Sasha's and her family celebrated their one year anniversary together!
Canine Corner - Dog Blog
18 years ago
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Puppy and the Vet
About a month before we brought our puppy home, I interviewed about 4 veterinarians in my area. I looked for things like cleanliness of the facility, how many doctors on board, the friendliness of the staff, and the ability to get an appointment in a hurry if necessary. Also, another big factor is cost of a visit, because in the beginning vet care can be costly, and can be impacted by the size of your puppy/dog. (I'll explain later.) The vet facility I ultimately decided on was not the closest (they're probably the furthest about 6 miles from me), but it has 4 vets on staff, a very knowledgeable and friendly support staff that I can call with any questions that I may have (and in the beginning I had many from how much to eat to the color and consistency of the poop). It was not the cheapest, but also not the most expensive. But what I liked the most is that they did not pressure you to buy the dog food they were pushing.
Once you bring your puppy home it is extremely important that your newest addition gets a thorough check-up. The vet will check your pup's eyes, ears, teeth, ribs, legs, paws, its weight and listen to its heart. He will also do a "fecal float test" to determine if your pup has worms. Even though Sasha was wormed by another vet before we got her, she tested positive at her new vet. She was administered worming medication by the vet. We then scheduled her next visit for about 3 weeks later to check again for worms. This time it was negative. At this second visit she was given her second distemper/parvo vaccination (the first one she received before we brought her home). Her third visit was 4 weeks later at which time she was given her first rabies shot and a rabies tag with a number on it, plus a certificate of vaccination that indicates the tag number and date of administration. This certificate is important! Make several copies because before you ever plan on boarding or grooming your pet, you may be asked for a copy of this certificate. I was asked for a copy of this report by the groomer, training school, and kennel (luckily her kennel also did the training so they did not need a second copy). You may have to provide copies of the new certificate yearly, so make sure to ask or make copies.
Another interesting thing to note is that if you ask your vet, they will clip your puppy nails and clean their ears. (At least mine does. But if you don't ask, you'll never know)They will also show you how to do it yourself. In the beginning I clipped Sasha's nails, but she is too fidgety for me to handle, so I now let the groomer do it and I will say this, the groomer does a much better job.
If your vet service printout (receipt) does not include a schedule for booster shots, ASK and WRITE DOWN the DATES. It is important to protect your pets from other dogs who could possibly harbor a dangerous illness. Just like you wonder how you ever caught that cold, you'd be surprised how easily a dog can get infected especially when that nose will sniff just about anything!
After this point the wellness visits will continue each a year after your pup has had his rabies vaccine. But remember you might have to visit the vet at other times for a variety of reasons, such as a bout of diarrhea or throwing up. Dogs can get dehydrated very quickly so it is imperative you get to know your dog and its feces to know what is and is not normal.
When Sasha was six months old I had her spayed. She also had to stay overnight at the vet's , though I know some people who have brought their pups home the same evening. Also, talk to your breeder regarding when to spay or neuter your dog. I have a friend with a Great Dane who was told to wait until after one "heat cycle" before spaying. This is where the cost for vet care can be enormous. Sasha was about 10 pounds when she was spayed and did not require a lot of sedation. Her spaying cost $150.00 with the follow up visit included. The Great Dane was almost a year old and weighed about 100 pounds. Her spaying was $1500.00. At Sasha's follow up visit her stitches were removed (I know some who do not get stitches,ask your vet).
Since I got Sasha in late September the vet recommended that we discuss flea and tick protection as well as the heart worm test after her spaying in February. With flea and tick protection, again the size of your pet will determine the cost of the medication. My vet's prices were the cheapest compared to stores or on-line so I buy from him. In regard to the heart worm test, I opted for one initial blood test and to keep my pup on year round medication instead of subjecting her to a blood test each year. You decide what is best for you and your dog. But if you live in an area where mosquitos are a year round problem (warm climates), you might not have a choice. Same goes for flea and tick protection. And if you are thinking about taking your chances, then the cost of heartworm treatment will outweigh the cost of prevention. The same goes for flea and tick prevention when you have to get an exterminator for your home.
Questions to as the vet about your dog:
1. How much does he weigh?
Keep track of his weight and note any changes.
2. Is my dog too fat or too thin?
This will help determine if your dog is getting enough or too much to eat.
3. What should he be eating?
Most vets will recommend a good quality food.
4. How are his nails and teeth?
They will show you what to do.
5. What vaccines does he need?
Keep track and don't forget the booster shots. Depending on where you live your pet may be at risk for Lyme Disease. Also, talk to your vet about a "kennel cough" and if your pet should be vaccinated. Many kennel and groomers require this vaccine.
6. Does my dog need heartworm prevention?
Some vets take a seasonal approach while other promote year round protection.
7. Does my dog have worms?
The only way to know is if he gets a fecal examination. So if you think he may be infected you will be asked to bring in a small fecal sample.
8. How about flea and tick medications?
Ticks can harbor many diseases that can make your pet ill, think "Lyme Disease". Check to see if ticks are a problem in your area.
9. How do you handle emergencies?
My vet will let you come in anytime during office hours when there is an emergency. When the office is closed I have an emergency 24 hour clinic that I can use. I keep the address and phone number on my refrigerator door and in my wallet.
10. Is there any routine test I should have for my pet?
This largely depends on the breed of the dog, their size, and weight. The larger breed dogs are considered "senior" at an earlier age than "smaller breeds".
11. How can I communicate with the vet?
Phone calls or emails? How do I renew prescriptions? Call first or just drop in? Ask the vet facility.
To get the most out of your visit remember to make sure you have information about your dog to help the vet understand what the problem is. Know the details of what is ailing your dog, like when did the problem start and if there are any associated symptoms. And also be HONEST. Tell the vet what you fed your dog even if it is table scraps. This is your pet and I am sure you want him around for a long and healthy time.
Lara
Once you bring your puppy home it is extremely important that your newest addition gets a thorough check-up. The vet will check your pup's eyes, ears, teeth, ribs, legs, paws, its weight and listen to its heart. He will also do a "fecal float test" to determine if your pup has worms. Even though Sasha was wormed by another vet before we got her, she tested positive at her new vet. She was administered worming medication by the vet. We then scheduled her next visit for about 3 weeks later to check again for worms. This time it was negative. At this second visit she was given her second distemper/parvo vaccination (the first one she received before we brought her home). Her third visit was 4 weeks later at which time she was given her first rabies shot and a rabies tag with a number on it, plus a certificate of vaccination that indicates the tag number and date of administration. This certificate is important! Make several copies because before you ever plan on boarding or grooming your pet, you may be asked for a copy of this certificate. I was asked for a copy of this report by the groomer, training school, and kennel (luckily her kennel also did the training so they did not need a second copy). You may have to provide copies of the new certificate yearly, so make sure to ask or make copies.
Another interesting thing to note is that if you ask your vet, they will clip your puppy nails and clean their ears. (At least mine does. But if you don't ask, you'll never know)They will also show you how to do it yourself. In the beginning I clipped Sasha's nails, but she is too fidgety for me to handle, so I now let the groomer do it and I will say this, the groomer does a much better job.
If your vet service printout (receipt) does not include a schedule for booster shots, ASK and WRITE DOWN the DATES. It is important to protect your pets from other dogs who could possibly harbor a dangerous illness. Just like you wonder how you ever caught that cold, you'd be surprised how easily a dog can get infected especially when that nose will sniff just about anything!
After this point the wellness visits will continue each a year after your pup has had his rabies vaccine. But remember you might have to visit the vet at other times for a variety of reasons, such as a bout of diarrhea or throwing up. Dogs can get dehydrated very quickly so it is imperative you get to know your dog and its feces to know what is and is not normal.
When Sasha was six months old I had her spayed. She also had to stay overnight at the vet's , though I know some people who have brought their pups home the same evening. Also, talk to your breeder regarding when to spay or neuter your dog. I have a friend with a Great Dane who was told to wait until after one "heat cycle" before spaying. This is where the cost for vet care can be enormous. Sasha was about 10 pounds when she was spayed and did not require a lot of sedation. Her spaying cost $150.00 with the follow up visit included. The Great Dane was almost a year old and weighed about 100 pounds. Her spaying was $1500.00. At Sasha's follow up visit her stitches were removed (I know some who do not get stitches,ask your vet).
Since I got Sasha in late September the vet recommended that we discuss flea and tick protection as well as the heart worm test after her spaying in February. With flea and tick protection, again the size of your pet will determine the cost of the medication. My vet's prices were the cheapest compared to stores or on-line so I buy from him. In regard to the heart worm test, I opted for one initial blood test and to keep my pup on year round medication instead of subjecting her to a blood test each year. You decide what is best for you and your dog. But if you live in an area where mosquitos are a year round problem (warm climates), you might not have a choice. Same goes for flea and tick protection. And if you are thinking about taking your chances, then the cost of heartworm treatment will outweigh the cost of prevention. The same goes for flea and tick prevention when you have to get an exterminator for your home.
Questions to as the vet about your dog:
1. How much does he weigh?
Keep track of his weight and note any changes.
2. Is my dog too fat or too thin?
This will help determine if your dog is getting enough or too much to eat.
3. What should he be eating?
Most vets will recommend a good quality food.
4. How are his nails and teeth?
They will show you what to do.
5. What vaccines does he need?
Keep track and don't forget the booster shots. Depending on where you live your pet may be at risk for Lyme Disease. Also, talk to your vet about a "kennel cough" and if your pet should be vaccinated. Many kennel and groomers require this vaccine.
6. Does my dog need heartworm prevention?
Some vets take a seasonal approach while other promote year round protection.
7. Does my dog have worms?
The only way to know is if he gets a fecal examination. So if you think he may be infected you will be asked to bring in a small fecal sample.
8. How about flea and tick medications?
Ticks can harbor many diseases that can make your pet ill, think "Lyme Disease". Check to see if ticks are a problem in your area.
9. How do you handle emergencies?
My vet will let you come in anytime during office hours when there is an emergency. When the office is closed I have an emergency 24 hour clinic that I can use. I keep the address and phone number on my refrigerator door and in my wallet.
10. Is there any routine test I should have for my pet?
This largely depends on the breed of the dog, their size, and weight. The larger breed dogs are considered "senior" at an earlier age than "smaller breeds".
11. How can I communicate with the vet?
Phone calls or emails? How do I renew prescriptions? Call first or just drop in? Ask the vet facility.
To get the most out of your visit remember to make sure you have information about your dog to help the vet understand what the problem is. Know the details of what is ailing your dog, like when did the problem start and if there are any associated symptoms. And also be HONEST. Tell the vet what you fed your dog even if it is table scraps. This is your pet and I am sure you want him around for a long and healthy time.
Lara
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