You may have already taken care of the basics by purchasing all the necessary equipment and supplies, but what about the essential care and maintenance that your furry friend requires?
When should you vaccinate your puppy?
1st - 6-8 weeks of age
2nd - 10-12 weeks of age
3rd - 14-16 weeks of age
Then an annual health check and vaccination is recommended for the life of your pup.
Each vaccination is accompanied by a complete puppy check over. If you have any concerns or questions feel free to ask during your appointment.
To protect your puppy from intestinal worms, it's recommended to administer an all-wormer every two weeks until they reach 12 weeks of age. After that, continue administering the all-wormer once a month until your puppy reaches 6 months of age, and then every three months for their lifetime. There are a variety of products available to help with worm prevention, such as Drontal and Guardian.
Puppies should start a heartworm preventative by 12 weeks of age.
Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal condition that can affect dogs of all ages. Prevention is key when it comes to protecting your furry friend from heartworms, and starting early is essential. Puppies are especially vulnerable to heartworms, as they have weaker immune systems and are more susceptible to the disease.
Fleas can be a tricky year-round problem. Ask our friendly staff for advice on what is appropriate for your puppy.
To ensure your puppy grows into a strong and healthy companion, they need the best possible start in life. This includes offering them a complete and balanced puppy diet in either dry or canned form. Dry kibble is better for maintaining healthy teeth than canned food. Puppies should stay on a puppy diet until they reach 12 months of age before switching to an adult formula.
Between the age of 8-16 weeks is the best window of opportunity to socialise your pup. This period is crucial in creating a friendly pup, over a shy or aggressive pup. Talk to one of our nurses about how to socialise your pup safely. Or read more on puppy preschool.
Need helpful hints on how to train your puppy the basic commands of sit, stay & come? Need help nipping problem puppy behaviour in the bud?
Attending puppy pre-school is a hands-on experience that will send you home with a wealth of knowledge & techniques. Another helpful source of information & visual aids is YouTube, in particular episodes uploaded on Howdini Puppy channel with advice & visual techniques from trained veterinary personnel.