From Puppy Vaccination Schedules, Puppy Preschool to what to feed your Puppy.
A COMPLETE GUIDE
Buying a puppy is exciting, from picking out the name, buying its toys, a bed and a cute coloured collar. Welcome to the exciting and sometimes trying world of owning a dog!
The following is some helpful information and tips on how to care for your new puppy. We will cover, puppy vaccinations, de-sexing, toilet training, behavioural/preschool training, food, micro chipping and worming your new little pup.
Your puppies first few days
It’s always a good idea to take your puppy to the vet within the first few days, to give it a general health check, pick up anything you may need (worming tablets, food, bedding) and ensure they are up to date with all vaccinations.
Your puppy is going to be a bit apprehensive and stressed for their first few days. Ensure you give them plenty of love, but also quality down time. It’s a great idea to section off a part of your house that your puppy can settle into and create their own comfortable environment. Provide them with a comfortable bed and a blanket that they can cuddle up on. Your new pup is going to feel lonely and may cry during the nights as they are used to being surrounded by their brothers and sisters. Placing ticking clocks or hot water bottles under their blankets can help sooth them.
Puppy Injections (Vaccinations)
What we protect your puppy against
Vaccines will trigger immune responses in your puppy, which will help them fight any future infections or diseases. Our vaccines protect against several diseases including Distemper, Infectious Hepatitis, Parvovirus, Canine Cough and Canine Para Influenza.
Puppy vaccination schedule
6 – 8 weeks old First immunisation
Distemper/Hepatitis/Parvovirus
10 – 12 weeks Second immunisation
Distemper/Hepatitis/Parvovirus/Para Influenza/Canine Cough
Adult Dog Annual Booster
Distemper/Hepatitis/Parvovirus/Para influenza/Canine Cough
One week after your puppy’s second immunisation, they will be ready to socialise with other dogs and start puppy school.
Dog Desexing
There are many benefits to de-sexing your dog, other than the obvious prevention on un-planned pregnancies. Desexing or Spaying as it’s otherwise known, can:
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Prevent pets from roaming
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Reduce risk of urine or mammary cancer in female pets
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Reduce risk of prostate gland and testicular cancer in male pets
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Help control male dominance, aggression and territory marking
We recommend desexing your puppy at about 6 months of age as this is the time when your pet will be reaching sexual maturity and for females, before they come on heat for the first time.
For more information on our pet de sexing services please
Puppy Worming
Unfortunately worms can be an inevitable part of a puppy’s life, so knowing what to look out for and when to treat your pup is important. The most common types of worms found in Australia are hookworm, tapeworm, roundworm and whipworm. Worm can make your puppy extremely sick and can even cause death, so it is imperative that intestinal worming be a priority in your puppy’s health care regime.
Puppy Worming Schedule
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2 weeks
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4 weeks
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6 weeks
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8 weeks
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10 weeks
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12 weeks
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4 months (16 weeks)
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5 months (20 weeks)
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6 months (25 weeks)
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Then every three months
Heartworm Disease in Dogs
Heartworm disease can affect your pup very easily as they are carried by mosquitos. They are a parasite that lives inside arteries, lungs and heart chambers of pets.
Puppies should be treated for heartworm prevention by the age of three months. Treatment after their initial dose can be dependent on your lifestyle and preferences. Many choose to use a monthly spot on medication or a yearly heartworm injection that can be administered by our Box Hill Vet Clinic. Heartworm prevention should continue through the life of your pet.
Puppy Preschool
Puppy pre school is a must for the new addition to your family. It will give your puppy the best start in life and ensure they grow into a well behaved, sociable and obedient dog. Putting in time when you first get your pup will save you countless hours and frustrations down the track.
Box Hill Vet recommend puppies start preschool from the age of 6 to 12 weeks, as it is much easier to teach a puppy when they are younger. On completion of puppy preschool your puppy should be able to:
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Properly socialise with other dogs, children and adults
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Respond to basic commands
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Stay on mat/bed
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Respond to name
For further information please
Toilet training your puppy
When toilet training your new puppy, there’s a few key rules to stick to that will help guide you in the accident free direction.
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Puppy toilet training should start as soon as you get home
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Take your puppy outside and encourage it to do its business every two hours, after they have woken or had something to eat or drink
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Create a command. Your puppy will learn what this phrase means and know it is ok to relieve themselves. (Phrases such as ‘go now’ ‘finish’ or ‘toilet’ are great).
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Praise them when they go and ignore them when they don’t
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If your pup does have an accident inside, only ever tell them off if you catch them doing it, they can’t relate to an incident that occurred hours previously
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Use paper or ‘wee pads’ for indoor areas and again use the same praise and ignore method for success
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Ensure all inside accidents are thoroughly cleaned and the odour is removed or it will encourage your puppy to continue to go to the toilet inside
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Routine. Mainly it’s about routine and praise
Stick to these rules and your puppy should be toilet trained in no time!
What to feed your Puppy
Puppyhood is full of growing, playing, eating and exploring. To ensure your pup grows up healthy and strong and it’s vital to start them on a healthy and nutritious diet that provides the right nutrients for your growing pet’s needs. Puppies require different levels of nutrients than older dogs and this will also vary from breed to breed.
Your puppy’s first few days.
It’s always a good idea to start your first few days at home feeding your pup exactly the same food type, brand and quantity there were being fed by their breeder. This will ensure the puppy is settled and will reduce the stress of a new environment. If you wish to change the type or brand of food your puppy was previously being fed, do it slowly (over 7 to 10 days). For example, make a mixture that contains 25% of the new food, 75% of the old food and feed that to your puppy for several days. Then make it 50-50 for several days and finally 75% new food to 25% old food for several days. You should then be able to feed your pup 100% of the new food. If at any time your puppy starts vomiting, has loose stools or appears constipated, slow the rate at which you are switching them over. Be very sure to do this slowly, or you can upset your new puppy’s tummy.
Type of puppy food
There are many different types of food out there for your dog; dry food, semi moist food and wet food. Always ensure the food you are providing is specifically for puppies, as puppy food is especially designed for growing pets. We recommend a premium dog biscuits, as they provide the most nutrients and are tailor designed by veterinary scientists.
How often should I feed my puppy?
Depending on your puppies breed, age and size, we recommend feeding your pet 4 meals per day up until four months of age. This can be reduced to 3 meals per day up until 6 months of age and then further reduced to 2 meals per day after 6 months. You can then choose to reduce your pet’s food intake to one meal per day or leave it at two; however two is the recommended amount. Clean drinking water must be available for your puppy to access at all times and it should be encouraged to drink.
When to stop feeding your dog, puppy food?
There is no hard and set rule for when to transition your dog’s diet to adult dog food. Again, it all depends on your dogs breed, gender, activity levels, health and individual characteristics and behaviour. As a general rule, it is generally around 12 months of age, but we recommend speaking to a health care specialist before changing to adult food.
Microchiping your puppy
Micro chipping your pet is extremely important. If your dog becomes lost, you a far more likely to be reunited with your puppy sooner if they are micro chipped.
A microchip is a very small permanent chip that is implanted under the skin of your pet, usually between the shoulder blades and the back of the neck. Each chip has a unique identification number that is attached to your pet’s records. Ideally puppies should already be micro chipped when you pick them up, but if not, it is vital that they be chipped as soon as possible. It is also imperative that if your contact details change (address), that you inform your vet, so as the details on the database are always correct.
