Alternatively Speaking: Off to a Good Start

Dr. Anne Carroll DVM, CVA

Thanks to COVID, many of us are looking for ways to entertain ourselves, engage our kids, and let’s face it, add a little joy in these hard times. For many families, a new puppy or kitten fits the bill perfectly since being home more means having time to care for and supervise a new pet. There is a lot to prepare for those new arrivals, not the least of which is their first veterinary visits, and holistic approaches start early to give them advantages that can last a lifetime. For young animals, that means a visit in the first 8 to 10 weeks, often before their next vaccines are due. For older adoptees, they too should have an individualized plan to foster their health, so for any new pet, it is good to plan for a checkup the first week they arrive.

Why go to the vet before any shots are due? Compared to humans, animals fit that first 18 years of development in their first 8 to 12 months, so seeing your vet at 8 weeks of age equates to a first pediatrician visit at 2 years old! Given this timeframe, the first months of life are full of rapid transitions, during which the foundation for long term health is established and influenced for good or bad. Weaning occurs, requiring a digestive transition in the face of parasite irritation. Families and routines change, which is an emotional stress. Vaccines, dewormers, and sometimes other medications are given which their bodies have to process while they are still growing. Puberty, and possibly neutering, comes soon after. Some babies navigate these first hurdles without much fuss or intervention. Others struggle and whether or not they have Spring 2021

visible issues, early stresses to their digestion, immune system, and psyche can set the stage for physical and emotional problems during adulthood. This is why in our practice we suggest letting your new pet settle in for several days as long as they seem healthy, but then getting them in for their first visit right away to start them off on the right path to health.

The focus of those first visits is as always, digestion and nutrition. Many new pet owners are eager to improve the quality of food their new puppy or kitten is eating, or want to feed fresh foods instead of processed kibble. These are great goals, but an immediate diet change is not always helpful given all the potential digestive stresses going on inside. Most babies come with worms that are causing irritation, immune stress, and nutritional loss, so it’s best to first address intestinal parasites as soon as possible.

Earlier deworming before adoption can reduce parasite loads and serious problems, but usually can’t eliminate worms due to constant re-exposure between mom and siblings. Stools look fine? With few exceptions, adult worms stay inside the intestines, their passing eggs too small to see. It is important to have a fecal lab test done right off to identify parasites and plan how to deworm all the household pets properly. If there are any issues such as soft stools or being underweight, more testing may be needed, or simply more supports such as probiotics, nutritional supplements, or Chinese herbs to address the needs specific to a youngster’s digestion. Food therapy for pups or compromised dogs involves the slow introduction of easily digested foods like sweet potatoes and bone broth, which provide easily absorbed nutrition while supporting gut healing.

Once parasites have been addressed and your puppy or kitten is thriving, diet changes can be discussed. For cats, introduce a canned or dehydrated waterrich, animal-protein based diet early on so they don’t get hooked on dry food that will only contribute to health issues down the road. Puppies can get fresh foods as a small part of their diet to help establish the healthy gut bacterial population necessary for ideal digestive and immune function. However, a puppy’s nutritional requirements are strict for growth and differ for large or giant breeds compared to small dogs, adults, or those with pre-existing medical issues. Using a commercial diet, or home-cooking recipe specifically balanced for your puppy’s life

stage is recommended during their first year. If fresh feeding is not a good match, then a probiotic supplement is helpful as a digestive and immune support.

As dogs mature and their nutritional requirements are less strict, holistic diet plans will address constitutional patterns and the risk of any breed-related issues. Dry dander, waxy ears, rashes, soft stools, or timid behavior are all signals of imbalance. Just as we would use food therapy to help support illnesses later in life, we can use it in wellness plans for young animals to help regulate their systems and fortify against the development of problems later on.

While diet is super important, there are many other topics to cover early on for your new pet. Besides internal parasites, there are fleas, ear mites, and ticks to treat and decide how to protect against. Have a southern puppy? They will need to be on heartworm protection until they test negative, six months after leaving their southern home. Training, socialization, and evaluating your puppy for tendencies toward anxiety is super important to talk about in advance of developing phobias. This is true not only for rescue puppies and dogs but all pups due to COVID making socialization more difficult. Your vet can recommend how to use predictable routines, reward-based games, and safe “den” havens to create a secure environment in which dogs learn to navigate the world confidently, greatly impacting everyone’s quality of life. For those more anxious pups, pheromone collars that mimic a mother’s soothing, homeopathy, supplements that reduce baseline stress, and fresh foods or herbs that help ground emotions are all options to start discussing early on while your puppy is forming their opinions of the big world.

Let’s not forget where we started, the vaccines! Immunization is an important discussion and one to plan for ideally before the first shots are given. For some animals a traditional vaccination schedule starting at 8 weeks old makes sense. But understanding that a mother’s immunity can last up to 3 months, there may be some room to delay, especially in a puppy or kitten still struggling with parasites or digestive stresses. Mindfully reducing the risk of exposure while taking the time to help the immune system be ready to handle a vaccine well maybe a better approach, and deserves a conversation with your veterinarian before 12 weeks of age when vaccination becomes more important to begin.

So if you are ready to embark on a wonderful journey with a new companion, plan in advance as much as you can. Arrange for all the things you will need ready to provide a safe environment. Read up or contact your vet for information so the family can be ready with a consistent training plan. Consider emotional supports for the newcomer, as well as other pets who may need help adjusting to the change in the household too. Lastly, schedule their first checkup so after a little time to settle in and getting to know each other, you can collaborate with your vet to get them on a solid footing of good health for a long, happy life together.

Dr. Anne Carroll is the owner of the

Chelsea Animal Hospital where she and her associates practice conventional medicine and surgery as well as several alternative modalities including traditional Chinese acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. For more information on alternative veterinary medicine visit their website at www.chelseaanimalhospital.com. Spring 2021