DOG SUPPLIES  Dog food, treats, kennels, beds, cushions, grooming equipment, toys, collars, harnesses, leads, flea, tick & worm treatments, behavioural training, first aid kits & much more... |
CAT SUPPLIES  Cat food, treats, houses, beds, cushions, grooming equipment, toys, collars, leads, ID tags, flea, tick & worm treatments, behavioural training, first aid kits & much more... |
BIRD SUPPLIES  Bird food, treats, seeds, pellets, wormers, lice treatments, cage toys, and equipment for cockatiels, budgerigars, parrots, finches, canaries & most domestic birds... |
HORSE SUPPLIES  Equine supplies for all breeds of horses. Grooming products, medication, digestive aids, enzymes, worming products, supplements and much more... |
SMALL ANIMAL SUPPLIES  Small animal supplies for all types of animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, rats and mice. Rabbit food, shampoo, flea and worming products... |
REPTILE SUPPLIES  Reptile supplies and equipment for snakes and lizards. Bedding, substrates, sands, disinfectants, cleaners, reptile food, supplements and much more... |
FARM ANIMAL SUPPLIES  Farm animal supplies for chickens, cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. Supplements, wormers, needles, disinfectants, general care products and much more... |
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Owning a puppy is a big responsibility as you well know, it is rather like having a baby except you did not give birth to it and it has teeth so it loves to chew! They require that same care and time and you become responsible for all of its needs including, feeding, vaccination, worming, companionship etc... for the rest of its life (which can often be 14 years or more). Below are a few notes to help get you started looking after your new pup.
Puppies are more susceptible to intestinal worms than adult dogs so regular worming treatment is extremely important. Puppies need to be wormed against hookworm, roundworm, tapeworm and whipworm. Worm infestation can cause ill-thrift, diarrhoea, vomiting and in severe cases death. Pups need to be wormed every 2 weeks until they are 12 weeks old and then monthly until they are 6 months old and then every 3 months for the rest of their life. If you have young children in the family or interacting with your peps then worming is even more important as some worms can cause disease which can lead to blindness and possible brain damage in severe cases. This rare but definitely not worth the risk! Always keep your pups worming up to date and make sure that children wash their hands after playing with any dog or puppy. See our worming products page for dogs. VACCINATION All puppies need to be vaccinated against Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis and Para influenza which is the viral part of kennel cough. The first 3 of these diseases are quite often fatal if contracted even despite intensive veterinary treatment. The following vaccination program is recommended for all puppies: 6-8 weeks – Primary vaccine against Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis and Para influenza (PC4) 12 weeks - Another vaccine against Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis and Para influenza (PC4) 16 weeks – Another vaccine against Parvovirus, Distemper, Hepatitis and Para influenza (PC4) There is also an additional vaccine that is available which provides protection against Bordatella which is the bacterial part of kennel cough. This is given at 16 weeks and then every year with the annual booster and is known as C5. This additional vaccine is particularly recommended if you dogs mixes with another dog or will spend any time in a boarding kennel. Annual boosters are recommended every 12 months after the 16 week booster. HEARTWORM PREVENTION Heartworm disease is a very common problem in dogs in coastal areas. This is because immature heartworm are transmitted by mosquitoes meaning all dogs are at risk. Treatment is available for dogs that do get infected however it is complex and expensive. In this case prevention is definitely better than cure! Start your pup on daily or monthly prevention when they are 12 weeks old. This will be decided by your routine and preference. Older dogs not on prevention will require a blood test before starting because if preventative medication is given to a dog that already has heartworm, in some cases it can lead to a potentially fatal allergic reaction. See our worming products page for dogs. TRAINING To have the best possible relationship with your dog that is both happy and rewarding, it is essential to train your dog. It is important to start basic training and Puppy Pre-School as soon as possible so that he or she is socialised with people especially children and other dogs at an early age. The earlier and better socialised the pup the better the dogs nature will be when it is older. When your puppy is older a obedience class can be very helpful both for you and your dog. FEEDING What to feed your pup will vary between individual owners and their dogs but a diet consisting of premium dry dog food such as Advance, Hills or Proplan is best in terms of optimal nutrition. Some owners will mix a small amount of wet premium food, fresh mince or chicken in with the dry food (approx 1/4 wet food and 3/4 dry food). Raw bones and tried bones and treats are good for your pup to help develop jaw muscles and keep teeth clean. Please see our premium pet food products and treats. GROOMING Puppies need to be washed and looked after. It is best to use a mild and gentle dog shampoo to avoid irritation. |
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