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Choosing a Vet
The first and most important thing is to select a good vet and register your dog.
If you are getting a puppy select your vet in advance and arrange an appointment to see him or her a day or two after you collect your puppy.
Things to consider when choosing a vet are:
- Do I like the vet and have confidence in him/her?
- What facilities does the practice offer?
- Will I usually be able to see the same vet, so that he/she gets to know my dog?
- Is there 24 hour / 365 day emergency cover available?
Ask your friends and other dog owners for recommendations.
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Vaccinations
Puppies normally have two vaccinations. The first is usually given between 8 and 9 weeks old, and the second around 12 weeks old. It takes a little while for the vaccine to act on the puppies immune system, but they can usually start to mix freely with other dogs a week after the second vaccination. However this does not prevent you taking your puppy out, provided you take a few sensible precautions. Remember it is essential to socialise your puppy from as young an age as possible.
See our Puppy Socialisation page for more advice.
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Worms
Dogs carry two main types of worm - roundworms - toxocara canis and tapeworms.
Puppies get worms from their mother and need worming at frequent intervals.
Adult dogs also need worming regularly - usually every three months.
Worm eggs are passed in faeces and can survive long periods on the ground until they are picked up by another dog.
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Toxocara canis worms can also infect humans and can be especially dangerous to young children.
Worm your dog regularly and always ‘scoop the poop’.
Wormers can be purchased from pet shops, but those prescribed by your vet are likely to be more effective.
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Teeth
Just like humans, dogs need their teeth cleaned regularly. Dogs, whose teeth are not regularly cleaned, can suffer from a build up of tartar on their teeth with leads to gum infections, tooth decay and toothache.
We recommend cleaning your dog’s teeth at least once a week.
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Start when your puppy is young and make it part of the weekly health check regime. Human toothpaste is not suitable for dogs, but you can buy special meat flavoured toothpaste for dogs. Various types of brush are available from pet shops or on the internet, including human type brushes and rubber ones that fit on the end of your finger.
Feeding a hard dried food will help to keep your dog’s teeth clean as will hard treats and bones. Various chew toys are also available, which are shaped to clean your dog’s teeth as it chews.
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Fleas
Unfortunately all dogs get fleas occasionally. The life cycle of the flea is complex and flea eggs and larvae can survive in carpets and bedding for long periods. Once an infestation is established it will be necessary to treat both the dog and the home.
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Fortunately, the modern ‘spot on’ flea treatments prescribed by vets are very effective and can provide long term protection against any fleas your dog may pick up. These are far more effective than most flea treatments sold in pet shops.
How to check your dog for fleas
You are unlikely to see fleas on your dog. Stand the dog over a sheet of white paper. Comb the dog carefully with a fine-tooth comb. If, after groming there are any black specks on the paper moisten them slightly. If they leave a blood red dot, they are flea faeces and your dog needs to be treated as soon as possible.
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Grass Seeds
The seeds of many grasses are designed to work their way into the earth. Unfortunately seeds can be picked up in your dog’s fur where they then work their way under the skin and into the dog’s body, often moving some considerable distance from the entry point, causing severe inflammation or abcesses. An operation may then be necessary to remove the seed.
When grasses are in seed, check your dog every evening for grass seeds in its coat, paying particular attention to between its toes, in the fur behind the ears, inside the ears, and even in the eye sockets.
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Ticks
Dogs (and humans) that are exercised in the countryside can often pick up ticks, particularly in areas where there are large numbers of deer or sheep. These unpleasant blood suckers attach themselves by burying their head under the skin. When they first jump onto the dog they are no more than small black specks with legs. When fully engorged with blood they swell and look like the one in the picture.
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Ticks can transmit Lyme Disease and should be removed as soon as possible.
If you try to pull a tick off, you will leave the head under the skin and it will become infected.
Various tick removal tweezers and tools are available but one of the cheapest and best is the O’Tom which is a simple plastic hook used to twist the tick off. These are available from vets and good pet shops.
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