Canine Health
Preventative care for your dog is incredibly important to your dog’s health.

Canine Health
Preventative care for your dog will prevent serious illness and detect any conditions that affect your dog’s health. Puppies need regular visits during their first year of life. Dogs need annual exams to protect their continuing health.
OUR PUPPY SCHEDULE
We recommend bringing in your new puppy as soon as possible to give them a thorough exam and get them on their vaccine schedule. Your puppy will need to come in at 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks for appointments to make sure they are growing at a normal weight, receiving the proper nutrition, and booster their vaccines. At their first visit (8 weeks), they will receive a physical exam, deworming treatment, their first DHLPP vaccine, and they will be started on heartworm and flea preventatives. At 12 weeks, they will receive their second DHLPP vaccine and their first Lyme vaccine. They may also receive a Bordatella vaccination if you plan to board them or take them to an obedience class. At 16 weeks, they will receive their annual DHLPP and Lyme vaccines and their annual Rabies vaccine. We will also check them for internal parasites with a fecal screening to ensure they are cleared of any internal parasites.
ANNUAL CANINE VISITS
We recommend annual visits for your dog throughout their life to keep them happy and healthy, as well as catch any potential changing health issues before they become too severe. They will receive a physical exam at their annual exams, any vaccine boosters they are due for, a fecal test, and heartworm testing.
VACCINES
Core vaccines for your dog include Rabies and DHLPP. Rabies is given to dogs that are at least 12 weeks old. Most municipalities require a current rabies vaccine to be licensed where they live. DHLPP is a combination vaccine given to dogs covering distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus. This should be updated regularly during adulthood. Depending on different factors, it may be updated annually or every 3 years.
Non-core vaccines include Bordetella, Leptospirosis, and Lyme. Bordetella brochispetica is a bacteria that is part of the kennel cough infection. Most boarding facilities require this vaccine in order to stay at their facility. We recommend annual vaccinations, though some businesses require them every 6 months. Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease in dogs and other mammals, including humans. This mainly affects the liver and kidneys. The disease is spread by contact with the urine from infected animals, while ticks transmit Lyme disease. Clinical signs in dogs are recurrent lameness and may include lack of appetite and depression. More serious complications include damage to the kidneys and even the heart or nervous system.
Our non-core vaccines are recommended based on your dog’s lifestyle, such as frequent visits to doggie daycare, exposure to deer ticks, or extensive time spent swimming or in wetlands.