VACCINATIONS
Vaccinations can begin at 8 weeks of age.
A course of two vaccinations must be given two to four weeks apart then the puppy can go out in public spaces a week after the second vaccination.
A booster vaccination must then be administered each year.
Vaccinations provide immunity against canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus, canine parvovirus, canine parainfluenza virus, and leptospirosis. An intranasal vaccine is advised to protect against kennel cough for dogs going into kennels or if they mix with other dogs on a regular basis.

WORMING
Worming puppies is very important as these are often passed from the mother even before birth.
Puppies can be wormed from as early as 2 weeks of age and should be dosed every month until 6 months old.
Once your dog reaches 6 months old it is only a requirement to worm your pet every 3 months. Products obtained from your vets are the most effective, such as MILBEMAX and DRONTAL.
Worming tablets from Pet Shops are not effective.

FLEAS
Preventative flea treatments should be applied to your dog throughout the year, but especially in the summer months when the warm weather allows the fleas to breed more rapidly.
The only effective treatments are prescription products such as FRONTLINE. Pet shop products are only repellents. Environmental preparations should also be considered as fleas jump onto the animal to feed but live in the environment such as on carpets and bedding.

INSURANCE
It is advisable that all new pets are insured. There are many long term problems, illnesses or injuries dogs can pick up at some point in their lifetime. For example skin diseases, allergies, fractured limbs, behavioural problems etc. Veterinary treatment can be costly especially if specialist referral treatment is required.

MICROCHIPS
Microchipping is a highly effective method of permanent identification widely used by the Police, Dog Wardens and Veterinary Surgeons.
A tiny chip, slightly bigger than a grain of rice, is inserted under the skin into the back of the neck. The microchip has a unique fifteen digit code which is registered to the pet and the owner’s details.
If your dog gets lost or stolen it greatly improves their chance of recovery. The cost of this is £18.

NEUTERING
It is advisable to get all pets that are not going to be used for breeding purposes neutered. Neutering can be done from 6 months of age. Castration in male dogs can help in reducing dominance and aggression, and prevent medical conditions such as hernias and certain cancers.
Spaying females avoids unwanted pregnancy and prevents a number of serious conditions, such as uterine infections and mammary tumours. The chances of these occurring are vastly reduced if your dog is spayed at 6 months.