Health

  • Puppy Shots 
    (Veterinarians may have slightly varying approaches to the series of puppy shots… due to living in different states or climates etc)
    We vaccinate our puppies at 6 weeks of age using Vanguard 5/CV and they receive 2 shots of Neopar to prevent Parvo. 
    If we keep puppies here we vaccinate at 9, 12, 16 and 20 weeks
    Rabies Vaccine 20 weeks – Bordatella (kennel cough)
    Heartworm protection starts at 16 weeks of age and as well as Frontline Plus.
    This is only what we do, I highly suggest to ask your vet what they suggest.
    1. Never put your puppy on the floor or examination table unless you have personally observed that is has been sanitized and disinfected. Although necessary, the veterinarians’ office is one of the most dangerous places you can take your puppy. As a vets office is one of the most dangerous places you can take your puppy as most pets go there due to illness.
    2. Never take your puppy to areas where dogs of unknown health may have visited. This would include walks outside of your property, pet stores, and especially Dog Parks until its immune system has fully developed meaning ALL shots have been given.  This included walks outside the boundaries of your property as parvo can be contracted by shoes, car tires and so forth.   This is why it is so important to get all the puppy vaccinations not just a few of them.
    3.  When receiving your puppy from the airport you are going to want to take that puppy from the crate and let the puppy go to the bathroom.  That is a HUGE NO, NO!  Don’t do it.   I know that sounds crazy but think of all the other dogs that have done the same thing and you don’t know if they had any disease or not.  Hundreds if not thousands of dogs fly through airports daily and yearly.  The Airport is a very horrible place to let a puppy that is not fully vaccinated out to go to the bathroom.   Treat this puppy as your baby and protect your puppy and find a safer place.
  • Worming Your Puppy
    Young puppies almost always need at least one worming and because of that, we use Drontal® Plus as it is a broad-spectrum anthelmintic tablet to treat tapeworm, roundworm, hookworm and whipworm infections in dogs and puppies.  I totally believe every new puppy buyer should redeworm their puppy again 2 weeks after getting their puppy from me.
    I DO NOT recommend getting the over the counter medicine but getting the medicine from a licensed veterinarian. 
    Puppies tend to put all kinds of stuff in their mouths from the time of birth until adulthood so it is no wonder why they may contract worms.
    Some people do use Fenbendazole (Safe Guard) 1ML per 5 pounds 
    for 3 days, but I would use it for 5 days to prevent Giardia if need be. 
    If you are already using this medicine to treat worms might as well do it for two more days and prevent/treat Giardia.
  • Rabies
    At 20 weeks old puppies get vaccinate which will be good for 1 year.  Our puppies then get revaccinated at 24 months old and this rabies shot will be good for 3 years.  Puppies must have a rabies shot in order to get a dog licenses, which is required by law.  Many vets over 16 weeks require you to have them rabies vaccinated in order for them to do a Health Certificate.  You will also need this in order to get your puppy groomed and sometimes required to go to your local vet.  Your vet will give you papers stating that your puppy/dog has had this shot.
  • Bordatella (Kennel Cough)
    If your dog will be boarded, groomed or going to dog shows, a yearly bordetella booster is highly recommended it can be administered under the skin or by the nose.  Bordetella typically causes no more than a mild illness however, it can cause severe illness or even death.
    We either use Bronchicine CAe which is an injection or Nobivac® Intra-Trac®3 which goes in their nose. 
    If you feel comfortable you can go to www.RevivalAnimalHealth.com and purchase
    Solo-Jec® KC which is one dose that goes up their nose. (Approx. $4.99 )
    Most vets will not allow you to purchase from an outside source and them administer.
  • Heartworm 
    Heartworm is endemic to most of the United States and prevention is the key.  We start on heartworm meds at 16 weeks of age and continue into adulthood.  We use Revolution which treats both fleas and heartworms which is wonderful.   However, I don’t use it on any breeding dogs as I have found that it prevents them from coming in heat.  But that is my own belief.
    I also do Heartworm preventative on the 1st of each month and any type of deworming on the 15th so this way the two medicines are not given at the same time.
    Ask your vet for more details on what you should be using on your pet!
  • Getting your puppy fixed 
    Some vets can do this as early as 8 weeks of age.  Some prefer after 12 weeks of age.
    Females usually want to do this before the puppy reaches 6 months prior to coming in heat.
    Males usually like to do this around 5 to 9 months of age.
    I highly recommend talking to your local vet and ask them what age they recommend.
    In some cities, it is cheaper to license your pet if they are fixed vs not fixed.
  • Fleas
    Besides Revolution which is for the prevention of heartworms and fleas, I use another line of defense to prevent my dogs from having them.  Dawn dish soap!  All I do is prepare a regular dog bath, I use an old empty bottle that I pour water in and then about 5 tablespoons of dawn or if I want to get crazy because I like suds I actually pour the dawn dish soap right on the dogs back, neck, ears, and rear end.  I wash as usual.  It’s believed that soap breaks down cell membranes and removes the wax from the insect cuticles.  As a result, insects can’t retain water and they quickly drown.  Killing them within minutes.  I make sure I leave it on there for a good 5 minutes.  Fleas tend to like the face, neck, ears, and privates but make sure you do the whole pet.  Because of stripping the oils from using the Dawn I recommend a high-quality conditioner after shampooing. When bathing my own puppies/dogs I usually use Dawn at the beginning of the bath, followed by a shampoo of my liking then followed by a really good conditioner.
    That is my routine and to me, that has prevented my puppies/dogs from getting fleas as I usually wash my dogs a lot as I don’t like my dogs to look dingy.
    Getting a new puppy from anyone I recommend giving them a bath in Dawn dish soap! ” Use at your own risk”
  • Allergies
    Allergies particularly food allergies. It is been found that many dogs have issues with chicken, wheat, and soy just to name a few.


  • Vizsla Standard 


 

  • Liability:
    I’ll tell you what I use and do, you can use your own judgment whether you want to follow in my footsteps.
    This article is presented only as documentation of how to do things for our Vizslas at our house.
    Should you have a concern regarding the health of your Vizsla, you should contact your veterinarian. All information on this site is presented solely for educational and informational purposes and should not, at any time, be considered a substitute for seeking or receiving veterinary care for your Vizsla(s).