What does my dog need to stay healthy?
Core Vaccinations - all dogs need these vaccinations
"Distemper"/DHPP /DAPP
Initial Vaccination
Less than 16 weeks: Give a combination vaccination every 4 weeks until they are 16 weeks old
Greater than 16 weeks: Give 2 doses of a combination vaccine, 4 weeks apart.
Revaccination
Single dose of a combination vaccine within 1 year of the last dose of the initial vaccine series, then every 3 years.
Rabies
Give the initial vaccination at 3 months. Revaccinate in one year.
After the initial series, revaccinate every 3 years. The first vaccination is good for only one year no matter what their age at first vaccination.
If your pet experiences problems after their vaccination(s), please go to the post vaccination page.
"Distemper"/DHPP /DAPP
Initial Vaccination
Less than 16 weeks: Give a combination vaccination every 4 weeks until they are 16 weeks old
Greater than 16 weeks: Give 2 doses of a combination vaccine, 4 weeks apart.
Revaccination
Single dose of a combination vaccine within 1 year of the last dose of the initial vaccine series, then every 3 years.
Rabies
Give the initial vaccination at 3 months. Revaccinate in one year.
After the initial series, revaccinate every 3 years. The first vaccination is good for only one year no matter what their age at first vaccination.
If your pet experiences problems after their vaccination(s), please go to the post vaccination page.
Non-Core vaccinations - give only to dog's that need these based on life-style
Leptospirosis Starting at 12 weeks of age give two doses 4 weeks apart. Repeat every year.
After 16 weeks, give two doses 4 weeks apart. Repeat every year.
"Kennel Cough" One dose initially, repeat yearly.
Does my dog need a Leptospirosis vaccination?
Yes, if they spend time outdoors where there are wild animals.
Yes, if they swim or wade in freshwater rivers or lakes.
Yes, if they drink from freshwater rivers, lakes or puddles.
Yes, if they walk or lay on soil where wildlife or livestock have urinated.
Does my dog need a Kennel Cough vaccination?
Yes, if they stay at a boarding kennel.
Yes, if they spend time in a doggie daycare.
Yes, if they attend or participate in dog shows.
Yes, if they are groomed.
Yes, if they visit dog parks.
Heartworm disease
Your dog catches this parasite from a mosquito bite. Because of the mild winters in South Carolina these worms are very prevalent here. They cause severe lung disease, heart damage and can cause other organs in the body to fail. Preventing the parasite from becoming an adult in your dog is simple and easy. Most are year around monthly treats. We take a small blood sample from your dog to test for a heartworm infection before starting them on the medication. Treatment, once they have the adult worms, is costly, time consuming and hard on your dog (the treatment contains arsenic!) The longer the parasite resides in your dog the more damage it does.
Your dog catches this parasite from a mosquito bite. Because of the mild winters in South Carolina these worms are very prevalent here. They cause severe lung disease, heart damage and can cause other organs in the body to fail. Preventing the parasite from becoming an adult in your dog is simple and easy. Most are year around monthly treats. We take a small blood sample from your dog to test for a heartworm infection before starting them on the medication. Treatment, once they have the adult worms, is costly, time consuming and hard on your dog (the treatment contains arsenic!) The longer the parasite resides in your dog the more damage it does.
Intestinal Parasites
There are a whole host of parasites that can reside in your dogs' intestinal tract. With the mild winters in South Carolina these guys are frequently present. The most common ones are prevented by the monthly heartworm treatment that you give your dog. Picking up feces within 24 hours is the best way to keep these parasites from living in the environment and keeps the worm burden under control.
Roundworm: Puppies can get these when in their mother's uterus. Adults get by eating dirt, birds and rodents. It is important to keep these under control because children can get them from the soil. As the parasites migrate through the body of a child they can cause organ damage and if they travel to the eye can cause vision damage.
Hookworm: Puppies can pick this up from their mother's milk. The larvae can penetrate the skin, and infect animals that way. Dogs can also get them from eating rodents and cockroaches.
Whipworm: Most heartworm preventatives do not prevent this parasite. It can be very difficult to remove from the environment. This parasite can cause bloody diarrhea with mucus.
All puppies should be given a dewormer named pyrantel every 2 weeks, starting at 2 weeks of age, until they start on heartworm prevention at 8 weeks of age.
There are a whole host of parasites that can reside in your dogs' intestinal tract. With the mild winters in South Carolina these guys are frequently present. The most common ones are prevented by the monthly heartworm treatment that you give your dog. Picking up feces within 24 hours is the best way to keep these parasites from living in the environment and keeps the worm burden under control.
Roundworm: Puppies can get these when in their mother's uterus. Adults get by eating dirt, birds and rodents. It is important to keep these under control because children can get them from the soil. As the parasites migrate through the body of a child they can cause organ damage and if they travel to the eye can cause vision damage.
Hookworm: Puppies can pick this up from their mother's milk. The larvae can penetrate the skin, and infect animals that way. Dogs can also get them from eating rodents and cockroaches.
Whipworm: Most heartworm preventatives do not prevent this parasite. It can be very difficult to remove from the environment. This parasite can cause bloody diarrhea with mucus.
All puppies should be given a dewormer named pyrantel every 2 weeks, starting at 2 weeks of age, until they start on heartworm prevention at 8 weeks of age.
Fleas
These critters love the long hot Carolina summers! They can quickly get out of control if your pet is not kept on prevention. Besides the discomfort for your pet and the yuck factor, they carry disease, can give your pet tapeworms, and, if severe enough, can cause anemia (especially in puppies). Please ask us what we recommend to keep these things under control. Regular flea and tick collars do a very poor job of stopping them.
These critters love the long hot Carolina summers! They can quickly get out of control if your pet is not kept on prevention. Besides the discomfort for your pet and the yuck factor, they carry disease, can give your pet tapeworms, and, if severe enough, can cause anemia (especially in puppies). Please ask us what we recommend to keep these things under control. Regular flea and tick collars do a very poor job of stopping them.
Ticks
We have a large number and diversity of ticks, and they keep increasing due to climate change. The tick can transmit many diseases. These include Ehrlichia, Richettsia, and Lyme disease. There are many options for tick prevention.
We have a large number and diversity of ticks, and they keep increasing due to climate change. The tick can transmit many diseases. These include Ehrlichia, Richettsia, and Lyme disease. There are many options for tick prevention.
