A puppy collected at about eight weeks of age will have been wormed for common roundworms by the breeder, but it is advisable to check that this has been done. In the majority of cases, roundworms are passed on by the dam to her unborn young, and reputable breeders treat the pups at the age of three weeks, with a second dose later. As the puppy grows, it should be given further worming treatment, and the veterinary surgeon is the best person to advise on dosage and frequency.
Some veterinary practices deal with all species of animals, others specialize in horses or farm animals, but almost all deal with dogs. Local practices arc listed in telephone directories, at police stations, and at pet shops; the best recommendations arc probably from other dog owners, and especially from competent breeders.
Every puppy requires vaccination, but the actual regime may vary because of individual circumstances. These include such factors as the level of immunity in the pup's mother, a level which she passes on in her first milk; and prevalent disease problems in a particular locality. Obtain the advice of the chosen veterinarian as to how and when the puppy should be inoculated. The dog is heir to a number of diseases, most of which can be fatal and all of which are at best unpleasant. Most, such as distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and rabies are caused by viruses. Two forms of the bacterial disease leptospirosis affect the liver and kidneys, and one of them is the cause of Weil's disease in humans. Fortunately all serious diseases have been the subject of highly effective research, and vaccines have been produced to counter them.
Rabies, the most deadly canine disease, is almost invariably fatal when transmitted to humans;it is known as hydrophobia, literally 'fear of water'. The symptoms of rabies in man are horrifying; in dogs the signs vary, but the end result is always death. Britain is fortunate in being one of the few countries in the Western World where rabies does not occur. This is partly due to her island position and partly due to her strict quarantine regulations. Vaccination against rabies is only permissible in animals coming into the country through quarantine, or known to be going to a country whose laws insist on vaccination against the disease. Quarantine for all dogs and cats entering the United Kingdom is essential; anyone who tries to circumvent the regulations by illegally smuggling animals through is an enemy of humans and animals and is justly punished with heavy fines and/or imprisonment. Any dog imported from abroad must spend six obligatory months in Ministry-approved quarantine kennels. An owner who cannot face such lengthy separation has no other choice than leaving the dog behind.
In Britain, anti-rabies vaccines are unnecessary for the normal home population of dogs, and a great deal can be done to protect them against other serious diseases. At a round eight weeks, the puppy should be inoculated with the first combined vaccine against distemper, hepatitis and the two forms of leptospirosis. This will in large measure give protection against the first two, and forms the first half of a two-phase course against the latter. The second half of the course is repeated at the age of twelve weeks to deal with those puppies whose mothers gave them a high level of immunity to distemper and hepatitis, and to complete the leptospira course. The first dose of parvo-virus vaccine may also be given to protect puppies who had lost their maternal immunity.
A final dose of parvovirus vaccine at eighteen weeks is now considered the correct timing for catching those puppies which failed to react satisfactorily to the earlier dose because of the level of protection from the dam. The initial vaccination course is comparatively expensive but is also a sensible protection of a costly and loved puppy. In any case, this lengthy program will never need repeating into two, though it is recommended that the dog is taken for an annual visit to the veterinary surgery for booster injection. A young dog which has mastered the principles of basic training must also learn to accept his own company and await his master's return without barking or jumping up. He can be tethered high for short spells or the lead fastened in a low position to allow him to lie down.
Some veterinary practices deal with all species of animals, others specialize in horses or farm animals, but almost all deal with dogs. Local practices arc listed in telephone directories, at police stations, and at pet shops; the best recommendations arc probably from other dog owners, and especially from competent breeders.
Every puppy requires vaccination, but the actual regime may vary because of individual circumstances. These include such factors as the level of immunity in the pup's mother, a level which she passes on in her first milk; and prevalent disease problems in a particular locality. Obtain the advice of the chosen veterinarian as to how and when the puppy should be inoculated. The dog is heir to a number of diseases, most of which can be fatal and all of which are at best unpleasant. Most, such as distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and rabies are caused by viruses. Two forms of the bacterial disease leptospirosis affect the liver and kidneys, and one of them is the cause of Weil's disease in humans. Fortunately all serious diseases have been the subject of highly effective research, and vaccines have been produced to counter them.
Rabies, the most deadly canine disease, is almost invariably fatal when transmitted to humans;it is known as hydrophobia, literally 'fear of water'. The symptoms of rabies in man are horrifying; in dogs the signs vary, but the end result is always death. Britain is fortunate in being one of the few countries in the Western World where rabies does not occur. This is partly due to her island position and partly due to her strict quarantine regulations. Vaccination against rabies is only permissible in animals coming into the country through quarantine, or known to be going to a country whose laws insist on vaccination against the disease. Quarantine for all dogs and cats entering the United Kingdom is essential; anyone who tries to circumvent the regulations by illegally smuggling animals through is an enemy of humans and animals and is justly punished with heavy fines and/or imprisonment. Any dog imported from abroad must spend six obligatory months in Ministry-approved quarantine kennels. An owner who cannot face such lengthy separation has no other choice than leaving the dog behind.
In Britain, anti-rabies vaccines are unnecessary for the normal home population of dogs, and a great deal can be done to protect them against other serious diseases. At a round eight weeks, the puppy should be inoculated with the first combined vaccine against distemper, hepatitis and the two forms of leptospirosis. This will in large measure give protection against the first two, and forms the first half of a two-phase course against the latter. The second half of the course is repeated at the age of twelve weeks to deal with those puppies whose mothers gave them a high level of immunity to distemper and hepatitis, and to complete the leptospira course. The first dose of parvo-virus vaccine may also be given to protect puppies who had lost their maternal immunity.
A final dose of parvovirus vaccine at eighteen weeks is now considered the correct timing for catching those puppies which failed to react satisfactorily to the earlier dose because of the level of protection from the dam. The initial vaccination course is comparatively expensive but is also a sensible protection of a costly and loved puppy. In any case, this lengthy program will never need repeating into two, though it is recommended that the dog is taken for an annual visit to the veterinary surgery for booster injection. A young dog which has mastered the principles of basic training must also learn to accept his own company and await his master's return without barking or jumping up. He can be tethered high for short spells or the lead fastened in a low position to allow him to lie down.