Caring for Your Puppy: The Complete Guide for New Owners

Congratulations on your new puppy. Bringing a puppy into your home is exciting, rewarding, and at times a little overwhelming. The good news is that with the right care and guidance, your puppy will grow into a happy, healthy, and well-adjusted dog.

The first veterinary visit should happen within the first week of bringing your puppy home. This allows us to do a thorough health check, confirm vaccination status, discuss parasite prevention, and answer all your questions. Starting the relationship with your vet early is important - it also helps your puppy associate the clinic with positive experiences before anything stressful happens.

Vaccinations in puppies are given as a series: typically at 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks, and 14-16 weeks. Until the vaccination course is complete, avoid areas frequented by unvaccinated dogs. Puppy school is a valuable early socialisation experience and can start after the second vaccination.

Parasite prevention should start early. Worming every two weeks until 12 weeks of age, then monthly until 6 months, then quarterly. Flea and tick prevention from the first consultation. Heartworm prevention monthly from 12 weeks.

Nutrition: feed a puppy-specific diet appropriate for your dog's adult size. Large and giant breeds require specific large-breed puppy formulas to support appropriate growth rates and bone development. Feeding adult food to a puppy deprives them of essential nutrients for growth.

Desexing timing varies by breed and size. We will discuss the options and timing with you at your consultations as your puppy grows.

Call us on (03) 9592 9811 or book online at middlebrightonvet.com.au/book-online.