PUPPY PREP
Q:
Hi PETS, I’m getting a new puppy and
cannot wait! We are getting a Cavalier
King Charles Spaniel and I was wondering what
sort of vet visits and immunisations we need
to get done in those fi rst few months after we
bring her home. I’m going to call her Charlie.
Mandy, via email
A:
Hi Mandy, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels,
or “Cavvies”, are great, very loving, devoted
and aff ectionate little dogs. Before getting Charlie,
please ensure she comes from a reputable breeder
who gets their lines tested for heart conditions
from a veterinary cardiologist and preferably has
grandparents still alive and is heart murmur free,
as this is a huge problem in the breed
(though hard work by breeders and
cardiologists has been greatly reducing the
prevalence of defects within the breed).
Once you get her, worm her. Pups need
worming every two weeks up to 12 weeks
of age, then monthly until six months. If
you take her to your vet for a health check,
they will check her weight and get her the
right-size all-wormer (sometimes breeders
lose track of worming or use cheaper-brand
wormers that can compromise the pups
unknowingly, so it’s better to get it done
yourself as you can’t over worm a pup).
Pups also need vaccinating at six to
eight weeks (the breeder should have done this
before you get her), then again at 10–12 weeks
and fi nally at 14–16 weeks old. Your pup is not
safe to be outside of your home until two weeks
after the fi nal needle. By this time, you should have
seen your local vet a couple of times and decided
on other regular medications such as heartworm,
fl ea and paralysis treatments. A great new drug
out is Nexgard Spectra, a once-a-month chew that
covers everything — heartworm, gut worms,
fl eas and paralysis ticks.
Also, get your pup into puppy school as soon as
possible to help with training. With all this sorted, she
will then go back to once-yearly vaccinations (and
monthly all-in-one chews) and when around eight to
10 months old, she will be ready for desexing.Cavies make beautiful pets, but always make sure you get yours
from a reputable registered breeder who tests for heart conditions.72
PETS | Health and Wellbeing
Photos: Kaz Dalton, Life on White/BigStock.comhttp://www.petsmagazine.com.au
With
Fur Kids’
Dr JoBeckett
F
YOUR
Wit
hd Wellbeing
’
Ask
vet
For more information, visit
localvet.com.au/FurKids
or visit Dr Jo’s clinic at
Shop 11/2 Sheppards
Drive, Greenbank Qld.