Welcoming a new four-legged family member is such a fun and exciting time, but it’s also important to give your new puppy or kitten the best possible start. There’s a lot to consider, but don’t be daunted! Come in and see us and we’ll talk through all that’s required and together we’ll come up with the best plan to suit your and your new pet’s needs.  Continue reading below for some basic advise about how to care for your new pet!

For Puppies

Vaccinations: Puppies need a vaccination at 6-8 weeks with a booster at 10-12 weeks, and they’re not fully protected against disease until 10-14 days after the final vaccination. Boosters are also required regularly to maintain protection.

Heartworm: This parasite is spread by mosquitoes so it’s essential to protect your new pup. A prevention program should be started by 12 weeks of age, either by injection or monthly products and continued for life.

Fleas: No one likes an itchy puppy, especially the puppy! So we recommend a routine treatment to prevent fleas becoming a problem. Talk to us about the best product for your pet.

Feeding: Good quality food is vital to your puppy’s health. We’ll recommend the best diet, as well as the frequency of meals to suit different life stages.

Worming: Dogs need to be wormed every two weeks until s/he’s 12 weeks old, then monthly until six months of age. From then it’s a simple tablet or topical treatment every three months

Desexing: This procedure is usually performed from 6 months of age – older for some larger breeds. Your vet will help determine the best timing for your individual puppy. It prevents pregnancy and can reduce wandering, anti-social behaviours and the incidence of some medical conditions.

Microchip: If your pet goes missing, a microchip is the best way to identify them, and get them safely returned to you. It can be done at any age, but new animals older than 12 weeks must be chipped before they can be registered with your local council. Remember to update your details with the registry if you move or change phone numbers.

Insurance: Unfortunately you can’t add Fido to your Medicare card, but you can take out insurance to help minimise unexpected costs associated with treating illness or injury.

Puppy Preschool: Up until 16 weeks of age, puppies are developing and they are learning the social skills which will help shape their personalities and behaviours. You do not have to wait for your puppy to finish their vaccines, puppies can start puppy preschool after their 1st vaccine (usually 8 weeks).  Puppy preschool is a great way to switch on your puppy’s brain, interact with other pups and for you to learn some basic training skills and commands. We highly recommend attending the classes run by Underdog Training. You’ll learn so much and your pup will love them!