Responsible Pet Ownership 21

VETS AND VACCINATIONS

Your puppy will need to visit the vet regularly to receive

several vaccines that are commonly called ‘core vaccines’.

These are given to every puppy and form the core of his

protection from dread disease. They are

• Distemper

• Parvovirus

• Hepatitis

• Rabies

• Parainfluenza

• Possibly leptospirosis

Your puppy should have received at least one of these

inoculations before you got him, and further shots are given

every month or so until the puppy is four or five months old.

What to expect when

You should plan to take your dog to the vet at these ages:

8 weeks

Veterinary examination and first vaccination

Deworming (should already have been dewormed at least

a couple of times by the breeder)

Parasite control programme (to be continued on an

ongoing basis)

Begin socialisation

House training

Feeding programme

12 weeks

Veterinary examination and second vaccination

Deworming

16 weeks

Veterinary examination and third vaccination, including

rabies

Deworming

Five to six months

Spaying or neutering

One year

Annual examination and booster vaccination

Deworming

Two years and up to seven years

Annual examination and booster

Deworming – ideally this should be done at least twice

a year

Eight years and beyond

Annual examination and booster

Deworming programme continues

Parasite control programme continues

Older pet examination

Consider discussing diet for senior pets

vet

Get to the vet urgently

if your dog • Wasinanaccident

orafight

• Hasanyabnormalswellings

• Ischoking

• Isvomitingblood

• Hasbloodydiarrhoea

• Collapses,staggersorfallsover

• Isverylethargic

• Yoususpectyourdoghasinges

ted

poison

• Stopseatingordrinking

A dog’s vital signsTemperature 37 to 40°CPulse rate 70 per minute for a large dog,140 for a smallRespiration 10 to 30 breaths per minute at rest

Doggy visits