If you have just adopted a puppy, you can look forward to many fun years with your new friend. First, however, you need to make sure that you are giving your puppy the veterinary care that he or she needs to grow up healthy and happy. Here at Animal Oasis of the Rockies located in Broomfield, we can provide a full range of puppy care, from wellness exams and vaccinations to spaying and neutering.

Puppies' Special Health And Wellness Needs

Puppies face some special challenges compared to adult dogs. For one thing, their immune systems have not yet learned how to fight certain dangerous (yet also common) disease germs. Any immunity they have "borrowed" from their mother's milk will fade once they start eating solid food. Puppies can even be born with worms or other internal parasites inherited from their mother, or they may ingest such worms and develop serious digestive problems. External parasites such as fleas and ticks can prove especially harmful to baby animals such as puppies.

Feeding a puppy properly can prove a trickier proposition than you might think. Your puppy requires lots of calories and protein during this crucial stage of his or her growth and development. However, you must also feed him the correct nutritional balance and portion size to help them gain strength -- without becoming obese in the process.

Certain preventative procedures that can help protect your dog for life should be administered as early in life as possible. In addition to vaccinations and pest/parasite preventatives, your puppy should be spayed or neutered before reaching sexual maturity. These procedures prevent pregnancy, but they can also minimize the risks of many serious diseases. Microchipping, which can help you track down your pet if he or she goes missing, is another step best performed early in life.

Puppy Care Services From Our Skilled Team

At Animal Oasis of the Rockies, our skilled team can provide every kind of puppy care your new best friend may need. We routinely administer thorough physical examinations and any necessary deworming to help ensure that your puppy gets the healthiest possible start in life. (We can then start your puppy on a regular course of preventive medications.) We can also give your puppy a series of vaccinations to build resistance against rabies, distemper, parvo, and other deadly infections.

The complex task of caring for your puppy begins as soon as you bring them home. Caring for your puppy must start with booking an appointment with a qualified veterinarian. A visit to Animal Oasis of the Rockies in Broomfield can help you get started on a puppy vaccination schedule. Read on to learn more about puppy vaccination schedules and how you can keep your fur baby protected.

Importance Of Puppy Vaccinations

Most breeds will have challenges with types of illnesses depending on their ancestry and genes. It is also vital to note that some vaccinations are mandatory according to the law. Puppy vaccinations take place between 8 and 16 weeks of age. When you have recently adopted a puppy, ask about your new pet’s vaccination status. It is also crucial to visit a veterinarian so a schedule of vaccinations can be developed. 

Two Types Of Dog Vaccines

Core Vaccines

  • Rabies 1 year is usually administered at 16 weeks.
  • DHPP (Distemper, Hepatitis, Parvovirus, and Parainfluenza) comes in three doses between 8 and 16 weeks of age. 

Non-Core Vaccines

Non-core vaccines will be recommended by our veterinarian depending on your pet’s breed and environment as well as the potential threats in your area and include:

  • Bordetella is a single-dose vaccine and is given intra-nasally.
  • Leptospirosis first should be at eight weeks or twelve weeks followed by another booster four weeks later.
  • Canine Influenza should be administered between weeks eight and twelve. The second dose follows four weeks later.

There are many other kinds of dog vaccines aside from those on this list. Our veterinarian will assess your pet’s condition and develop a vaccine schedule tailored to their needs.