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Dog is man's best friend. It deserves the best care possible. Click on the following links for guidelines to help keep your dog healthy and happy.
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Just like you, your pet needs to receive immunizations against various diseases.
Puppies should be vaccinated starting at 6 weeks of age, then boostered every three weeks until 16 weeks of age to build optimal immunity.
We recommend you keep your canine friend up to date on vaccinations to protect against the following diseases:
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Rabies
Rabies is probably the most feared disease. The rabies virus attacks the brain and is always fatal. Dogs are exposed to rabies by bites from wild animals particularly skunks, raccoons, bats, and foxes. Rabies can be transmitted to humans through the bite or scratch of an infected pet.
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Distemper
Distemper is a highly contagious viral disease. It affects the respiratory and the nervous systems, causing fever, lethargy, coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, and eventually death.
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Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a contagious disease of the liver. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Hepatitis can also cause severe kidney damage.
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Leptospirosis
Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease carried by many wild animals. A dog can contract the disease from infected animals or by drinking contaminated water. Symptoms include high fever, jaundice, hemorrhaging, and bloodstained feces.
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Parainfluenza Virus
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Parvovirus
Parvovirus (more commonly known as Parvo) is a highly contagious disease which causes diarrhea and vomiting, and often leads to death. Parvo is most common in puppies; however, dogs of any age can be susceptible. Contaminated feces is the most common way to transmit parvo from one dog to another. Parvo can also be carried on the dog's hair and feet, as well as on contaminated cages, shoes, and other objects.
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Coronavirus
Coronavirus, next to Parvo, is the second leading cause of viral diarrhea. It affects dogs of all ages, puppies most severely. Symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting, excessive thirst, weight loss and loss of appetite. It is possible for your dog to have both Coronavirus and Parvo at the same time. In fact, dual infections can lead to severe enteritis and death.
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Infectious disease information
provided courtesy of
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Heartworms are spread by mosquitos and infest the right side of the heart, causing coughing, exercise intolerance, and sometimes even death.
Therefore, if you live in an area where mosquitoes are prevelant, it is
important to have your pet on heartworm preventative year-round.
There are several choices available from our clinic for preventing
heartworm disease. Heartgard® Plus is a monthly flavored chewable.
Revolution® is a topical monthly heartworm preventative and flea adulticide in one easy to
apply preparation. ProHeart®6* is a shot that provides heartworm protection for
your dog for 6 months. Ask one of our veterinarians which product would be best for your pet's needs.
*ProHeart®6 is currently off the market on voluntary manufacturer recall. Click
here for the press release on this recall. For a recent update, click
here.
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We recommend periodic fecal exams to detect and treat your pet for the following intestinal parasites:
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Hookworms
Hookworms are small worms which suck blood from the small intestine causing diarrhea, anemia, and a fluid filled abdomen. Young dogs and cats usually contract these worms from the mother's milk. Also, children are at risk of picking up these worms by walking through a contaminated yard in bare feet.
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Roundworms
Roundworms are large worms which steal nutrients from the small intestine. Severe infestations can cause skin rashes and even intestinal blockages. Young dogs and cats usually contract these worms from the mother's milk. Like hookworms, children are at risk of picking up these worms by walking through a contaminated yard in bare feet.
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Whipworms
Whipworms are small, blood-sucking worms which infest the large intestine. They can cause diarrhea and vomiting in pets of all ages.
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Tapeworms
Tapeworms are multi-segmented worms in the small intestine. Even though they don't harm your pet, they are an unsightly nuisance. Of all the worms, these are the only ones which can be seen. They are contracted from your pet eating fleas and look like small grains of rice in your pet's stool or in the hairs around the anus. Flea prevention not only keeps your pet comfortable, but also helps prevent tapeworms.
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Coccidia
Coccidia is a single-celled organism which infects the small intestine. It causes bloody diarrhea and dehydration, especially in young pets.
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Fleas are tiny insects whose sole purpose is to make your pets life miserable. They attach themselves to your pet and begin to suck the blood. Severe infestations will cause anemia, especially in young or debilitated pets.
They also can cause severe itching in some pets with flea hypersensitivity, which results in flea bite dermatitis (FBD).
You can try to get rid of fleas and ticks the old-fashioned way with shampoos,
dips, and collars, or you can use one of the newer, more effective treatments.
Advantage® is a topical preparation applied monthly which kills fleas on contact. Advantix® is also a topical preventative and
kills both fleas and ticks as well as repels mosquitos. Frontline® is a monthly topical
preparation which kills fleas as well as ticks. Advantage® , Advantix®, and Frontline®
stay on the skin and are not absorbed systemically; they are effective very
quickly (over 99% effective within 12-18 hours) as well as being extremely
safe to use even in young and sick pets. Revolution®, in addition to
preventing heartworms, is applied topically and kills fleas and some species
of ticks soon after contact with your pet.
Contact our clinic and let a member of our staff help you select the right flea prevention for your pet's needs.
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We recommend spaying or neutering your dog between 4 to 6 months of age; however, it can be done at any time.
Neutering of male dogs involves removal of the testes and is typically a day's stay procedure. Spaying of female dogs
involves removal of the ovaries and uterus (ovarianhysterectomy), and may require an overnight stay after surgery.
Sometimes clients have concerns about spaying/neutering their dog. We hope the following information will be beneficial to you
in making your decision to spay/neuter your dog.
Myth vs. Fact:
"Won't spaying/neutering change my dog's personality?"
There is not a significant difference in personality between dogs that are spayed before 6 months of age and dogs spayed after their first heat/litter.
Altered dogs are usually calmer, more affectionate, and roam less.
"Shouldn't my dog have at least one litter before it's spayed/neutered?"
If a female dog is allowed to have one litter prior to spaying, and she has a litter of 6 puppies (3 of which are female),
and this continues for three generations, this dog would contribute to a dog population of 78 puppies. This would only take two years to occur.
It's easy to see why there is a dog over-population problem in this country.
The effect of which is millions of dogs are put to sleep in shelters every year.
In addition, there are numerous health reasons to spay/neuter your dog.
Spayed females do not get ovarian and uterine cancer and are less likely to develop mammary tumors later in life.
Neutered males do not get testicular cancer and are less likely to fight with other males.
"Don't spayed/neutered dogs gain weight after surgery?"
The energy demands of altered dogs is less than unaltered dogs.
To keep your altered dog from becoming overweight, restrict the amount you feed it or feed a lower calorie diet.
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House training your puppy right the first time will make your time together much more enjoyable. Paper training is where absorbant pads are put down in a place where you want your puppy to go to the bathroom inside.
Sometimes the transition to going outside may be difficult, because your puppy is used to going inside. To help ease the transition, go outside with your puppy and give treats or praise when it goes to the bathroom outside.
Getting a large crate is usually the easiest way to house train. When your pup is left alone, it is placed inside the crate. The pup will
not want to go to the bathroom in the small space inside of the crate. Food and water should not be left inside the crate with the puppy. When you get home, immediately take your puppy outside to do its business.
Then while you are there to monitor your pup, take him/her outside regularly (every 1-2 hours is best). At night crate confinement will help both of you sleep through the night.
Whichever method you use, remember to be patient and consistent. Your puppy will not be able to hold its urine for more than 4-6 hours until it is at least three months old.
© 1999-2008 Debra Harrison for
DeZavala-Shavano Veterinary Clinic
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