PUPPIES, FOR NEW OWNERS
Part 1
Do I discipline a puppy?
Disciplining a young puppy may be necessary if its behavior threatens people or property. Harsh punishment should be avoided. Hand clapping, using shaker cans (pennies or washers secured inside can), or horns may be intimidating enough to stop behavior prior to it becoming a bad habit. Remote punishment appears unconnected to the person trying to stop problem behavior. Examples include using spray bottles, throwing objects near (in the direction of) the puppy to startle (but not hit) it, and making loud noises. With remote punishment the puppy associates punishment with the undesirable act and not with you.
When should my puppy be vaccinated?
There are many confusing choices about vaccines. Vaccines can protect against some fatal diseases of dogs. Vaccinating your pup prevents several of these. Vaccines must be given as a series of injections In order to be effective. Ideally they are given at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. This schedule will vary depending on your pet's individual needs.
A core vaccination schedule protects your puppy from several common diseases: distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza virus, parvovirus, and rabies. The first four are included in one injection that is given at 6 to 8, 12, and 16 weeks old. Rabies vaccine is licensed to be given at 12 to 16 weeks of age. Your puppy needs to receive a kennel cough vaccine if a trip to a boarding kennel, groomer or when enrolled in a puppy training class. Lyme vaccine is given to dogs likely to be exposed to ticks as Lyme disease is transmitted by ticks.
Why does my puppy get all these vaccinations?
When the puppy nurses its mother, it receives a temporary form of immunity (passive) through its mother's milk (colostrum). This immunity is in the form of proteins called maternal antibodies. For twenty-four to forty-eight hours after birth a puppy's intestine allows absorption of these antibodies directly into the blood stream. This immunity is beneficial during the first few weeks of a puppy's life, but this immunity runs out eventually. The puppy needs to be able to make its own long-lasting immunity (active). At the right age vaccines are used for this purpose. When the mother's antibodies are present, vaccinations do not have a chance to stimulate the puppy's immune system. The mother's antibodies interfere by neutralizing the vaccine.
Many factors determine when a puppy responds to vaccines. The level of immunity in the mother dog during pregnancy, the amount of antibody absorbed, and number of vaccines given to the puppy is a short list of examples. We are not able to predict when an individual puppy will lose short-term immunity so DVMs elect to give a series of vaccines. The plan is that at least two are given in the window of time when maternal antibodies are gone but the pup has not yet been exposed to a disease. A single vaccination will not stimulate the long-term immunity, which is so important.
Rabies vaccine is an exception to this. Rabies vaccine is unique as it stimulates cell mediated immunity. One injection given at 12 weeks is enough to produce long-term immunity. This first rabies vaccination is good for one year then it may be given up to a three year vaccine. These regulations are set by the federal government to really protect us and the critters.
Why do puppies have worms?
Eighty percent of puppies are born with worms. Intestinal parasites are extremely common in puppies. Puppies may become infected with parasites prior to birth, later through their mother's milk, or exposure in the environment. Microscopic examination of stool samples usually helps determine the presence of intestinal parasites. We recommend this exam for all puppies. We recommend use of a deworming product which is safe and effective against several of the common worms found in the dog. Your puppy does not pass worm eggs every day so a stool sample may not detect worms that are present. Some of these internal parasites can be transmitted to humans. Deworming is done now and repeated in three weeks. It is important it be repeated because the deworming medication only kills the adult worms, not the teenagers. During the three week interval the larval stages will become adults and need to be treated. Dogs remain susceptible to re-infection with hookworms and roundworms. Periodic deworming throughout the dog's life may be recommended for outdoor dogs. The communicable disease Center (CDC) has established a protocol to insure best control of parasites and limiting humans contracting a parasitic disease.
Tapeworms are common intestinal parasites of dogs. Puppies become infected by swallowing fleas. Tapeworm eggs live inside the flea. When a dog chews or licks its skin when a flea bites the flea may be swallowed. The flea is digested within the dog's intestine; the tapeworm emerges and anchors itself to the intestinal lining. Exposure to fleas may result in a new infestation. Tapeworm infestations can complete the cycle in as little as two weeks.
Dogs with tapeworms pass small segments of the worms on their stool. The segments are white in color and look like grains of rice. They are about 1/8 inch (3 mm) long and may be seen crawling out of the anus and on the surface of the stool. They stick to the hairs under the tail. They dry out, shrink to half their size, become golden in color, and they resemble a small sesame seed. Tapeworm segments are not passed every day or in every bowel movement. Inspection of several consecutive bowel movements may be needed to see them.
Not all puppy wormers (anthelmintics) remove tapeworms. Medications approved to get rid of tapeworms are expensive.