New Puppy & Kitten advice

So you had your puppy or kitten vaccinated today… what did the vet say?

• Worming regime.  Routine worming is very important not only for the protection of your new puppy or kitten, but for your family as well.  All young puppies and kittens come with some worms.  You may not see them because they can pass as microscopic eggs in the faeces (poo).  Echinococcus spp. Tapeworms are transmitted by infected meat, or by fleas, to your dog or cat.  Toxocara spp. Roundworms are transmitted to the puppy or kitten from the mum, through the placenta or early milk. Also, by ingesting (eating) them from infected faeces (e.g. sniffing a strange dog or cat’s poo in the park).  It is possible for both these types of worms to infect humans.  The recommended worming regime is as follows:-
  • Worm once per fortnight until your pet’s first vaccination
  • Then, worm at the first and second vaccination
  • Monthly until 6 months of age
  • Then worm 4 times per year (every 3 months)
  • Remember that allowing your puppy or kitten to lick your mouth or face may expose you to worms.
• Insurance.  It is a very good idea to have a “pet insurance” policy for your pet.  If the worst did happen and your pet got ill, an insurance policy would pay for most medical bills, including blood samples and faecal samples (which can cost from £55 to £200), or more advanced treatments such as chemotherapy or placing pins and plates in a broken leg (which can cost £300 to £2000).
• Neutering (spaying or castration).  Routine neutering is often carried out around 6 months of age.  Neutering a female dog (bitch) before her 1^st season (heat) has certain medical advantages including making her very unlikely to contract mammary (breast) cancer and meaning she will never get a uterine infection when she is older (pyometra).  Neutering male cats around 6 months will stop scent marking (spraying) which leaves a nasty odour in the house.  Neutering female cats at 6 months will stop unwanted pregnancies.
• Training classes for puppies.  Classes are a good idea, they help your new pup socialise and meet new dogs and people, making him/her a much more confident dog.  Contact Jim Fleming at Top Dog Training for advice: 01786 464147.
• Identichipping.  Placing a permanent microchip under your pet’s skin means that if he/she ever goes missing, you can be reunited.  All vets, SSPCA inspectors and dog wardens have scanners, and all stray animals are scanned.  Identichipping costs just £27.99  (£5 discount while under anaesthetic and £12.99 discount when done at 1^st/2^nd vaccination).  Once done it lasts for life.  Just ask the vet or receptionist for more details.
• Remember that your new pet is not fully covered for the various infectious diseases that we just vaccinated him or her against until 1 week after the second vaccination.