Dog Care

  • Male dog neutering, otherwise known as sterilisation, "fixing", desexing, castration (castrating) or by its correct veterinary name: orchiectomy is the surgical removal of a male dog's testicles for the purposes of canine population control, medical health benefit, genetic-disease control and behavioral modification. Considered to be a basic component of responsible pet ownership, the neutering of male dogs is a common surgical procedure that is performed by most veterinary clinics.

    Benefits of Neutering (males):

    • Reduces or eliminates risk of spraying and marking

    • Less desire to roam, therefore less likely to be injured in fights or auto accidents

    • Risk of testicular cancer is eliminated, and decreases incidence of prostate disease

    • Reduces number of unwanted dogs/puppies

    • Decreases aggressive behavior, including dog bites

    • Helps dogs live longer, healthier lives

  • Spay Surgery is the operation done on female dogs to make sure they cannot have babies. Spay surgery in Canada is usually an ovariohysterectomy, which means both the ovaries and the uterus are removed. The spaying of a dog or cat is best performed at 5 to 6 months of age.

    BENEFITS OF SPAYING YOUR DOGS

    • Reduces the canine overpopulation

    • Prevention of diseases in your dogs such as pyometra (infection of the uterus) and mammary cancer (cancer of the mammary glands)

    • Eliminates the chances of developing mastitis (infection of the mammary glands). This can be potentially fatal if not treated in time.

    • Keeps the unwanted male animals away.

    • Prevents diseases of the uterus and ovaries.

    • Eliminates Pseudopregnancies. Some females go through a false pregnancy every time they come into heat.

  • By the age of three, some 80 percent of all dogs show signs of dental disease, which can lead to the more serious problems of heart, lung, and kidney disease. Periodontal disease can be prevented and treated. No other procedure performed on small animals does more to help patients than periodic teeth cleaning and after care As plaque and tartar form on teeth and under gums, bacteria collect and multiply. This creates a state of poor dental hygiene that causes foul mouth odor and is cause for concern. Eventually gum disease will develop. More serious health problems, such as heart and kidney disease, may follow. Proper nutrition is central to sound oral health. Along with good nutrition, an annual dental prophylaxis (ultrasonic cleaning, polishing and fluoride treatment) included in your pet’s regular health care program will help maintain good oral hygiene and prevent complications.

  • It is highly recommended to spay and neuter all animals that are not intended for breeding. In female dogs, spaying prevents heat cycles from occurring approximately every 5 months, and if performed before the first or second heat cycle, lowers the chance of mammary cancer. Spaying also prevents pyometra (a life-threatening uterine infection) and, most importantly, pregnancy and unwanted or poorly bred puppies. We recommend spaying females at about 5-6 months of age. Males should be neutered to prevent unwanted pregnancies and to lower the likelihood of prostate problems. Further, neutering inhibits the urge to run away in search of females and helps you avoid some behavioral issues, such as aggression and/or dominance.

  • Your puppy will do well on two feedings a day (feeding three times a day is not necessary, but is OK if the puppy is under 16 weeks of age). Occasionally, some of the toy breeds need to be fed numerous small meals throughout the day, due to a low blood sugar condition. Your veterinarian will advise you if your puppy needs to eat more frequently. Adult dog food contains all the nutrients that puppies and adult dogs need. You may feed your small breed puppy either adult or puppy dry food, if you wish. Large breed puppies should eat large breed puppy food or adult food to help avoid developmental bone diseases.

    You may feed the food dry or you can dampen it with warm water. A very young puppy may need its kibble softened, but older pups can eat crunchy food. Your puppy should eat quickly and act slightly hungry when it is finished. A puppy should take no longer than 10 minutes to finish a meal. Most will finish the meal in a minute or so. If your puppy takes longer, or if it walks away while there is still food in the bowl, then you are probably feeding too much food.

  • All puppies need to be trained. The most effective time to begin training your puppy is NOW. Training is best accomplished by attending a class with your puppy. Early socialization is CRITICAL. This means socialization with humans, dogs, and other animals. Look for training clubs, schools, and private trainers for your puppy.

  • All puppies need exercise. Puppies do well if they can run freely in a safe, enclosed yard. Walking and gentle jogging on leash are also good exercise, as is swimming. Playing “fetch” in a fenced area or on a long leash is one way to exercise a dog without having to do much exercise yourself. It is fine to let your dog play, in a supervised and safe environment, with other dogs that are close to its same size.

    IMPORTANT NOTE: It is important to keep your puppy away from public parks or areas of grass and dirt where other unknown dogs may have defecated due to the risk of parvovirus. Parvovirus is a terrible virus causing vomiting and diarrhea and possibly death. The virus can live in the environment for years; however fully vaccinated dogs are immune to it.

  • It is usually necessary and not harmful to routinely deworm puppies. Because most puppies will get roundworms from their mothers during nursing or across the placenta during development, they should all be dewormed twice, approximately 3 weeks apart. Broad spectrum dewormers are used for routine deworming in puppies as well as adult dogs to prevent the stress of worms on their body.

Why Should I vaccinate my dog?

When you choose to vaccinate your dog you save them from contracting many diseases-that before vaccines existed were killing pets every day. There are five ‘core vaccines’ that are essential for every dog to have routinely-canine distemper, canine parvovirus, canine adenovirus (infectious canine hepatitis), and parainfluenza. Rabies vaccine is given as an additional injection.

When should the vaccination program begin?

A typical routine will be 8, 12 and 16 weeks for the first vaccinations. We give these multiple dosages aiming to ensure the animals are vaccinated at a point when their level of maternal antibodies (the protection against infectious diseases passed on by the mother) is no longer high enough to defeat the disease.

After the three puppy vaccines, they are generally administered every year.

DHPPV - ( Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and Parvo virus combination)  vaccine is given at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. After the three puppy vaccination this vaccine is generally administered every year.

Rabies  - vaccination at 14 - 16 weeks of age then every year.

Bordetella or Kennel Cough vaccine for the dogs going to kennel, doggy daycare, off leash parks, or dog show done 12, and 16 weeks of age and then every year.

If you would like to make an appointment for your dog vaccination in Calgary please call us or contact us at our following address