Buying a Puppy
There are many sub-standard puppy farms operating all over Ireland. Puppy farmers are commercial breeders who raise many litters of pups, usually small breeds, for profit. Very often mothers and puppies are kept in dark over-crowded sheds or basements with little or no human contact or affection. Puppies from sub-standard puppy farms are more likely to have health problems such as skin allergies and heart disease. There is also a very high risk of behavioural problems. If you are buying a puppy we would ask you to go through the following check list.
Check List
1. Check with your local Vet or Breed Club to see what breeders they recommend.
2. Insist on seeing the mother with the puppies.
3. Check that the facilities are clean and that the puppies are alert and healthy.
4. Ensure that all the relevant paperwork is available when you purchase the puppy.
5. Check whether the puppy has been vaccinated and wormed. A first Vaccination Certificate should be signed by a Veterinary Surgeon.
6. Request a written agreement that purchase is subject to a satisfactory examination by your Veterinary Surgeon within forty-eight hours of purchase.
7. Only buy from reputable breeders that specialise in a small number of breeds.
8. Be sure that you are well informed about the breed of dog you are planning to purchase.
We would appeal to the public to consider giving a home to one of the many abandoned puppies and dogs that are rescued every day.
Regular vaccination is vital to protect your pet against many important infectious diseases.
All dogs should be routinely vaccinated against Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus. In addition, dogs can be vaccinated against Kennel Cough. This vaccine is especially important for those dogs attending regular shows or going into boarding kennels.
Here are some points for you to consider:
• Puppies receive some immunity from their mothers, both via the placenta, before birth and in the first milk, known as the colostrums. However, this immunity fades rapidly from 6-12 weeks of age. For this reason, a puppy should receive the initial vaccination from 8 weeks of age.
• A primary course of vaccinations involves 2 injections, 2 weeks apart, giving your pet immunity for the first year of life.
• Your puppy should be kept indoors for at least 1 week after its last injection, in order to avoid exposure to infection before your pet is fully protected.
• Immunity to infectious diseases is not indefinite, and will gradually fall leaving your pet at risk. Regular annual booster vaccinations are vital to maintain your pet's immunity and to protect against diseases.
• Your vet will provide you with a record of vaccination, showing the vaccines that have been administered to your dog, and the dates that the next booster is due.
• Prevention is particularly important since these diseases are often difficult to treat successfully and may result in recurrent long term illness or even the death of a pet.
• All of these diseases share the same initial symptoms of depression, a loss of appetite and a high temperature, so if your dog is unwell, and especially if it has not been vaccinated, seek the advice of your vet immediately.
Worming
As a responsible dog owner, it is important for you to worm your dog regularly.
Fleas
Fleas can be a problem even in the best kept homes and on the cleanest of pets. And they're not just irritating to the skin - left untreated they can cause severe problems.
• A dog will almost certainly suffer from a flea infestation at some point during his life.
• The most common flea in dogs and cats is the cat flea. The flea life cycle is around 21 days.
• Fleas can cause pets to become restless and distressed. They can cause itching and inflammation, possibly leading to major skin problems. Most flea reactions in dogs are seen on the lower back area, above the tail.
• They are responsible for the transmission of tapeworms; therefore, it is important to remember when treating your dog for fleas, to treat him for tapeworms too.
• Some dogs can develop an allergy to flea saliva, and this can lead to a very itchy reaction.
• Fleas can bite us owners as well! (although they do not live on our skin.)
• Fleas spend the majority of their life-cycle in the home environment. Only adult fleas are seen on the dog. The female flea lays the eggs on the dog's coat, these fall off and can be found wherever your dog spends most of its time: in his bedding, in the carpet, on the sofa, or even on your bed!
• The flea feeds on blood from your dog, several times a day.
• Dogs can pick up fleas from outside the home or from other animals.
• More often than not, an owner will notice small specks of grit on the dog's coat. To establish if this is flea dirt, brush the coat, and allow the material to fall onto moist white tissue. Flea dirt will produce a red mark.
• Effective flea treatment and control involves treating both the environment and the dog.
• There are various products available, but we recommend Advantage because of its convenience and effectiveness.
• Advantage comes in a box containing four months treatment. One tube is applied per month. It is very easy to use; simply part the hair between the shoulder blades and empty the contents onto the skin. Your pet is then protected for 1 month.
• Advantage kills 98-100% of adult fleas within 24 hours of application.
• Even 28 days after application, advantage can still kill 95% of fleas on contact.
• Because Advantage works so quickly, it kills fleas before they have a chance to produce eggs, so it can help prevent the population explosion of fleas in your home too.
• If you find a flea infestation in your home, we recommend 'Acclaim' or 'Indorex', which is a spray to treat the house. It should not be used on the animal.
Remember if your pet is showing unusual symptoms bring it to your local vet
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