You have just Purchased a new Living and Breathing Puppy

Not a Coffee Table

Just like sending your human child off to their first day in kindergarten, your new puppy is starting a new, and the most critical, phase of development and learning. He or she will be exposed to new things including viruses, parasites and stress.

As a breeder, I have done all I can to ensure your new canine family member is healthy. I have raised them properly in a clean and nurturing environment, they have been regularly dewormed, given several vaccines that will aid in their protection, taken them to my veterinarian where they were given a full physical exam, fecal check was found negative and dewormed again. This process doesn’t stop there and problems can occur no matter how careful I have been or you will be.

Puppies under 16-18 weeks are very susceptible to any new changes or invasive organisms that want to take advantage of their young and fragile systems. Just a visit to the vets office, being introduced to a new home or social interaction can cause them to have loose stool due to a “bloom” of single celled organisms they come into contact with.

These single celled organisms are in the soil, standing water, bird fecal matter and on the majority of organic outdoor matter. Your puppy will come into contact with these little buggers, especially at your vets office and public dog areas, when they are outside. Though this is not anything to be overly alarmed about, it can become serious if your puppy develops loose stool and is left unattended, so preventative measures are always the best bet.

Be sure to take your puppy to a veterinarian for a full exam and fecal test as soon as soon as you can and (for sure) within 14 days of coming home as the vet visit will give us both peace of mind or address any issues that may be popping up. If you wait longer than 14 days after the date on the health certificate your puppy will test positive for hookworms. It is just the nature of things here in Florida, where hookworms can store in the body and soil and activate and grow at any time. Intestinal worms are relentless and you may have a positive fecal result but do not panic if this happens. This is the reason all puppies must be dewormed at regular intervals. If you don’t have a positive result then that is great news but still always follow through on your deworming schedule to be sure you are free and clear. Please also read my Parasites article.

Please be sure that your puppy is dewormed with Moxidectin to be sure hookworms are controlled. If your veterinarian does not follow this procedure, that is up to him or her, but please be advised that we have participated in the University of Georgia Parasitology study on hookworm resistance, and it has been proven that Moxidectin is the only dewormer that has been found to be effective. Fenbendazole is the next choice, but should be given at a heavy dose for 3 days in a row and that series needs to be repeated 13 days later.

Let your vet know if you have any concerns and please be kind enough to contact me with any news good or bad. I need to be kept aware, mindful of all issues that may arise and always proactive. I hope you enjoy your new puppy and please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.