Puppy vaccinations routinely begin at 8 weeks of age. To achieve full immunity they are boostered
at 12 and 16 weeks. Rabies vaccinations are generally given with the final vaccine at 16 weeks.
During the initial examination, a vaccination program will be developed to match your puppy’s
individual needs.
Spay is common term for an ovariohysterectomy, the surgical removal of your dog’s uterus
and overies. We recommend spaying at 6 months of age, after her adult teeth have fully
developed, but it can be done as early as 7 weeks of age.
Neuter is the common term for castration, or the removal of the testicles. We recommend
neutering at 6 months of age, after his adult teeth have fully developed, but it can be
done as early as 7 weeks of age.
An identification collar should be worn at all times. Both municipal and rabies tags can
be used to locate a lost dog’s home.
Ear tattoos are also an excellent way to identify your pet. The tattoos we place can be used by any SPCA or veterinary hospital in British Columbia to determine the owner’s address and phone number. However, if your pet often travels out of province, a microchip may be a better identification form.
Microchips are painlessly implanted under the skin near the base of the neck and can be located using a scanner. Almost every North American animal shelter or veterinary hospital has a scanner. Special international microchips are required for overseas travel, and can also be read by most North American facilities.
The common parasites that we see here are not as dangerous as some of the ones that face dogs in more southern climates. Generally, they cause digestive issues such as diarrhea, nausea, gas cramps, poor haircoat and decreased growth rates.
Of greater concern is the affect that these same parasites may have on people; the Centre for Disease Control has linked canine roundworms to retinal diseases and seizure disorders, and they are currently investigating whether they are linked to fevers of unknown origin and learning disabilities. Further, they are finding that human exposure to these parasites is greater than was ever suspected before. There is no treatment for many of these conditions, so the onus is on pet owners to prevent transmission through diligent parasite control.
Families with small children, pregnant women, or immune compromised individuals should be particularly aware of this issue. Please contact our office if you have any questions or concerns.
Certain parasites, such as tapeworms, are visible to the naked eye, but most worms only lay microscopic eggs. If you bring us a stool sample we will be glad to analyze it to see what parasites are present. Common parasites can be detected with a single stool sample, but certain parasites require the collection of multiple samples. If you are concerned about your pet’s parasite burden, please contact our office.
Dogs with fleas, or dogs that are out nosing around the ground and drinking from puddles are more susceptible to parasites. Dogs that eat faeces are at the greatest risk for ingesting parasite eggs.
Small white worms about the size of a rice grain are tapeworm segments. In dogs, they usually result from swallowing fleas. Good flea control is the best preventive. If you see possible tapeworm segments, feel free to bring them in a ziplock bag for our technicians to confirm the diagnosis and dispense an appropriate medication.
Yes. Depending on your situation, we recommend deworming as frequently as once a month to once a year. Alternatively, faecal testing is available to determine if worming medications are required.
With the advancement of flea control products such as Advantage and Program, fleas are no longer the nuisance they once were. Advantage is a liquid applied to your dog’s back. It provides protection for a full month. Program is a pill that is given by mouth every month with a meal and prevents the fleas from reproducing. Both products are safe for pets and the children that hug them.
There are a number of products available in pet or grocery stores that we do not recommend, from both a safety and an efficacy perspective. Some of these products can be lethal to cats. Shampoos have limited usefulness, and flea collars or powders are now obsolete.
Lice are a common parasite, and in this region we see more lice than fleas. They are small grey parasites that attach to the skin like very small ticks. They tend to infect the front end of the dog. We have a number of products that are effective against lice. Contact our office for further assistance.
Heartworms are parasites that infect the circulatory system of dogs, and are a major health concern in certain areas. Heartworm is not a problem for dogs living in Coastal BC. However, if you travel out of province or to the south Okanagan, please contact our office to learn how this disease can be prevented through the use of monthly a medication.
If you have adopted a dog from a heartworm endemic area, a blood test can determine if infection has already occured
Parvo is a viral disease that causes severe vomiting and bloody diarrhea. It is an easily transmitted and often deadly disease. The virus is shed onto the ground where it can live for up to a year, even over winter. We suspect the local coyote population is the reason that we see so much parvo in this area.
Patients that receive comprehensive medical and ICU care usually survive a parvoviral infection, but such care is expensive. Vaccination is the best way to prevent the disease.
Canine distemper is a highly contagious disease that affects the respiratory and nervous systems. It is frequently a fatal condition for which little treatment options exist. However, vaccines provide excellent protection. Fully vaccinated dogs almost never get the disease.
Kennel Cough (aka Bordatella or Canine Cough) is a respiratory disease that is easily transmitted between dogs, especially in situations where they are housed together or mixing socially (kennels, groomers, parks, dog walkers etc.). Puppies are the most severely affected and can often develop secondary pneumonias.
There is a vaccine available that reduces both the likelihood of succumbing to kennel cough, and for those dogs that still develop the disease it reduces the severity of the infection. We recommend that all puppies be vaccinated for kennel cough.
Although rabies is a less common disease, it is fatal to people as well as pets. Consequently, we consider it a core vaccine. Bats are the most common rabies vector in BC. Rabies vaccine is required for international travel.
Dogs are in season (or heat) for about 21 days. During that time, the vulva triples in size and emits a bloody discharge. They may undergo behavioural changes (e.g..: running away to make themselves available for suitors) during this period. Dogs experience heats about once every 6 months and as early as 7 months of age. Spaying is the best way to prevent heats. It also reduces the chance of breast or ovarian cancer, and unwanted pregnancies.
A dog’s gestation period is 63 days.
No - spaying or neutering will not cause obesity. If you watch your pet’s diet and provide plenty of exercise, weight control should not be a problem.
She can, but is best to delay surgery until the heat is finished. However, it is better to spay an in heat dog than it is a pregnant dog, so if your dog accidentally escapes while in heat, then it is better to perform a spay sooner rather than later. If your dog has already been pregnant or has experienced multiple heats before, then there is less of an advantage to waiting until the heat is finished.
Sexually mature dogs, or dogs actively in heat, experience more blood loss during the spay procedure when compared to sexually immature dogs. For that reason, to maximize safety and improve post-operative recovery, we recommend that all sexually mature dogs receive intravenous fluids during surgery
Early pregnancy dogs can still be spayed, but advanced pregnancies cannot without posing substantial risk to the mother. We only recommend spaying advance pregnancies in emergency medical situations.
Once the puppies have learned to eat something besides their mother’s milk, and once her mammory glands had dried up, she can be spayed.