Contents:

• Bringing your puppy home
• Heartworm
• Intestinal Worms
• Fleas
• Vaccinations - What to Have and When
• Microchipping
• Nutrition and Exercise
• Skin and Coat Care
• Setting the Rules
• House Training
• Chewing Things Over
• Teeth, Ear and Eyes

Bringing your puppy home The cute little puppy you’ve just brought home will be good for your whole family’s health. True! It’s a scientific fact that pet owners enjoy improved cholesterol health, lower blood pressure and recover from illness and surgery quicker. Children also benefit from increased self esteem and better social skills. But remember, to reap the benefits a puppy can bring, it is vital to ensure your puppy is kept healthy and happy. One of the best ways to do this is to protect your dog from parasites such as worms and fleas and follow some simple grooming, nutrition and general care rules.

Heartworm Heartworm disease can kill, so it is vital to protect your puppy from day one. Heartworm is carried by mosquitoes which transfer the parasite from infected dogs to new host puppies and dogs. Adult heartworm can grow up to 30 cm long. They live in the blood vessels of the heart and lungs, restricting blood flow, which can lead to heart failure. What to look for The first signs of heartworm infection are usually a cough, lack of energy, weight loss, loss of coat condition and a reduction in your dog’s ability to exercise. Your veterinarian can test to see if your dog is infected. Treatment is available. However, prevention is the key. Novartis' SENTINEL SPECTRUM and INTERCEPTOR® SPECTRUM both protect against heartworm, major intestinal worms including tapeworm, and SENTINEL   SPECTRUM also protects against fleas. You should start heartworm prevention as early as possible. Dogs starting later than six months of age may require a test to determine if they are already infected with heartworm.

Intestinal Worms

It’s recommended to worm your puppy at 2, 4, 8 and 12 weeks of age.
After 12 weeks of age, monthly worming helps keep your dog healthy and reduces the risk of infecting you and your family with canine worms.
In some areas of Australia you may require additional worming tablets due to specific parasites in those areas – check with your veterinarian.

Some common worms

Roundworm Most puppies are born with roundworm infections acquired before birth. Warning signs include diarrhoea, vomiting, poor growth and a ‘potbelly’ appearance. Dogs can also become infected by eating soil contaminated with roundworm eggs or eating other hosts such as mice or birds.
Hookworm Hookworms attach to a dog’s intestinal lining, cutting into the lining and feeding on the blood and fluid released. Bloody diarrhoea is a common sign. Puppies can also develop anaemia and in severe cases they can die.
Whipworm Whipworms are one of the most common causes of diarrhoea in adult dogs and can affect young dogs too. Whipworm eggs can survive in the environment for up to five years.
Tapeworm Fleas carry flea tapeworm. Tapeworm segments look like grains of rice in your dog’s droppings. Tapeworm can cause irritation around the anal region and dogs may ‘scoot’ along the ground. Hydatid tapeworm is a risk in dogs such as hunting or farm dogs that eat the uncooked offal of sheep, kangaroo or other native or feral mammals. This tapeworm can pose a serious risk to humans.

Worms common to our pet dogs may also cause disease in humans. Symptoms can range from annoying dermatitis to more serious problems like diarrhoea, abdominal pain and in rare cases permanent eye damage.

So when you give your dog a SENTINEL SPECTRUM, INTERCEPTOR SPECTRUM once a month not only are you protecting your canine friend, but you are also helping to safeguard the health of your family.

Novartis Worm Free - 100% guarantee
SENTINEL SPECTRUM and INTERCEPTOR SPECTRIM will prevent heartworm and control hookworm, roundworm, whipworm and tapeworm in your dog(s). In the unlikely event that your dog shows clinical signs of disease caused by any of these worms and test positive, when SENTINEL SPECTRUM and INTERCEPTOR SPECTRUM have been administrated according to the label and leaflet instructions, Novartis Animal Health will reimburse all reasonable costs incurred in treating those diseases.

Fleas

Fleas are bloodsucking parasites that can feed, breed and lay eggs on your new puppy! They can carry tapeworm and cause anaemia. Female fleas can lay up to 50 eggs per day. The eggs fall from the dog’s coat into the environment and build up in areas such as the dog’s bedding, household carpet and furniture.

Fleas, fleas everywhere

Unhatched fleas can live in their cocoon for up to six months. Warmth, movement and carbon dioxide levels all trigger hatching time.

Adult fleas on a dog only make up 5% of the flea population that might exist in a home. This means that 95% of the flea population is made up of eggs, larvae and pupae in the dog’s bedding, the carpet and other areas around the home.

Keep your dog or cat flea-free!

Not only will Novartis SENTINEL SPECTRUM prevent heartworm and major intestinal worms, they will also keep your puppy FLEA FREE 100% GUARANTEED!

The SENTINEL SPECTRUM Flea Free 100% Guarantee

SENTINEL SPECTRUM will control flea infestations in your home. If you have a persistent flea problem at the end of four months continuous correct use we, at Novartis, working through your vet, will use our best endeavours to investigate and resolve the problem on your dog.

For best protection, all animals in the household should be on SENTINEL SPECTRUM^® or PROGRAM^®. PROGRAM Injectable for Cats can be administered by your veterinarian once every six months. This also stops the fleas’ breeding cycle.

SENTINEL SPECTRUM for dogs or PROGRAM for cats will stop ‘hitch-hiker fleas’ your pet may pick up from breeding. If you do notice your pet has picked up fleas, give them a CAPSTAR™ tablet. CAPSTAR starts killing fleas in under 30 minutes, providing rapid relief for your pet, without leaving messy residue on their coat. SENTINEL SPECTRUM , PROGRAM and CAPSTAR can be used from four weeks of age.

Three easy steps to avoid flea infestation

1. Start using SENTINEL SPECTRUM or PROGRAM every month to stop the flea breeding cycle.
2. Give your puppy, dog or cat one CAPSTAR tablet to kill all adult fleas.
3. If you have a severe infestation, in addition to steps 1 and 2, treat your house with a flea ‘bomb’ or spot treat affected areas with an environmental spray.

Vaccinations – What to Have and When

• Many dog diseases can be easily prevented with vaccination.
• Your puppy should start his or her vaccination programme at around six weeks of age.
• Vaccinations should be kept up to date with yearly boosters.
• Try to ensure that all dogs your puppy comes into contact with are healthy and vaccinated.
• Until your puppy has completed his or her vaccination programme do not take them to places that less healthy dogs may have access to.
• Vaccinations may occasionally make a puppy ‘off colour’ for a day or two.

It is recommended that you discuss your puppy's vaccination programme with you veterinarian at your puppy's first visit.

Microchipping

To help avoid the heartache of losing your new best friend, ask your veterinarian to microchip your puppy with a REUNITE^® Microchip.

A REUNITE Microchip contains a code that is linked to a national registry. This means if your pet is ever lost, a ranger or veterinarian can scan your pet for the microchip and access your contact details from the National Registry.

It only takes a few minutes at your local veterinary clinic to inject a tiny microchip under your puppy’s skin. But remember, if you change your contact details, it is important to keep the registry informed.

Nutrition and Exercise

Your puppy needs the right kind of nutrition and exercise to grow into a healthy adult dog. Overweight dogs are more prone to joint problems, heart disease, diabetes and other diseases.

Check with your veterinarian about a complete balanced puppy food and stick to the recommended feeding guidelines.

The perfect balance for your pup!

Your puppy’s complete balanced diet will contain:

• Protein – to develop healthy muscles, ligaments, organs, nails, hair and hormones.
• Fat and fatty acids – for healthy skin and a shiny coat and to supply the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E & K.
• Carbohydrates – for energy and fibre for healthy intestines.
• Vitamins and minerals – essential for many body functions.
• Fresh, clean drinking water.

The benefits of exercise

Once your puppy has completed the vaccination course you will be able to visit dog exercise parks and beaches together – check with your local council for a list of dog friendly places. Ask your veterinarian about toys that provide both mental and physical workouts.

Skin and Coat Care

A healthy coat and skin require good nutrition, so ask at your veterinary clinic about the most appropriate food for your puppy. Regular grooming is also required. Teach your puppy to sit for brushing from a young age. Gentle brushing with a soft brush for short periods of time is best.

Bath time blues

Did you know that puppies don’t require bathing very frequently – in fact too much bathing can be bad. Check with your veterinarian about the best type of shampoo for your pup’s skin.

Setting the Rules

To ensure you and your dog remain the best of friends, it is important to set the rules for your pup as soon as possible and stick to them. Training and handling your puppy before 16 weeks of age helps ensure you have a well-rounded pup and dog for life.

Puppy classes are run by many veterinary clinics and your puppy to interact with other healthy pups in a controlled way.

Here are a few tips that can help make life easier for both of you:

• Teach your pup that it is normal for you to touch his or her ears, mouth, paws etc.
• Always praise your pup for good behaviour.
• Ignore bad/nervous behaviour such as attention seeking, jumping up etc.
• Never ever punish your dog – it can make any problem worse.
• Let your puppy associate food and rewards with good behaviour but never offer food or praise when they do something bad.

House Training

House training your puppy is simply a case of rewarding the behaviour you want and ignoring the behaviour you don’t want.

Don’t get into a muddle over puddles

Here are some simple tips to help make things easy!

• Don’t push your puppy’s nose into his or her puddles.
• Try to keep track of where your puppy is and if you suspect he or she needs “to go” take your puppy outside.
• Critical times can be: soon after waking up, after a big playing session and after eating.
• Signs your puppy may need to go include stopping playing, sniffing the floor and circling.
• It is natural to expect a few puddles in the morning for the first few weeks or months.

Sometimes older dogs may lose their house training skills – if this happens it is always best to have a veterinarian check your dog, as it may be a sign of a urinary tract infection or a behaviour problem such as separation anxiety.

Chewing Things Over

Chewing is a normal behaviour for a puppy, especially at three to five months of age because they are ‘teething’. Think about what objects you want your puppy to chew. If you still want to wear your favorite shoes don't encourage your puppy to chew on shoes! So always ensure your puppy has lots of toys it is permitted to chew on.

If you would like more information on training your pup ask at your veterinary clinic for the Take a walk in my Paws video. It has been produced by expert veterinary behaviourists to help you make sure your dog has impeccable canine manners!

Teeth, Ears and Eyes

Teeth
Your puppy has temporary teeth until about seven months of age, so don’t be alarmed if you see teeth falling out before then. However, dogs can get tooth decay just like humans. Plaque build-up can lead to swollen gums (known as gingivitis) and if not treated this can lead to permanent damage such as loose or rotten teeth.

Teeth cleaning toys, foods, chews and even doggy toothbrushes are available at most veterinary clinics and help prevent plaque build-up and diseases. Check your puppy’s mouth regularly and if you notice any of the following, take your dog or puppy to the veterinarian for a dental check up:

• Receding or bleeding gums
• Bad breath
• Loose or broken teeth
• Swelling of gums or mouth
• Swelling or discharge under the eye (your dog could have a tooth abscess)
• Difficulty eating and chewing

Ears
Check you puppy’s ears regularly. Signs of ear disease may include:

• Scratching one or both ears excessively
• Head shaking or head tilted to one side
• An unpleasant odour
• A discharge from the ear – usually yellow, brown or black
• Painful ears or head when touched
• Redness, inflammation and swelling of ear flap and ear canal
• Stumbling or circling to one side
• Lethargy and depression

To determine how to best clean your puppy’s ears, or if you suspect an ear problem, see your veterinarian.

Eyes
If you suspect an eye problem take your dog immediately to the veterinarian as any delay may result in permanent eye damage.

Take your dog to a veterinarian immediately if you see any of the following:

• Red, inflamed eyes
• Watery eyes
• Eye discharge – yellow, greenish or bloodstained (a small amount of eye mucus or ‘sleep’ at the corner of the eye is usually normal)
• Eyes are partly closed or only one eye is open/closed at a time
• Eyes are rubbed on the ground or pawed by the dog
• Changes in the size or colour of the eye
• Obvious blood vessels in the white of the eye
• Swollen eyelids
• Hair loss around eyes
• Crying, biting or flinching when the head is touched

Tip: A common misconception is that it is normal for old dogs to go blind. This is not true - a blind dog has eye disease.

™ ® Trademark and Registered trademark of Novartis AG., Basel, Switzerland.