New Puppy Preventative Care Package

Adopting a new puppy can be very exciting for individuals and families. However, while welcoming a new furry companion into your home can be fun, it also comes with many new responsibilities. In this guide, we will walk you through all of the preventative care your puppy needs to start their life healthy. 

We recommend starting with an initial exam starting at 6-8 weeks of age to start the core vaccines. Afterward, they can receive general wellness exams every 6-12 months for checkups and additional preventative care. 

Core Vaccines

There are many vaccines that your puppy needs to remain healthy. Below is a list of the core vaccines that are recommended for all dogs: 

Rabies: Required by law 

• Initial vaccine at 12 weeks of age 

• Booster 1 year later, then every 3 years 

DaPP: Distemper Adenovirus Parvo Parainfluenza

• Series of 3-4 vaccines depending on when they start

• Starts at 6-8 weeks of age

• Vaccinate every 3-4 weeks, until 16-18 weeks of age 

• Booster 1 year later, then every 3 years 

Bordatella: Part of Kennel Cough complex

• Start 8-10 weeks of age 

• Vaccine is given orally or nasally 

• Booster once every year 

CIV: Canine Influenza Bivalent Vaccine -part of Kennel Cough Complex

• Start 8-10 weeks of age 

• Single booster in 3-4 weeks, then once a year 

Non-Core Vaccines

There are also Non-core vaccines that can be recommended for your pet depending on their lifestyle and living situation. They are as listed below: 

Lepto: Leptospirosis-Zoonotic disease ( can be transferred to humans ) 

• Start 12-14 weeks of age 

• Singe booster in 3-4 weeks, then once a year 

Lyme: Transmitted through a tick bite 

• Start 12-14 weeks of age 

• Single booster in 3-4 weeks, then once a year

Rattlesnake: Vaccines lessen the severity of the toxic effect of the snake bite

• Starts as early as 14 weeks of age 

• Single booster in 4 weeks, then once a year 

In addition to vaccines, other forms of preventative care are recommended for your puppy to receive. These include: 

• Deworming: Roundworms and hookworms are common parasites puppies are born with. It is recommended to administer 2 doses of dewormer 2-3 weeks apart, initially, and then as needed. Some of these parasites can be transferred to humans

• Fecal: Performed after completing deworming or when any concerns for intestinal parasites arise 

• Monthly Parasite Prevention: We recommend starting your puppy on Simparica Trio, a once-a-month chewable tablet that prevents Fleas, Ticks, Heartworms, Roundworms, and Hookworms. 

Microchipping

In addition to these preventatives, it is also recommended to microchip your puppy. This will give hospitals and shelters a way to contact you if they ever go missing and are returned to a facility. Each microchip has a unique ID number that will be associated with your contact information.

Conclusion

While this may seem like a lot, your local veterinarian will help guide and assist you through each step of your new puppy’s healthcare journey. Call us at 559-434-5470 today if you have any questions or would like to make an appointment for your new puppy.