Vet Care
If you adopted your puppy from a humane society or animal rescue group, most likely, all the health care has already been taken addressed. Whether you got your new pet from a humane society or individual, your pet still needs to visit your veterinarian. Be sure to provide the vet with all the information and records you received from the humane society or individual. The health treatments which have been done or will be done by the veterinarian include:
* Rabies vaccination to prevent your pet against the rabies virus.
* DHPP vaccination which protects your pet against distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, and parainfuenza.
* Bordatella vaccine to protect your pet against various strains of kennel cough (also called canine cough).
* Lyme disease vaccine (recommended only for dogs in high-risk areas).
* Fecal exam and de-worming medication if parasites such as worms are found in your pet’s feces. (De-worming is done automatically for puppies and follow-up boosters may be necessary as well.)
* Flea & tick prevention such as Advantage and Frontline which will help prevent the parasites as well as kill any fleas and ticks which may already be on your pet.
* Heartworm prevention which will help guard against heartworms, which causes heart disease and other serious health conditions.
* Spaying or neutering.
* Microchipping to increase the chances of getting your pet back home should your pet ever get lost.
Not all of these procedures occur at once. If you have a puppy, your puppy may be too young for some of these treatments. Some vaccines require additional booster shots within the next few months or so. This is a lot to remember but your vet will know everything which needs to be done. Ask your vet any questions you have concerning your new pet.
Pet Supplies
Pet supplies will also be needed for your new dog or puppy. Your pet needs food, food and water bowls, leash, and a collar. You may also want to consider a special walking collar to help for in case your dog or puppy likes to pull on the leash. We recommend the Martingale collar, headcollar, or pull-stop harness. The Martingale collar works like a choke chain but can be adjusted in order to limit the amount of choking done. The headcollar fits around the head and muzzle and the leash is attached in such a way that if the dog pulls, they are forced to turn their head. The pull-stop harness fits around the chest and legs so that if the dog pulls, they are pulling from their legs and not their neck.
Another optional supply for your pet is a crate. Crate training is a great way to limit a lot of bad behaviors and establish some good behaviors. Don’t use the crate as a punishment, however. If trained properly, most dogs learn to love their crate. They eventually feel safe and secure in them. Other optional supplies for your new dog or puppy include pet toys such as a Kong or rope toy, dog treats, a dog bed, pet apparel such as a dog sweater, personalized pet id tag, and pet auto safety supplies. If you want to travel to take your dog to the park and such, it is a good idea to provide them with safety when they are in the vehicle. Large dogs do best with just a dog car seat belt. Small dogs do well with the seat belt as well, but you can always pamper them by getting them a comfortable booster seat. In combination with a harness or dog seat belt, the booster seat keeps your pet safe and helps them get a boost so they can look out the window (something that most dogs absolutely love to do).
Be sure to check out our next blog, Making Your Home Safe and Getting Your Pet Acquainted With Your Family.
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October 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
[…] vet with all the information and records you received from the humane society or indivi Source: http://www.petautosafetyblog.com/pet-auto-travel-safety/products/124-getting-a-puppy-part-iv-visit-y… Oct 03, 2008 | | Dog […]