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Recommended Protocol for the First Year of Your Dog’s Life

Vaccination: 

Although the schedule may vary, it is very important to follow a schedule for your puppy’s first vaccines. Here’s a typical “puppy shot” series to help you schedule the vaccines, including the series during their first several months of life:

• Between 6 and 8 weeks of age: First DHPP vaccine (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Parainfluenza).
• One month later (at 12 weeks): First DHPP booster and first Leptospirosis vaccine.
• One month later (at 16 weeks): Second DHPP booster, Leptospirosis booster, Rabies vaccine and, if needed, the Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine, which is normally for puppies and/or dogs taking obedience classes or going into boarding.
• One year later: the DHPP vaccine is given along with Rabies, Leptospirosis and Bordetella.
• After the first full year: the DHPP and Rabies vaccines are repeated every 3 years. The Leptospirosis and Bordetella vaccines are repeated annually.

Deworming: 

During the first exam, your veterinarian will prescribe a deworming treatment that will cover the majority of intestinal parasites. You will have to repeat the treatment in two weeks time. Afterwards it is strongly recommended to deworm your puppy once every two weeks until 12 weeks of age and once a month until 6 months. Depending on your pet’s lifestyle and your veterinarian’s recommendations, the treatment may vary from 1 to 4 times a year.

Flea & heartworm prevention: 

The recommended testing time is beginning of April to the end of May and could be done at other times in the year but may not be as effective. We recommend that your dog be tested every 2 years to assure that the treatment is well absorbed and is working well for your dog.

The heartworm test also screens for the presence of the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria which causes Lyme disease. This disease is spreading and becoming more common in our area; it is often transmitted by the bite of an infected tick.

After the test, the veterinarian will prescribe a treatment for your dog. There are different types of medication, from pills to topical solutions, all are administered once a month from beginning of June to beginning of November. The decision as to which medication best suits you and your animal should be made with the help of your veterinarian.

Sterilisation: 

According to new studies, waiting between 8 and 12 months to spay or neuter your pet could reduce the risk of urinary incontinence, orthopedic problems and the development of certain cancers in large breed dogs, as for small breed dogs, to ensure that retained baby teeth can be diagnosed and paired with the sterilization anesthesia. The decision of when to spay or neuter your pet is one you should make with your veterinarian based on race, size, and lifestyle.

Included in all spaying of female dogs, because the surgery is longer for females, are intravenous fluids which will help eliminate the anesthetics used during the operation from their system more quickly and they will receive an analgesic during surgery and for at least 4 days post-surgery.

We also offer a pre-anaesthetic blood test, done the morning of the surgery. This helps to verify that the internal organs (liver, kidneys…) are healthy, that the animal is able to withstand the anesthesia and at the same time reduce some anaesthetic risks.

Recommended protocol for the first year of your cat’s life

Vaccination

Even though the calendar varies during the year, it is very important to follow a schedule for your kitten’s first vaccines.

Your kitten should receive 3 doses of vaccine in it’s first year, here’s a plan to help schedule the vaccines:

• Between 6 and 8 weeks: First (base) vaccine (Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis, Calcivirus)
• One month later (at 12 weeks): First booster base
• If your cat goes outside, we also recommend the feline leukemia vaccine, at this stage
• One month later (at 16 weeks): Second booster leukemia and rabies.
• One year later, the base vaccine is given along with rabies and leukemia.
• After this, the base vaccine is only given every 3 years. The rabies and the leukemia vaccines are done yearly with their annual check-up.

Deworming

During the first exam your veterinarian will prescribe a deworming treatment that will cover the majority of intestinal parasites. You will have to repeat the treatment in two weeks. After the first two treatments, it is strongly recommended that you deworm your animal 1 to 4 times a year, depending on your pet’s lifestyle and on your veterinarian’s recommendations.

Flea Prevention

There are many treatments available to help prevent flea infestations. Discuss with your veterinarian which is best for you and your animal. The time to start treatment is usually in June and carries on until November or the first frost.

Sterilization

Cats can be sterilized from the age of 5 months.

Intravenous fluids are included in all sterilisations of female cats because the surgery takes longer than for males. This helps to eliminate the anaesthetics used during the operation from their system more rapidly. They will also receive an analgesic during and for at least four days following the surgery (males, for two days).

We also offer a pre-anaesthetic blood test, done the morning of the surgery. This helps us to verify that the internal organs (liver, kidneys…) are healthy and able to withstand the anaesthetic.

* Your animal needs to be up to date with its vaccines before being hospitalized.

Declawing in the cat is a surgery that involves amputation of the first phalanx of its fingers. The goal here is not to make you react by comparing these shocking images of such amputation. The goal is first and foremost to explain that there are other options than this surgery.

Reasons to make their claws:

• To file them
• Stretch their column
• Make marking

There are two methods to prevent cats from clawing on our property.
Within 5 days:

• Having a good scratching post (1)
• Put it in a good place
• It must be attractive (eg cat grass)

In 10 days: (if your pet has already spoiled a place)

• Make the place unpleasant, eg: Put aluminum foil
• Place the alternative (the scratching post) in the same place
• The scratching post must be more attractive than the old place
• It is always possible to try these methods with Soft Paws to give time to see if the scratching post works well without damaging anything.

The post:

It should be high enough so that your cat can lie down full length to stretch its spine.

Material: The pole must be covered with material that has a texture that your cat likes, such as carpet, rope, cardboard and wood. Make him discover the joys of planting his claws by playing with a toy on the scribbler or by putting a little cat grass there.

Location: a visible place, like the entrance to a room to show that it is its territory (for example on the side of a couch at the entrance of the living room).

Stability: The pole must be as stable as a tree. N.B: Cats are more attracted to vertical lines that mimic the lines of trees, which is why they are often attracted to wooden door frames.

NB: If a cat has already damaged a wooden structure or a cloth with its claws, the simple view of the vertical striations made by its claws will cause it to start again. It is therefore necessary to eliminate any apparent damage.

The soft paws:

A very interesting alternative to declawing is the installation of claw covers such as Soft Paws. These claw covers are easily applicable and cover the sharp point of the claw. They protect all your belongings without any problem and avoid big surgery.

Did you know that … The risk of a cat hurting your child is much less than the risk of injury with a bicycle. Declawing is illegal in more than 39 countries around the world, as in Australia, Brazil and most European countries. In some countries, repeat offenders are even exposed to prison sentences. Several Californian cities have also prohibited it since 2009. The consequences of surgery can be significant. There may also be potential complications (hemorrhage, infection, etc.).

Reduces several unpleasant behaviors:

• Running away and wandering:

Sexual urges being suppressed, the search for a partner will no longer be a priority for your animal. There will therefore be a reduction in impromptu running away, vagrancy, the risk of accidents and the danger of contracting contagious or other sexually transmitted diseases.

• Territory Marking:

Since your pet is no longer sexually active, there will be less need to mark territory. Additionally, the smell of a fertile cat’s urine is often intolerable compared to that of a neutered male.

• Aggression and risk of fights:

Since your pet felt less need to defend its territory, the number and intensity of fights will decrease in the majority of cases.

Reduces certain health problems:

Studies have shown that fertile female dogs and cats have an increased risk of developing mammary gland tumors (equivalent to breast cancer in humans) and life-threatening uterine infections in getting older. For their part, unneutered male dogs may have testicular tumors or prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate, sometimes causing constipation and incontinence).

Heat signs and reports in females:

There will be no heat period in neutered cats or female dogs. So no nasty or unpleasant meows in the middle of the night will bother you! Bloody vaginal discharge lasts 2 to 3 weeks in fertile female dogs and occurs on average twice a year. In cats, heat lasts about ten days and occurs every 2 or 3 weeks, as long as the cat is not mated during the heat season, which can last 2 months.

It is now possible to insure our pets in order to provide them with the care they will eventually need and avoid unforeseen veterinary fees.

Animals are also members of the family. We know how heartbreaking it is to have to abandon or have our animal euthanized for lack of budget to treat it. Here are some important facts to know when adopting a pet:

• According to statistics, your pet has a 1 in 3 chance of needing to see an emergency vet within a year for an accident or any health problem.

• 80% of dogs and 70% of cats have dental problems starting ath the age of 3 years.

• The most common dog diseases are ear infections, allergies, skin infections, cancer and urinary tract infections, gastroenteritis.

• The most common cat diseases are idiopathic cystitis, urinary tract infections, urinary blockages, respiratory viruses.

Veterinary technology has come a long way in recent years; digital X-ray machine, ultrasound, sophisticated on-site blood analyzer with results in minutes, dental X-ray, dentistry equipment, surgical monitoring monitor, specific medication for animals, etc. But unfortunately it all comes at a cost. All these devices are expensive and the staff must be more and more qualified.

Wondering when should you take out insurance? As soon as possible. Upon adoption of your pet. This will allow you to pay a lower premium and to have more choices of insurance company.

By taking out insurance, you guarantee yourself the peace of mind of being able to offer your companion the best health care.

Call us at 819-326-6062 to register your interest.