Have you brought a puppy into your home? Your new canine companion is likely to be a cherished friend for many years to come. While your puppy is settling in to life with your family, there are certain steps you may need to take to help ensure your dog’s health and happiness. Consider pursuing the following strategies at your first vet visit with your puppy.
Get a Microchip
If at some point your dog were to run away or get lost, you would want to maximize your chances of bringing your beloved canine friend home safely. Getting your pet microchipped as a puppy may be one way in which you can help boost the odds that the two of you will be reunited if your dog should ever become lost. Many veterinarians can offer easy and painless microchipping for puppies and kittens.
Provide Vaccines
Getting all necessary vaccines may be crucial to protecting the health of your new pet. Ask your local vet for advice on which immunizations your dog is likely to require. In some cases, your new puppy might need to return for booster shots over the course of several weeks or months in order to help ensure that full immunity is conferred.
Control Parasites
Young cats and dogs may sometimes have trouble with intestinal parasites as well as with external pests such as fleas. If your new pet does suffer from these problems, a veterinarian can likely run fecal tests and perform examinations to diagnose the exact source of the issue. Once the nature of the parasite has been determined, your local veterinarian will generally provide medication that can resolve the problem, protecting both you and your puppy from exposure to parasites.
Starting off Right
Bringing home a new pet can be an incredibly exciting time. If you have acquired a new puppy, try to remember that health and safety are important. Consider contacting your local vet All Creatures Hospital at (858) 481-7992 to get your dog microchipped and vaccinated, as well as to treat any parasites that may be present. You can connect with them on Facebook for more updates.
