Vaccinations, Worming, Fleas and Ticks

Hello Bundabella Community, and welcome to our first blog post! We will be posting monthly blog posts on all things puppy related. This month we will be covering a range of topics such as: - Vaccinations - Flea, tick and worming treatment - Seasonal Canine Illness. After reading these posts you can ask us any questions on our facebook page; Bundabella Puppies or reach out to us on Instagram for any further questions @bundabella_puppies. For any serious medical advice please seek help from a certified vet specialist. Now, without further ado let’s talk vaccinations. Just like in humans it is very important to get your new 4-legged family members vaccinated at a young age. Vaccinations are vital for your pets to maintain a healthy lifestyle For vaccinations to be effective and fight off disease’s vaccinations must be administered at 8 weeks, and every 2 to 4 weeks until puppies are around 14-16 weeks old and then yearly. Your vet will be able to give you this puppy schedule There are two main categories of vaccinations. According to the World Small Animal Veterinary Associations (WSAVA) Core vaccinations should be administered every dog or cat must receive, no matter their age, environment, habits, breed, or circumstance. Core vaccines help prevent animals from contracting life-threatening diseases that can spread globally. Non-core vaccinations are required depending on the type of life the animal lives- factors being where they live, lifestyles etc… In Australia, core vaccinations for dogs include: - Canine distemper virus - Canine adenovirus - Canine parvovirus - These three vaccinations are commonly grouped together as the C3 vaccine. Non-core vaccinations in Australia Include: - Parainfluenza virus - Bordetella bronchiseptcia - Leptospira Interorgan These vaccinations assist in the prevention and protection against diseases such as: - Canine Distemper. A disease which targets the puppy’s nervous system and can lead to complications such as paralysis. - Canine Adenovirus (Hepatitis) – a illness which targets the liver, eyes and kidneys. - Canine Parvovirus- the most common and deadly virus on earth. Maternal antibodies interfere with the vaccine it is important to consult with your vet to determine when to administer this vaccine. - Parainfluenza Virus- A respiratory virus which is transmitted through nasal secretion and is highly contagious. This is not a fatal disease but is preventable through vaccinating against. - Bordetella Bronchiseptica (Kennel/ Canine cough)- A harsh cough which is contagious and infectious disease. The vaccination for Kennel Cough is advised to be administered annually. - Canine Leptospirosis- A bacteria which interferes with organ function which can be transmitted to humans. In Australia it is common to have your pets vaccinated every 12 months. The waiting period between each vaccination depends on the puppies age, commonly puppies should be getting their full vaccinations over the first 6 months. After the puppy is fully vaccinated it is still a good idea to take your puppy to the vet for check-ups and any other health concerns. Fleas, Ticks and Worms! These three pesky pests are something we never want our little firry friends to have to deal with! To tell if your puppy has any fleas, look out for any continuous scratching. Fleas irritate the puppy’s skin and if gone untreated there can be some hair loss from intense and continuous biting, rubbing and scratching. How do puppies get fleas? Fleas can survive and lay dormant in their environment for prolonged periods of time, so it is important to keep up with ongoing flea prevention. Fleas are able to breed through the year and can lay up to 50 eggs at a time. How to get rid of fleas. An effective method of removing fleas from your puppy: 1- Remove the fleas on the puppies by using a range of treatments such as Spot on treatments, flea shampoos, flea rinses and flea sprays. These treatments will kill the fleas on your puppies’ coats, but further prevention is still needed to ensure no fleas will return. 2- Cleaning your environment, vacuuming your home and cleaning to kill the flea life cycle. Washing your puppies’ beds and using pesticides to treat and cleanse inside your home and outside to remove any traces of fleas. 3- For ongoing protection and prevention from the return of fleas, continually use flea treatments such as spot treatments, oral tablets or even flea collars to assist in preventing more fleas. Ticks: Ticks are small insects; these fellas are teeny tiny ranging to be approximately 3-5mm long. There are four main types of ticks in Australia; bush tick, cattle tick, brown dog tick, and paralysis tick. Paralysis ticks are the biggest health issue to your new friend is like it’s name says can cause paralysis resulting in death if not treated quickly. To prevent Ticks causing harm to your puppies it is best to use a preventative method such as Tick shampoos. Thankfully most flea treatment these days are a combination of Flea and Tick treatment so puppy owners can kill two birds with one stone and treat fleas and ticks. Signs my puppy may have a tick: To detect if your puppy may have a tick can be easily assessed. Check your puppy’s hind legs for any paralysis, or any complications walking. Other signs can include a change in your puppy’s bark. If any of these symptoms it is best to seek medical advice from your local vet immediately. Worming. Something to make sure of when taking care of your new little fur babies is keeping up to date with their worming treatments. Worms in your puppy’s tummy’s is never a pleasant thought, and if left untreated your puppy can suffer severely. 5 Most common types of worms: - Roundworms, commonly found in newborn puppies and are treated from birth. - Tapeworms, a parasite which dogs can acquire from eating an infected flea. Once the flea is consumed it then lays eggs and attaches itself to the puppies intestinal lining. - Hookworms can simply be acquired from the environment and consuming infected larvae. This can be done if the puppy consumes any dirt, lick its paws or eat other dogs’ faeces and become infected. - Whipworms are worms that can live in the puppy’s large intestine and colon and pass their eggs into puppies’ faeces. Whipworms can be acquired when ingesting an infected substance such as soil, food, water, faeces or animal flesh. Signs to look out for if your puppy may have worms include: - Diarrhea - Noticeable abdominal pain - Weight loss - Vomiting - Lethargic - Dehydrated - Poor coat appearance- if their fur isn’t as shiny or strong appearing. A worming treatment is easy to administer. It is commonly found in chewable tablet forms for puppies to ingest. It is important to follow a worming treatment schedule: We also strongly advise to ask your vet for heartworm treatment. Heartworm can be fatal but with a simple injection, can be prevented. Treat your puppy for worms at:

• 2 weeks old

• 4 weeks (1 month) old

• 6 weeks old

• 8 weeks (2 months) old

• 10 weeks old

• 12 weeks (3 months) old

• 4 months old

• 5 months old

• 6 months old

Once your puppy is 6 months old, treat them for worms once every 3 months for the rest of their life. Seasonal Canine Illness. Seasonal Canine Illness is a little-known condition that affects dogs in the autumn season. Symptoms occur after being walked in wooded areas. Unfortunately, it is a fast acting and is potentially fatal with symptoms becoming severe within a matter of hours. Signs of seasonal canine disease: - Vomiting - Diarrhoea - Lethargy - Abdominal pain - Fever - Muscular tremors If your puppy is showing signs of Seasonal canine illness, untreated your puppy can become extremely dehydrated and could potentially lead to death. Please consult with your vet before administering any treatments to ensure you have the correct brand and dosage. If you feel your new friend is unwell please seek veterinary advice immediately. https://www.rspcapetinsurance.org.au/pet-care/new-pet/about-pet-vaccinations https://www.advantagepetcare.com.au/au/puppy-kitten/your-puppy-s-first-worming-treatment/ https://www.vets-now.com/pet-care-advice/seasonal-canine-illness/