1 year old puppy

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Replies

  • Newf77
    Newf77 Posts: 802 Member
    Alrighty everyone holster your attitudes. First if you do not have faith in your Veterinarian, then go shopping around. Second most Veterinarians’ will have a brand of Heartworm medication that they prescribe, I do not know where you live in the vast sphere but where I live we are soon to be out of the season of the mosquito. Most places will Microchip only upon request and as for the Spaying, Laparoscopic laser are expensive and not all Veterinarian hospitals have them, if this was a concern of yours you should have clarified this before you had the procedure done. The Spaying process requires an incision and thusly sutures to close said incision.
  • MaryB2
    MaryB2 Posts: 331 Member
    My dogs hate the pedipaw. :-). She is adorable!!
    Most vaccines need to be done once a year but rabies can be every 3 years.
  • Rachlmale
    Rachlmale Posts: 640 Member
    We get drops for on our puppy every 4 - 6 weeks which covers worms, fleas, heartworm, etc etc etc... all done in one go - easy peasy.
  • microwoman999
    microwoman999 Posts: 545 Member
    It never hurts to call your vet and ask ?S either. I also have a vet that sends stuff in the mail but they probably won't send something until next year? I would not get mad yet at them for that. If she was just all updated now anyway. Also we use Sentinol (spelling?) for our dogs too for heartworm and stuff. Pupperoni is the best for sticking little pills into for them to take ;) or even some moist food for that matter. If you have any ?S feel free to email me :) I will happily answer without any rude or hateful comments :) Even on training too ;) Good Luck Beautiful dog :)
  • cb83580
    cb83580 Posts: 136 Member
    Personally, I'm a less is more type of dog owner. I don't want to pump my dog full of poisons if she doesn't need them. Most pet owners are unaware of the risks. I think it's great that your vet didn't push a bunch of crap on you that you didn't ask for, actually.

    First, make sure you are feeding a quality food. You can use this site to see how brands compare: http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com/ Look for a 4 or 5 star food.

    Bring in a fecal sample for your yearly vet appointments and have them check for parasites (worms). Worming is only necessary if they actually have them.

    As for heartworm preventative, that varies by region and time of year. Most vets will try to push you to yearly preventative, but it's not entirely necessary to do it year round, but it is important to know how your area is impacted by this. You don't want to mess around with heartworms: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/08/03/why-havent-pet-owners-been-told-these-facts-about-heartworm.aspx

    I don't do a flea/tick preventative. I'll treat fleas if they happen (hasn't happened yet and my dog is almost three). When we're in an area that may have ticks, I use a natural repellant spray made for dogs (Ark Naturals Neem Protect Spray (and shampoo, too). Check your dog often.

    Vaccinations are also not necessary ever year as long as you get the initial puppy series, except for rabies which is required by law, usually every three years (it varies by state). Just like in humans, most of those shots actually provide much longer immunity than you may think. You can ask your vet for a titer test to be sure they're covered if you're worried about over-vaccination: http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2011/05/31/what-your-vet-didnt-tell-you-about-all-those-puppy-and-kitty-vaccines.aspx

    Microchipping is a personal choice. If you think there may be any chance your dog can get away from you and you want to be sure she can make it back home if someone finds her, get her chipped.

    Good luck!
  • Janet9906
    Janet9906 Posts: 546 Member
    The only advice I have is find a good brand of dog food, not some commerical brand....I work at a pet store and was trained like crazy on pet food, don't get food with by-product meal in it.
  • amyowens08
    amyowens08 Posts: 107 Member
    There is usually a monthly pill or topical treatment you need to be giving her to prevent heart worm and all those other nasty little parasites. Your dog really only NEEDS a yearly visit unless you think there's something wrong....which, from the looks of it, there's not. Just call your vet and ask when you need to bring her in for her annual check up. You're doing fine.
  • SarahE1092
    SarahE1092 Posts: 83
    I really love how everyone is all of a sudden a "Dog expert".
    Did anyone think about this little ones teeth? NO!! I will start off by stating I am a Licensed Veterinary Technician. I work for a Veterinary dentist in the DC area.
    Any dog under 15 lbs should have their teeth evaluated by their first birthday. They will already start showing signs of crowding and potential problems. There could be baby teeth as well, and you do not even know it.
    Like Elisabat said, you should have done research before you just bought a dog. Their health is now in your hands and is ultimately up to you to "raise" them and get them the best health care you can.
    I see so many of these little Pomeranian and Maltese and little dogs with horrible tooth problems, that no one does anything about until they have nasty breath and all of their teeth are rotting out of their heads. It is very sad actually.
    It is frustrating to be in the veterinary field and see idiots own animals, and only rely on what the vet tells them.

    Good luck with your puppy!

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