Our puppy wellness program is designed to help get your puppy started on the right path to a long and healthy life. The first few months are a critical period in your puppy’s development, and we can give you the support and tools necessary to help him or her grow into a well-mannered, healthy dog, including information and advice on nutrition, training, behavior and socialization.

As soon as you bring you new puppy home, please contact us to schedule his or her first exam. Until your puppy has received its complete series of initial vaccines, he or she is susceptible to many serious but preventable diseases. We need to make sure your new dog is protected against rabies, distemper and parvovirus, among other diseases.

Your puppy will also need to be tested and treated for internal parasites, which are extremely common in young dogs. Many puppies have roundworms, which are an intestinal parasite that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, a pot-bellied appearance and other gastrointestinal signs (although dogs can have worms without showing any symptoms). Roundworms are a zoonotic parasite, which means they can be transmitted from pets to people. It is important for puppies to be treated for roundworms, not only to rid them of the infection but also to prevent you and the rest of your family from potentially becoming infected. By ensuring that your puppy is properly treated, you can keep your entire family safe from these and other parasites.

Another common intestinal parasite is coccidia, a single-cell parasite not visible to the naked eye, which can cause mild to life-threatening diarrhea. Fortunately, once diagnosed, it can be easily treated.

For information on other potential intestinal parasites, please see our Parasite Prevention and Control page.

We look forward to meeting your new puppy! Please contact us to schedule your appointment today.