1. When do I need to vaccinate my puppy or kitten; and what vaccines do you recommend?

When you have a new puppy or kitten, I understand your confusion about your new pet’s needs including vaccinations.  Here is a chart of vaccinations that I commonly recommend to our clients:

Puppy Protocol

DA2PP+C (a 5-way vaccine for distemper, adenovirus, parvo, parainfluenza and Corona in one shot for smaller puppies / under 15 pounds) – this is a booster series given at  6, 9, 12, & 16 weeks 

DHLPP+C (a 5-way vaccine for distemper, lepto, adenovirus, parvo, parainfluenza, and Corona for larger puppies/15 pounds and up) – this is a booster series given at 6, 9, 12, & 16 weeks (or on a three week schedule)
Bordetella (kennel cough) – given at 6 or 8 weeks (every 6 months thereafter and is required to kennel your pet)
Rabies – given at 16 weeks, 16 months, and then every 3 years thereafter – Rabies vaccine is required by California state law
Giardia Vaccine (prevents intestinal diarrhea) – it is given as a booster series at 8 & 12 weeks old – (or after a negative fecal)
Deworming – 6 weeks or sooner if possible
Fecal Sample Test – 6 weeks or 1st visit

Kitten Protocol

FVRCP is a combination vaccine given as a booster series at 6, 8, & 12 weeks.

Leukemia Booster is given at 12 and 16 weeks (this is for outside cats)
Rabies – given at 16 weeks, 16 months, and then every 3 years thereafter – Rabies vaccine is required by California state law
Fecal Sample test – recommended at 6 weeks or 1st visit
Test for Feline Leukemia and Aids – recommended at 8 weeks and 4 months; and/or before you kennel your pet

2. Does my puppy or kitten have worms?

Unfortunately, internal parasites (worms) are not uncommon in puppies or kittens. A fecal test can determine if your pet has worms within 24 hours and your puppy or kitten can be treated with a wide variety of deworming medicines.  I always recommend deworming as soon as possible, as young as 2 weeks old.

3. When can I spay (female) or neuter (male) my puppy or kitten?

I usually recommend spay or neuter for puppies after they are potty-trained, and for kittens after they use their litter boxes consistenly — an average age is around 4-6 months, but is always determined on an individual basis.

4. Is my pet overweight and what should I do about it?

One way to gauge if your pet is overweight is to see if you can see their back rib; it should tuck in slightly after the last rib; and all their other ribs should be padded with a slight covering of fat. (Or bring your pet to the clinic for weighing and an evaluation based on breed.)  If your pet is overweight, my first suggestion is to reduce the pet’s food intake by 20-25%.  For example, if your dog or cat is getting 1 cup of food daily, then reduce it to 3/4 cup of food daily. This method will usually help your pet loose weight. However, if food reduction is not successful, then I may recommend prescription diet foods and/or supplements.

5. What food should I feed my puppy or kitten?

I recommend 3 top diets: Iams, Royal Canin, and Science Diet.  I have personally inspected the Science Diet factory in Topeka, Kansas, and they scored better and higher than some bakeries in the local area!  These 3 companies produce top-notch, quality food to meet all of your pet’s nutritional needs.  I have been asked about raw diets, and I personally do not feed raw diets to my own pets because of the potential of cross contamination.

6. Does my pet need multi-vitamins?

Multi-vitamins can be very beneficial to sick or older dogs. I do not normally prescribe vitamins to healthy dogs–if you are feeding your pet a healthy diet, then they should not need vitamins.

7. Will my male dog stop marking in my house after I neuter him?

Neutering is one of the best solutions to prevent your male dog from marking in your house.  However, if you are neutering him at an older age, he might not stop the behavior out of habit.  I always recommend neutering at a young age to help prevent this problem.

8. Which flea product do you recommend and how old does my pet need to be?

There are several different flea prevention products on the market, that I can highly recommend and prescribe for your pet depending on your pet’s individual needs/circumstances (pet size, living conditions, etc.) Fleas are a common problem and require attention, especially here in San Diego county.  All of the flea prevention products recommend different ages to begin treatment, but usually 8 weeks is the most common time to start using the products. We can discuss your pet’s individual needs during your first appointment.

9. How long does it take for my female to deliver puppies after conception?

Approximately, the pup or puppies will be delivered in 2 months from gestation.  Puppies can be easily identified after 45 days by ultra-sound or x-rays. Most of the time an ultra-sound or x-rays is not required or necessary unless the owner requests or I feel it is necessary due to medical concerns.

10. After surgery or a dental procedure, how long before my pet can go home?

This is not an easy answer because it totally depends on your pet.  After the pet wakes from surgery, can walk at a normal pace, and seems capable of traveling safely,  we will call the owner. This can take from 1 hour to several hours depending on each pet.  I always like to be conservative before sending your pet home.

These answers are only generalizations and exact answers can only be based upon individual examinations of your pets, however, I hope that they are helpful to you as a pet owner. As your veterinarian, I am always available if you have more questions or concerns.

Until next time,

Dr. Anderson