Puppy First Visit
By Eamon Patrick Riley
As a professional dog trainer, I
generally do not give veterinarian advice to clients. I leave this to trained
professionals who are vastly more qualified to handle questions about canine
and feline health issues. Over the last few weeks, however, I have met several
new dog owners who have failed to properly immunize their puppies against
diseases. In light of this, I asked Dr.
Joe Wurster, co-host of the Doctor Joe and The Dog
Man Radio Show, about the proper measures a new owner should take to make sure
that his puppy starts off on the right paw in its new home.
According to Dr. Wurster, your puppy should visit your veterinarian to
receive a “Well Puppy Exam.” This exam
includes a general physical exam and a discussion about any health
concerns. The veterinarian will check
the puppy for intestinal parasites and deworm the dog if necessary. He will also discuss preventative measures to
protect your dog from heartworms, fleas and ticks. Proper nutrition and
recommendations on how much and how often a new pup should be fed are topics
the vet will address. He might suggest a
certain brand of dog food that would be suitable for your new best friend. You will receive advice on the daily care of
your pet such as coat grooming and daily teeth brushing.
Be sure to ask questions about any behavior problems you might encounter
with your new pup. The veterinarian
should also discuss the importance of attending puppy-training classes.
Of all the things that will take
place during your pup’s initial visits to his vet, starting on a vaccination
schedule is probably the most important.
Although newborn puppies acquire immunities against many diseases by
nursing from their mother, they will have to begin “puppy shots” between six
and eight weeks of age. These puppy
shots are also called “four in one” or DHPP vaccinations because they are a
combination vaccine that will immunize against these four very common but
potentially deadly diseases.
Canine Distemper
Canine Distemper is a highly
contagious and usually fatal disease. It is caused by the paramyxovirus
and is transmitted by a healthy dog coming into contact with the discharge from
the eyes or nose of an infected dog. It is also suspected that the distemper
virus can live in the soil from six months up to a year. This virus effects the dog’s neurological system. Symptoms will often start with just mild
twitching or shivering, which will often turn into full seizures. At first the
convulsions will be sporadic and then progress to non-stop seizures.
Eventually, the seizures will become so bad the heart stops or the respiratory
system fails.
Canine Hepatitis
Virus
Canine Hepatitis is also highly
contagious and can be spread by contact with contaminated saliva, urine or
stool from an infected dog. This virus affects the dog’s abdominal organs
including the liver. Signs of infection include, but are not limited to, an
increased body temperature as well as discharges from the eyes, mouth and/or
nose. As the disease progresses, the animal becomes lethargic, stops eating and
often becomes comatose.
Parainfluenza
Canine parainfluenza
is a highly contagious viral disease that contributes to the problem of kennel
cough, bordetella bronchiseptica.
It can be transmitted by nose to nose contact or by sharing of dishes between a
healthy dog and an infected dog. Signs of parainfluenza
include a dry, hacking cough accompanied by a clear nasal or eye discharge.
Parvo virus
First reported in the 1970’s,
this virus wiped out large numbers of the canine population. Parvo is a highly contagious viral disease that can be
spread in a number of ways. However, contact with the feces or vomit of an
infected dog appears to be the main source of this infection. Parvovirus
symptoms include vomiting and bloody diarrhea, lethargy, lack of appetite and
an increase in temperature. Puppies not treated for the disease will often
dehydrate and die quickly. Rottweilers and Dobermans
of any age are especially susceptible to this disease due to the prevalence of
the blood clotting dysfunction called “Von Willebraun’s
disease.”
Some veterinarians recommend
that hunting dogs and dogs that are used to work livestock be vaccinated for Leptospirosis. This is a serious bacterial disease that is
spread through the contact with urine from an infectious dog and other animals.
Leptospirosis is a public health concern as certain
strains can be transmitted to humans. Infected dogs become lethargic and weak,
suffer abdominal pain, and experience an increase in water intake as well as a
marked increase in urination. Other symptoms may include bloody diarrhea,
vomiting, and a change in the color of the whites of the eyes. Due to the
extensive damage to liver and kidneys, leptospirosis
is often fatal to dogs.
Owning a dog comes with
responsibilities. Many dog owners
rightly consider their pets as members of their family who deserve the best
possible care available. So help that
new puppy start off on the right paw by taking it in for a “well puppy
exam.” By properly immunizing your dog
you will help insure that it lives a long and healthy life.
Copyright © 2002, Eamon Patrick Riley. Dogmanusmc@aol.com. All rights reserved. Mr.
Riley is a certified Master Trainer and associated with The Dog Man Training
Company. He is also a member of the
Association of Canine Behavior Counselors, Association of Pet Dog Trainers
#5843, and the Animal Behavioral Society.
