Vaccination Schedule

Vaccines contain small quantities of altered or "killed" viruses, bacteria or other disease-causing organisms. When administered, they stimulate your dog's immune system to produce disease-fighting cells and proteins, or antibodies, to protect against disease. The immunity that a puppy has at birth begins to diminish sometime between 6 and 12 weeks. It is then usually time to begin the initial vaccinations. Thereafter, your dog will require repeat vaccination at regular intervals for the rest of his or her life.

Please contact us so that we can determine the schedule that's right for your dog.

Common Diseases

	Intestinal Worms
	Heartworm

Worming

Intestinal worms are a common problem of all dogs. Common intestinal worms include roundworm, hookworm and tapeworm, for which we offer routine deworming services. Frequency of worming differs according to the age of the dog. Note that re-infection can occur from parks, gardens and other dogs, so keep an eye on the dog's motions from time to time. If worms or tapeworm segment are seen, an additional worming dose will be required.

At Home Health Check

Although it is recommended that your dog is taken for a complete, routine physical exam at least once a year, there are important things that you can check at home to help you to recognize problems early. Here are some simple tips that should alert you that it may be time to seek veterinary assistance.

	Eye discharge without an obvious cause. Sometimes unexplained, persistent eye discharges can indicate a subtle decline in overall health.
	Increase or decrease in appetite without any change in exercise, diet, or environmental conditions.
	Weight loss or weight gain without any change in exercise or feeding routine. With long haired dogs, you may need to feel, rather than look, because hair can hide changes.
	Increase or decrease in water consumption along with a corresponding increase or decrease (respectively) in volume of urine produced. Note that an increase in thirst without an increase in urine produced often means that the dog is panting more than usual or losing more fluid in the bowels.
	Change in frequency of defecation; size, color, or consistency of the stool; or any change in the effort or body position required for a bowel movement. Also note if there is any mucus or blood.
	Changes in the luster, texture, oiliness, color, or shedding pattern of the hair coat (changes that cannot be explained by grooming habits). Hair coat variations can indicate subtle changes in health status.
	Decrease in muscle tone or muscle mass, especially over the back. Sometimes a dog's overall body weight can remain the same, but redistribution, such as an increase in abdominal size along with a decrease in the size of back muscles can indicate a problem.
	Decrease in energy level, even in older dogs.
	Change in typical behavior patterns. Unexplained lethargy (sluggishness), loss of interest in exercise or play-time, or even unexplained hyperactivity could indicate some sort of health problem.

Poisons

Household, garage and garden chemicals can be extremely dangerous to your dog or puppy. Poisonous substances should be placed in a safe place to ensure your dog does not come into contact with them. If you suspect your dog has been poisoned, seek veterinary help IMMEDIATELY. If possible, you should take the packet/label from the poison with you to help identify the poison and treat it.

Determine your Dog's Age

The onset of old age can occur between 5 and 10 years for most dogs, depending on heredity. If your dog is a small breed, he/she probably won’t show signs of aging until at least 9 years. Meddium-sized breeds enter their geriatric years around age 7 or 8, while giant breeds as early as age 5.

Spaying/Neutering

"Spay" surgery for females and "neuter" surgery for males, ensure sterilize dogs and cats. If you are not planning to breed your dog, you should consider having him/her spayed/neutered. At Ponds, this is a routine surgical procedure.

Reasons to Spay or Neuter your Dog:

	Spaying/Neutering reduces your dogs "need" to roam.
	It reduces or eliminates certain reproductive cancers.
	Spaying disburdens the female dog of the heat cycle and all other discomforts that accompany it.
	It lessens a dog's need for dominance.
	A dog's lifespan is increased if it is spayed/neutered.
	Spaying/neutering eliminates the owner's concern of unwanted puppies, runaway stud dogs, stained furniture, and nervous and agressive mood swings in pets.
	It relieves the community of homeless dogs and property damage.

Ticks & Fleas

Ticks and fleas are external parasites that can spread diseases, and in heavy investations, can cause anemia from blood loss. Symptoms of tick diseases may include fever, anemia, weight loss, unexplained bleeding, seizures, joint pain and poort appetite. Fleas may cause skin allergies, anemia and act as carriers for tapeworms and other diseases.

Prevention of tick and flea infestation is the primary means of controlling these diseases, but treatment is available.

Breeding

Females first come 'on heat' between the ages of 6 and 18 months. The usual signs of heat are swelling of the vulva, and a bloody discharge. The best days to mate her are usually days 10-14 of the heat, although these vary from dog to dog. At Ponds, we can perform a simple test to more accurately pinpoint the best time for mating. We offer pregnancy tests four weeks after mating. Pregnancy in dogs last about 9 weeks (63 days).

Your Senior Dog

We can help you to decide when your dog has reached his/her Golden Years. Each dog is different and age at different rates depending on a variety of factors, including genetics, nutrition, and environmental conditions. Healthy adult pets should be examined at least once yearly to evaluate their weight, skin, teeth as well as the other major organ systems. Since older pets are at increased risk for problems in these areas, they should be seen at least twice yearly for examination.

Cats

Dogs