Swann Animal Clinic Puppy & Kitten Wellness
We are committed to ensuring a long and healthy life for your new furry family member. Read below to learn more! The golden puppy pictured is patient "Bogey".
Your veterinarian is your pet’s advocate, and we will make every effort to maintain the best possible quality of life and health for your pet.
The initial examination that your puppy or kitten receives from your veterinarian is critical to its well-being and long-term health. Your doctor will pay particular attention to the proper growth and development of the skull, eyes, ears, teeth, tooth enamel, skin, nails, and internal organs. Each youngster will be checked for hereditary or nutritional deficits and the absence of external parasites.
Puppies and kittens receive natural immunity against many diseases within the first few hours of life from their mother’s milk, the colostrum, but this protection is short-lived. Your doctor will recommend a vaccination program that will protect your puppy or kitten against the many serious, life-threatening diseases to which young animals are susceptible. This is an example of a recommended puppy vaccination schedules. Schedules are customized on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, lifestyle, age, and previous veterinary care status.
Recommended Puppy Vaccination Schedule:
Swann Animal Clinic recommends starting your puppies vaccination program at eight weeks of age, followed by two sets of booster vaccines at 12 and 16 weeks.
At eight weeks:
Your puppy will receive a full physical exam and veterinary consultation, a DAPP Vaccination, Pyrantel dewormer, and a dose of age and weight appropriate flea/tick/heartworm prevention.
At twelve weeks:
Your puppy will receive another physical exam and veterinary consultation, a DAPP + Lepto Vaccination, a Bordetella Vaccination, fenbendazole dewormer, and a dose of age- and weight-appropriate flea/tick/heartworm prevention.
At sixteen weeks:
Your puppy will receive their last puppy physical exam and veterinary consultation, another DAPP + Lepto Vaccination, a one-year Rabies Vaccination, Pyrantel dewormer, and a dose of age- and weight-appropriate flea/tick/heartworm prevention.
During these visits, your puppy will also be tested for common intestinal parasites such as Roundworms, Whipworms, Hookworms, Tapeworms, Coccidia, Giardia, and others. These intestinal parasites also can be transmitted to humans, so testing early helps protect both your new little friend, and your family.
What to expect:
We want your puppy to be set up for success for life. Your veterinarian is a great resource for information, but not the only one. We'll discuss everything with your from potty training, sleeping habits, nutrition and more. If you notice behavior you are concerned about or have questions surrounding it, we're here to help and can also recommend reputable trainers and provide additional resources.
What are you feeding your puppy? Nutrition is a key piece of puppy development. We'll discuss your puppy's diet and nutrition and make any recommendations to help your puppy grow up happy and healthy.
Are you prepared for a pet emergency? Your veterinarian will also discuss the benefits of pet insurance and breed specific diseases to keep an eye out for if applicable. (I.e. Great Danes are high risk for bloat/GDV).
Are you fully protecting your pet? Due to Amarillo's climate, our veterinarians recommend protecting all pets in and around the Texas Panhandle from fleas, ticks, and heartworms. Your doctor will recommended product options based on your puppies needs, age, weight, and budget. Our goal is protection and prevention. Treating Lyme disease and heartworms is significantly more expensive to your pet's health and your wallet than preventing them from contracting the diseases to begin with.
Next Steps:
Bordetella Vaccine: Vaccinations don't stop after puppyhood. Your puppy's Bordetella vaccination needs to be boosted every six months.
Yearly Visit: To help keep your pet in good health, we recommended a yearly visit your veterinarian. This allows your doctor to assess your pets development and growth, monitor for signs of diseases and other health conditions. During yearly visits, your veterinarian will perform a full physical exam and consultation, provide vaccinations and dewormers, recommend age-appropriate lab work such as testing for heartworms and tick-borne diseases, testing your pet's organ function, and others.
Spay or Neuter: Desexing your pet is not a one-size-fits-all procedure. Unless your pet must remain intact for a specific purpose (ethical breeding, showing, sports, work, etc.) Your veterinarian will discuss the optimal time to spay or neuter your puppy. If your puppy has any retained deciduous (baby teeth), they can be extracted during this visit. We can also microchip your puppy during any puppy visit, but many elect to have it performed during their spay/neuter. A gastropexy may also be recommended if your puppy is considered at risk for stomach bloat and GDV.