Puppy Care Factsheet
This factsheet will go over everything you need to know about your new furry friend for the next year! This includes vaccination information, training, pet insurance, nutritional requirements, flea/tick treatment and worming treatment.
What You Will Need
- Pet Bed
- Pet Food Bowls
- Puppy Pads
- Puppy Toys
- Dog Collar
- Dog Lead
- Dog Harness
- Puppy Food
- Puppy Training Treats
- Dog ID Tag
- Puppy Shampoo
- Dog Brush
- Dog Poo Bags
- Dog Crate
- Nail Trimmers
Setting Your Home Up
Before you bring your new puppy home make sure you house is secure and set up to house your new friend. Puppies like to chew, eat and get into things they shouldn’t. You may need to buy puppy gates, furniture protectors, chord protectors and more to prevent unwanted vet visits.
Vaccinations
Vacinations give your pup the best start in life with protection against the deadly diseases Parvovirus, Distemper and Canine Infectious Hepatitis, as well as Parainfluenza and Bordetella (AKA Kennel Cough).
For full protection, vaccinations need to be given at 6-8 weeks old, 10-14 weeks old, 16-18 weeks old and then yearly for life.
Tick Prevention
You should start giving tick prevention at 8 weeks old. We live in a high tick area and see cases of tick paralysis all throughout the year. We recommend Bravecto, which comes as either a chewable tablet or spot-on which can be applied to the skin on the back of the neck.
Flea Prevention
Flea prevention should be started at 8 weeks old. Many pets are allergic to flea bites and can develop skin irritations due to flea infestations. We recommend Bravecto, which kills fleas at all life stages.
Intestinal Worming
Intestinal worming should be started at 8 weeks old. We recommend Milpro or Popantel tablets, which cover roundworm, whipworm, hookworm and tapeworm.
Heartworm Prevention
Heartworm prevention should be started at 12 weeks old. Heartworm is spread by mosquitos – all it takes is one sting. Once your pup is infected with heartworm it can be very difficult to treat and is not always successful, so prevention is key.
We recommend a heartworm prevention injection at 12 weeks old, 6 months old, then yearly for life. Alternatively, monthly tablets can be given. We recommend Milpro.
Microchipping and Registration
Microchipping is the most effective way to help ensure your pet can be returned to you if it becomes lost. By law in NSW, all dogs must be microchipped by 12 weeks of age or before being sold or given away, whichever happens first. Penalties may apply for failing to microchip your pet.
Once your dog is microchipped, they must be registered by 6 months of age. The registration fee is a once-only payment. Penalties may apply for failing to register your dog. Discounted registration fees apply to dogs that are desexed by 6 months of age. To register your dog, head to petregistry.nsw.gov.au or call your local Council.
Tick Prevention
You should start giving tick prevention at 8 weeks old. We live in a high tick area and see cases of tick paralysis all throughout the year. We recommend Bravecto, which comes as either a chewable tablet or spot-on which can be applied to the skin on the back of the neck.
Flea Prevention
Flea prevention should be started at 8 weeks old. Many pets are allergic to flea bites and can develop skin irritations due to flea infestations. We recommend Bravecto, which kills fleas at all life stages.
Intestinal Worming
Intestinal worming should be started at 8 weeks old. We recommend Milpro or Popantel tablets, which cover roundworm, whipworm, hookworm and tapeworm.
Feeding
Puppies need a carefully balanced diet to help them grow. Most breeds should be fed a puppy-specific diet until they are 1 year old. We recommend a premium kibble like Delicate Care Puppy.
Desexing
We recommend desexing most dogs at 5-6 months of age. For larger breeds, we may recommend waiting until they’re older. Please chat to us at your next consult about what’s right for your dog.
Socialisation
The earlier you start introducing your puppy to new people, new things and other dogs the more relaxed they will be when they are older. If you have friends or family with fully vaccinated dogs, you can safely introduce your puppy to them even before they have had all of their puppy vaccinations.
Our nurses regularly run Puppy Pre School to help with basic training and safe socialisation. We run a 4 week course with puppies from 8 weeks of age. As long as they have had their first vaccination, they can start! Speak to us today to book your puppy in for the next class!
