Vet Blog 2 - Dr Eden’s Puppy Checklist

Bringing a new puppy home is one of the most exciting parts of pet ownership. Here are 10 things to consider before picking them up to ensure that the transition into your home is smooth and your pup remains healthy:

1. Make sure it is up to date with vaccinations.
   There’s nothing worse than bringing a puppy home only to have it contract a potentially fatal disease that was preventable. Puppies should be vaccinated at 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks and 14-16 weeks of age. This usually means that the pup will have received 1 or two vaccinations prior to being sent home with you.

2. Check how regularly the breeders have been worming him/her.
   Puppies should be wormed by the breeder fortnightly until 12 weeks of age with a broad spectrum wormer and then monthly until 12 months. Its always good to ask when the puppy was last wormed before you pick them up so you can plan the first dose you will need to give.

3. Sight microchip paperwork.
   Imagine your new puppy gets lost in your neighbourhood just days after it is brought home and has no microchip so there is no way of anyone contacting you! It is a legal requirement for all litters to be microchipped before leaving the property where they were bred, so make sure the breeders have done this so you can transfer the information into your name as soon as he/she leaves.

4. Think about how you are going to secure the puppy in the car.
   As tempting as it is to pet or hold your new furry friend on the car ride home, it is an offence to drive with a pet on your lap, not to mention dangerous for both drivers and the animal. The NSW Police recommends owners consider using the following: a harness or neck collar with a short tether long enough for the animal to move around but not long enough that it can reach out of windows or over ute sides OR an enclosed shelter/cage secured to either the ute tray or interior seat/floor of the car. It’s also worth noting that airbags have been reported to kill unrestrained dogs in the event of an accident, so avoid the front seat.

5. Puppy proof your home!
   Heard of child proofing your house? It’s all the same! Baby gates are a very useful tool to section off areas of the house that you may not want the puppy getting into unattended. Ensure all electrical cords, chemicals, baits & insecticides, are out of reach.

6. Order a quality puppy food.
   While many prefer to prepare food for their pets in todays society, there are many benefits, especially for puppies, in purchasing a quality puppy kibble. These are specifically made to ensure the ratio of carbohydrates, amino acids, protein, minerals are all suitable for a growing dog. Generally speaking, you get what you pay for. Brands recommended by veterinarians are Hills and Royal Canin, which have selections for not just puppies, but are tailored to specific breeds. If you chose to feed raw meats, avoid raw poultry and fatty minces and ensure that you speak with your vet about balancing minerals.

7. Become familiar with foods that are toxic to dogs.
   Chocolate, onions, raisins, grapes, avocados, macadamias, xylitol (artificial sweetner), tomatoes, rubarb and alcohol are the most common food toxicities of dogs. Make sure everyone in the household knows this list off-by-heart!

8. Prepare a safe quiet area for the pup to sleep in.
   The perfect age to start crate training is from the dogs first night at home with you! Crate training is extremely useful later in life if the dog ever has to be confined after surgery, put somewhere safe in the event of fireworks or a national disaster, and travelling. A good crate is one that the dog can stand up and easily turn around in. These days you can usually find a padded bed that fits perfectly in the bottom, along with a clip on water container for the side. Fill it with some toys that the dog is familiar with and place it somewhere that is quiet.

9. Make sure you have decided what preventatives you wish to use!
   I personally recommend an Allwormer Tablet (for intestinal worms and tapeworms) such as Drontal, or Milbemax, a long acting chewable Flea & Tick preventative, such as Bravecto, and the Proheart Heartworm annual needle. This combination ensures you are covering your dog for absolutely everything, if used in conjunction with a C5 vaccination. Leptospirosis vaccinations are also recommended in some parts of Australia. Those dogs in areas that are at risk of E. Canis should also use a Seresto Tick Collar.

10. Visit your vet to get a full physical check over.
    This is so important! So many conditions such as hernias, dental abnormalities, can get overlooked or not mentioned by breeders and a lot require attention early in order to correct them.