New Puppy
The first few weeks and months of your puppy’s life play a crucial role in the quality of life they will have as an adult dog.
In addition to socialization and behavioral training, your pet is growing at an incredible rate (in fact by the end of their first year of life, a dog is at the development equivalent of a 15-year-old in human years), so during this time it’s important to set up the foundations for a long and happy life. On this page, you will find our puppy healthcare checklist for the first six months of your puppy’s life.
Vaccinations
Your puppy’s vaccination course starts early, at about 6-8 weeks. Boosters are given every 4 weeks until the puppy is between 14-16 weeks old. Once your dog passes this milestone, an annual booster vaccination is given to ensure your dog’s antibody levels remain strong.
Intestinal worming
Intestinal worms can cause serious health problems in both puppies and humans (particularly children). Since many puppies are born with worms, we recommend fortnightly worming for puppies between 6 and 12 weeks of age. Between 12 weeks and 6 months, treatments should be administered once every 4 weeks. Once they reach 6 months of age, worming treatments are recommended every 3 months.
Heartworm
While prevalence in Victoria is low, heartworm is deadly in our dogs and therefore we strongly recommend always protecting your pet.
There are several different heartworm prevention solutions which can be given to your puppy from three months of age. These include monthly topical or oral treatments or an annual injection. Your vet will be able to advise you on the best heartworm protection for your puppy.
Fleas
Flea protection and treatment should be started as soon as possible to protect your puppy from annoying and painful skin irritations, anaemia, and tapeworm (fleas can carry tapeworm eggs). It’s important to use a product that provides protection and treatment for all life stages, not just as a preventer, some supermarket brands don’t offer full coverage. We offer oral or topical options for monthly, three-monthly and six-monthly application, as well as a convenient annual injection. Talk to our team about which product is right for your pet and lifestyle.
Nutrition
Puppies do a lot of growing in their first year of life and this needs to be supported with good nutrition. We recommend food that is specially formulated for puppies with a unique balance of nutrients including calcium to promote strong teeth and bones and is also easy to digest. Different sizes and breeds of dog grow at different rates during their first year of life, so it’s important to consult with your vet to determine your puppy’s unique nutritional requirements.
Need an appointment?
Where your pet’s unwell, or it’s time for a general check-up or vaccination, your furry friend is in good hands. Book online to see our expert Vets in Cranbourne!
Contact Details
Opening Hours
Monday – Friday: 8:00am – 7pm
Saturday: 8:30am – 2pm
Sunday: Closed
