3 minute read
NEW PUPPY, NEW RESPONSIBILITIES
By Dr. Ruben Castro
As a new puppy owner, your role in ensuring your dog’s health and longevity is crucial. This responsibility begins with choosing a veterinarian wisely. Here are five key tips to remember, empowering you to keep your puppy as healthy as possible:
If you already have a dog, it would be a great idea to take it to meet your potential new puppy. This is the best way to see if your potential new puppy and your current dog will get along. Pay close attention to how your current dog reacts to any potential puppy you are considering adding to your home.
Some puppies may come with a dewormer, but you can never be too sure. It is always best to err on the side of caution and start your puppy on its vaccines as if it never had them.
Schedule an appointment with a veterinarian within a few days of receiving your puppy. Choose one that allows you to be in the room with your puppy. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many veterinary clinics no longer allow dog owners to be inside the examination room with their pets. This is unbelievable because you can only consult with the front desk staff and, sometimes, the veterinarian about your dog’s health. I take my dogs to Rescue Pet 911 because you can be in the same room with your dog and speak to the veterinarian.
Once the veterinarian sees your puppy, tell them you just received it. The veterinarian should perform a physical inspection and schedule you to return every three weeks so your puppy can receive four booster vaccines, including the rabies vaccine.
When your puppy is on its third or fourth round of booster vaccines, ask the veterinarian when you can schedule your puppy to be spayed or neutered. Aside from controlling the dog population, spaying or neutering your dog may also prevent medical and behavioral problems from developing, which will allow them to live a longer, healthier, and happier life with you. Also, for bitches, being spayed reduces the risk of mammary gland tumors, and ovarian and uterine cancer is reduced or eliminated.
Choosing to adopt a furry companion from a nearby animal shelter is a decision filled with compassion and joy. Within these shelters, a diverse array of young and old dogs eagerly await a loving home. If you have yet to experience the heartwarming atmosphere of an animal shelter, I highly recommend a visit. Volunteering your time can be incredibly rewarding, as shelters are always grateful for helping hands. My wife and I dedicated our Saturdays for nearly two years to the Palm Valley Animal Society (PVAC), where we delighted in walking the dogs, knowing we were bringing a bit of brightness into their lives.
Dr. Castro is a proud Catholic who is a husband, father, and educator born and raised in the RGV. He is a graduate of Northcentral University with a doctorate in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership. He also holds a Master of Science in Sociology from the University of Texas-Pan American and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, with a minor in Psychology from the University of Texas-Pan American. Dr. Castro’s current research focuses on Education, Crime and Deviance, and Race and Ethnicity. He is also the owner of the K&B Dog Learning Cener, Inc.
