available through
veterinarians and are most effective when given year
round. An annual blood test is strongly
recommended.
SPAY / NEUTER is one of
the best preventive care measures you can do for your pet.
This surgery decreases the likelihood of many cancers and
infections that could kill your pet. Many undesirable
behaviors such as urine marking, wandering, aggression, and
hyperactivity can all be decreased or eliminated by this
surgery. We strongly discourage breeding your animal as the
pet overpopulation problem is far to great to justify bringing more
into the world. Although surgery can be done at any age,
spaying or neutering is best done between 3 and 6 months of
age.
DENTAL CARE is one of
the most neglected pet health care needs. Puppies can become
accustomed to proper dental care by periodic brushing with a pet
toothpaste. Peridontal disease is very common in older dogs,
causes bad breath, and often serious infections. A dental
exam can determine whether your pet need preventive dental care
such as scaling, polishing, and antibiotics.
