Veterinary Care Information
On this page:
- Routine Puppy Vet Visits
- More About Vaccinations
- Routine Adult Vet Visits
- Non-routine Vet Visits
Routine Puppy Care
The initial exam within 48 hours of purchase is for a physical, fecal float, flea/heartworm dose, and microchip. No shots are needed unless it's been at least 3 weeks since the shots the breeder had done at the breeder's vet. The breeder uses a licensed vet; there is no reason to repeat the shots before 3 weeks have passed due to questionable shots - do not let your veterinarian bully you. Bring along the health certificate to your veterinarian. In addition to what is on the health certificate, we deworm at home using pyrantel at 2,3,4,6, 8, and 10 weeks. If you've misplaced the health certificate, ask the breeder to have the breeder's vet fax over vaccination records.
The 2nd exam should be 3-4 weeks after the first shots that the breeder had done at the breeder's vet. This visit should include at a minimum: physical exam, 2nd dose of DAPPv, Bordetella, Lepto, fecal float(bring a stool sample), deworming, and flea/heart worm dose.
The 3rd exam should be 3-4 weeks after the second shots. This visit should include everything in the 2nd exam PLUS rabies and the county rabies license tag and fee.
Notes:
In the final puppy exam, you will need take home flea/heartworm to last to the next exam, due not later than 1 year after the rabies. You can break up the Rx into portions. You are entitled to get the Rx if you want to shop around.
Ears: The cocker spaniel has long fluffy ears and is extremely likely at some point(if not frequently) to have a yeast infection in the ears. Asking for a standing Rx for Miconazole ear drops is in your puppy's best interest. Keep a bottle at home so you have it on hand to treat promptly.
Heartworm: Heartworm prevention treatments started before 6 months old generally keep you from needing a heartworm exam between 6 months and 1 year.
Rabies: Be sure to schedule your next rabies vaccination before the current rabies vaccination expires in order to qualify for the 3 year vaccination.
The 2nd exam should be 3-4 weeks after the first shots that the breeder had done at the breeder's vet. This visit should include at a minimum: physical exam, 2nd dose of DAPPv, Bordetella, Lepto, fecal float(bring a stool sample), deworming, and flea/heart worm dose.
The 3rd exam should be 3-4 weeks after the second shots. This visit should include everything in the 2nd exam PLUS rabies and the county rabies license tag and fee.
Notes:
- Between shots, a spacing of 4 weeks is preferred. If you do boosters every 3 weeks, depending on the age of the puppy when you got it, it may not be 16 weeks old, so your vet may request you come for a 4th exam at or after 16 weeks old. This 4th exam would then give rabies and possibly a 4th dose of DAPPv. A third dose of Bordetella and Lepto will not be needed. Another fecal float and deworming is recommended if a prior one was positive. You can avoid the excessive 4th exam by spreading visits to 4 weeks instead of 3.
- The vet may also suggest a separate visit for just the rabies and no other shots. Ask why. If your puppy is in good health, there may be no reason to do this other than the vet or the vaccine company has their own policy.
In the final puppy exam, you will need take home flea/heartworm to last to the next exam, due not later than 1 year after the rabies. You can break up the Rx into portions. You are entitled to get the Rx if you want to shop around.
Ears: The cocker spaniel has long fluffy ears and is extremely likely at some point(if not frequently) to have a yeast infection in the ears. Asking for a standing Rx for Miconazole ear drops is in your puppy's best interest. Keep a bottle at home so you have it on hand to treat promptly.
Heartworm: Heartworm prevention treatments started before 6 months old generally keep you from needing a heartworm exam between 6 months and 1 year.
Rabies: Be sure to schedule your next rabies vaccination before the current rabies vaccination expires in order to qualify for the 3 year vaccination.
More About Vaccinations
A puppy gets initial and booster vaccinations every 3-4 weeks from 8 weeks to 16 weeks because during this time mother's antibodies are still present from nursing and the puppy's immunity is not yet established. Mother's antibodies prevent vaccinations from being fully effective. Without testing for antibodies, this protocol has been established by the veterinary community to cover this unknown period. At 16 weeks on average a puppy is going to be able to receive a fully effective dose. This is why it's considered unsafe for puppies to be exposed prior to getting 16+ week shots. You as the owner must weigh the benefits of socializing over the risks of illness. Illness can be prevented by socializing on your property, using a pet stroller, not letting the puppy be in contact with surfaces other pets have been in contact with, and avoiding direct contact with other pets. The breeder votes on socializing using preventative measures and avoiding dog areas, but the risk is yours to take.
Rabies - A core vaccine. Canine rabies was eradicated but due to imports of rescues from other countries without proper incubation holding periods, it has been reintroduced to Southwest USA. Rabies in other species does exist and you can check your county's statistics. Commonly it is found in racoons. Rabies is deadly. Rabies vaccination is required by law. Puppy boosters are not needed. Annual (or tri-annual) boosters are required by law. After an initial 1 year dose, you can get a 3 year dose as long as it's not been over a year from the initial dose. There is no reason not to do a 3 year rabies vaccination. Approval on a longer duration dose should be fairly soon. Ask your vet about it next year to see if there is an update.
DAPPv - These are all core vaccines. Where ever you live, these are going to be musts. 3 boosters are typically given not less than 3 weeks apart. Different vets have different protocols if they've not kept up with the latest vaccination schedule recommendations or you have a high risk lifestyle.
Leptospirosis and Bordetella - Non-core vaccines. These are optional. We do not typically do them at the initial 8 week vaccination, so talk to us by 6 weeks old if you want either. Lepto is said to be passed by contagious rats/animals into water, your dog then drinks the water. It's rare; mostly a problem in rural areas. It is zoonotic(passed from dogs to humans). Bordetella(often called "Kennel Cough") is basically a cold passed between animals. It's mostly a concern if your dog is kennel boarded or in poorly ventilated areas with large numbers of other pets. Not generally a risk to healthy adults that never go to dog facilities. Having it done annually means if you need unexpected boarding, your dog is good to go. Both of these should be given to slightly older puppies, first as an initial dose at the second vaccination and check up visit and then 1 booster at the third vaccination and check up visit(it is not a 3 dose vaccine like DAPPv). If you need to board between the ready date and 12 weeks old, please note in most cases we do not charge boarding until 10 weeks old. Puppies with us
Other vaccines(such as Lyme, Corona, & Canine Influenza)- Non-core, rarely recommended. Your vet may bring them up. Ask what the risk factors are. Ask what dog populations are at risk. Ask how many cases have been reported in the area and factor in if you have travel plans. Consider your lifestyle to determine if your dog is at risk. As Canine Influenza, like any human flu, morphs, vaccine immunity is not guaranteed. Not given at 8 weeks old. If you choose to do them, we suggest you do them on a separate vaccination visit.
Under vaccinating and anti-vaccination: If you're for less or no vaccinating, you should know maternal antibodies have been found in puppies up to 26 weeks old. This means the first shots the puppy comes with will not cover a puppy for life, at least one needs to be at or after 16 weeks old, but there is still a tiny chance puppy boosters are not fully effective. Another dose at or after a year old is needed for maximum immunity in most cases. Titer annually thereafter. Rabies titers are not currently valid to meet rabies vaccination laws. You must get new rabies vaccinations; there is a 3 year vaccine that you can get after an initial 1 year vaccine. Lack of socialization due to not getting vaccinated and wanting to limit exposure risk will cause actual long term harm for your puppy compared to whatever your concern vaccination might cause.
Rabies - A core vaccine. Canine rabies was eradicated but due to imports of rescues from other countries without proper incubation holding periods, it has been reintroduced to Southwest USA. Rabies in other species does exist and you can check your county's statistics. Commonly it is found in racoons. Rabies is deadly. Rabies vaccination is required by law. Puppy boosters are not needed. Annual (or tri-annual) boosters are required by law. After an initial 1 year dose, you can get a 3 year dose as long as it's not been over a year from the initial dose. There is no reason not to do a 3 year rabies vaccination. Approval on a longer duration dose should be fairly soon. Ask your vet about it next year to see if there is an update.
DAPPv - These are all core vaccines. Where ever you live, these are going to be musts. 3 boosters are typically given not less than 3 weeks apart. Different vets have different protocols if they've not kept up with the latest vaccination schedule recommendations or you have a high risk lifestyle.
Leptospirosis and Bordetella - Non-core vaccines. These are optional. We do not typically do them at the initial 8 week vaccination, so talk to us by 6 weeks old if you want either. Lepto is said to be passed by contagious rats/animals into water, your dog then drinks the water. It's rare; mostly a problem in rural areas. It is zoonotic(passed from dogs to humans). Bordetella(often called "Kennel Cough") is basically a cold passed between animals. It's mostly a concern if your dog is kennel boarded or in poorly ventilated areas with large numbers of other pets. Not generally a risk to healthy adults that never go to dog facilities. Having it done annually means if you need unexpected boarding, your dog is good to go. Both of these should be given to slightly older puppies, first as an initial dose at the second vaccination and check up visit and then 1 booster at the third vaccination and check up visit(it is not a 3 dose vaccine like DAPPv). If you need to board between the ready date and 12 weeks old, please note in most cases we do not charge boarding until 10 weeks old. Puppies with us
Other vaccines(such as Lyme, Corona, & Canine Influenza)- Non-core, rarely recommended. Your vet may bring them up. Ask what the risk factors are. Ask what dog populations are at risk. Ask how many cases have been reported in the area and factor in if you have travel plans. Consider your lifestyle to determine if your dog is at risk. As Canine Influenza, like any human flu, morphs, vaccine immunity is not guaranteed. Not given at 8 weeks old. If you choose to do them, we suggest you do them on a separate vaccination visit.
Under vaccinating and anti-vaccination: If you're for less or no vaccinating, you should know maternal antibodies have been found in puppies up to 26 weeks old. This means the first shots the puppy comes with will not cover a puppy for life, at least one needs to be at or after 16 weeks old, but there is still a tiny chance puppy boosters are not fully effective. Another dose at or after a year old is needed for maximum immunity in most cases. Titer annually thereafter. Rabies titers are not currently valid to meet rabies vaccination laws. You must get new rabies vaccinations; there is a 3 year vaccine that you can get after an initial 1 year vaccine. Lack of socialization due to not getting vaccinated and wanting to limit exposure risk will cause actual long term harm for your puppy compared to whatever your concern vaccination might cause.
Routine Adult Vet Visits
Annual exams are due not more than 1 year after the first rabies shot. They should include physical exam, rabies, DAPPv, fecal float, deworming, heartworm test, and annual flea/heartworm prevention treatments. Write down any minor concerns so you'll not forget to bring them up.
We highly recommend routine sedation teeth cleaning. You will need to ask the vet if they think a cleaning is in order. Your habits and the dogs habits will make timing variable, but generally a 1 year old dog is starting to show build up and a 2 year old dog could use a cleaning. After age 7, a dog will need bloodwork done before they will do sedation.
We recommend having blood work done prior to the first sedation. This establishes a base line for comparison in the future.
We highly recommend routine sedation teeth cleaning. You will need to ask the vet if they think a cleaning is in order. Your habits and the dogs habits will make timing variable, but generally a 1 year old dog is starting to show build up and a 2 year old dog could use a cleaning. After age 7, a dog will need bloodwork done before they will do sedation.
We recommend having blood work done prior to the first sedation. This establishes a base line for comparison in the future.
Non-routine Vet Visits
Expect the unexpected! Pet insurance is recommended. If for any reason you can't keep the puppy, bring it back to us.