PUPPY – EARLY DEVELOPMENT STAGES

Ears – 5 to 8 days

Eyes – 8 to 14

Walking – 14 to 21

Barking – 21 days

Teething – Around 21 days

Weaning – 3 to 4 weeks

 

DISEASE PREVENTION - Puppies

Keys to disease prevention include:

• Treat the mother as soon as safely possible to reduce the parasites that she might pass to her puppies through her milk.

• Be vigilant in your handling of the puppies, washing your hands, changing your shoes, and wearing clean clothing around young puppies.  Especially if you’ve handled other animals before the puppies.

• You should limit the number of visitors who are in and around your puppies until they have had a least two vaccines.  And limit the exposure to the outside and/or surfaces that might come into contact with parasites and Parvo.

• Make sure that all housing, blankets, bowls, toys, etc. have been thoroughly washed and disinfected.

• Routine vaccinations and wormings.

​​

Vaccines - DHPP

Initially protection from Parvo is received through antibodies in the colostrum from nursing from mom in the first 24 hours.  However as the puppies age, they lose that protection and need vaccinations to bolster their immunity.  There is always a period where puppies are vulnerable to disease; they will no longer have enough maternal antibodies to give them protection from an actual infection, but they will have too many antibodies for a vaccine to be fully effective.  Which is why they get multiple vaccines over the first 16 weeks.  Starting at 5 or 6 weeks of age and then every 2 or 3 weeks until they are 16 weeks old.

​

Routine Worming

• Beginning as early as 2 weeks it is wise to worm for roundworms using Pyrantel.  Every two weeks for at least 2 cycles. 

• At or around 5 or 6 weeks age, treatment for other parasites using Panacur is advised.  Panacur is effective for the treatment of Tapeworms, Hooks, Whips and Giardia.

• As Coccidia has been more common, at least one preventative treatment of either Albon or Toltrazuril for Coccidia is recommended.  As early as 2 weeks but any time during the first 8 weeks is advised. 

​​

See below for details on both preventative treatment and dosage as well as symptoms and treatment protocols for each.

 

TREATMENT SCHEDULE AND DOSAGE

If a puppy is developing slowly, is lethargic, has an unusually bloated belly, is not eating well, has irregular stools, including but not limited to having mucus, water, or blood in their stool, they may have internal parasites.

A stool sample should be taken to your veterinarian for testing.

​

Parvo

• Symptoms:  Diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, lack of appetite, temperature

• Preventative: DHPP vaccinations at 5 wks., 8 wks., 12 wks., and 16 wks.

• Treatment: Fluids (IV or SubQ), antibiotics, anti-nausea medications, Tamiflu OR Monoclonal Antibody Treatment

NOTE:  If you think you have a puppy with Parvo DO NOT HESITATE to seek Vet testing and treatment.  Act quickly!!  Their life can depend on it.

​

Roundworms

• Symptoms: distended belly, diarrhea, coughing (when severe infection exists) and vomiting or pooping out spaghetti like worms

• Preventative:  Pyrantel  - @ 2, 4, 6, 8 wks. - 1 cc. per 10 pounds, 1x per day for 1 day

• Treatment: Pyrantel - 1 cc. per 10 pounds, 1x per day for 1 day;  or Panacur (1 cc per 5 pounds) for 1 x per day for 1 day

 

NOTE: Roundworms are so common in all dogs and puppies who will get them from nursing from an infected mother, that we just automatically worm with Pyrantel every 2 weeks for 3 or 4 cycles.

​

Tapeworms, Hooks, Rounds, Whips

• Symptoms: diarrhea, vomiting, weight loss,

  • Tapeworm – tape or rice like segments in stool

  • Hooks - Dark and tar-colored diarrhea

  • Whips - Bloody and/or mucusy diarrhea

• Preventative: Panacur (Fenbendazole) - @ 6 wks. and 8 wks. - 1 cc. per 5 lbs, 1x per day for 3 to 5 days

• Treatment: Panacur (Fenbendazole) -  1 cc. per 5 pounds, 1x per day for 3 to 5 day

 

Giardia

• Symptoms: mucusy or greasy stool, is oddly colored and has a very offensive metallic odor

• Preventative: Panacur (Fenbendazole) - @ 6 wks. and 8 wks. - 1 cc. per 5 pounds, 1x per day for 3 days

• Treatment: Panacur (Fenbendazole) -  1 cc. per 5 pounds, 1x per day for 3 to 5 days

 

NOTE: Giardia preventative treatments are usually not recommended before 6 weeks.  However, if fecal determines the presence of Giardia, treatment with Panacur for puppies 2 weeks of age or older is safe.

 

Coccidia

• Symptoms:  watery diarrhea, dehydration, abdominal distress, and vomiting

• Preventative:  Toltrazuril - @ 2 wks. and 5 wks. -  .18 cc. per lb. - 1x per day for 3 days

• Treatment:     Toltrazuril -  .18 cc. per lb. - 1x per day for 3 to 5 days

 

NOTE: Albon is an option for treatment but is not my preference