Veterinary Care

• Schedule a veterinary appointment as early as possible.
• Give your veterinarian as much information as possible about your new pet-age,   where acquired, and vaccination records.
• Follow your veterinarian's schedule on your pet's preventative health care. Your puppy or kitten received some immunity from it's mother, but this decreases quickly after weaning. It is important to have your  pet inoculated against contagious diseases as early as possible.
• Take a fecal sample to your vet to be examined for internal parasites on your puppy/kitten's first visit and on a regular basis after that ( as your doctor recommends ). It is not recommended that your treat your pet yourself with over-the-counter products.
• Discuss the benefits of spaying/neutering your pet with your veterinarian and at what age this procedure should be scheduled.  Ask your veterinarian for behavior and training advice and housebreaking tips.

Heat Stress

• Provide plenty of clean water for your pet at all times.
• Provide adequate ventillation and air circulation when pets are kept in kennels or pens.
• Provide shade cover when pets are outdoors.
• Aviod excessive exercise of pets during hot weather.
• Never leave pets in parked vehicles.
• Some signs of heat stress are profuse panting and salivation, staring or an anxious expression, failure to respond to commands, warm dry skin, high fever, rapid heartbeat, fatigue, muscular weakness or collapse.

If your pet experiences heat stress try to reduce his temperature by gradually immersing your pet in cool water ( not above the neck ), spraying him with cool water or applying ice packs to his head and neck. Then take your pet to the vet immediately.

Heartworm Disease

This mosquito-transmitted disease can be fatal to your pet. Have your pet tested for heartworms by your veterinarian. If your pet's test is negative, ask your veterinarian about heartworm preventatives, available in chewable or pill form and given monthly.

Fleas & Ticks

• Watch for signs of these parasites that are particularly prevalent during warmer weather. Discuss the various methods of flea and tick prevention with your vet. Be sure that any product you use is safe for your pet.
• If your pet becomes infested with fleas, you must treat your pet and your pet's environment. If you notice a flea problem in your home be sure to dispose of vacuum cleaner bags after each use. It may be necessary to obtain special products from your vet to rid your home of fleas.

Some ticks can transmit diseases such as Lyme disease and Tick fever. Any tick found on your pet should be removed promptly and completely. Using a tweezer or tissue placed next to the skin, gently pull the tick from your pet's skin, making sure to remove the head and mouth parts. Have your vet show you the correct way to remove ticks.

Bites & Stings

Unusual swelling or soreness might be a sign of a bite or a sting. Contact your vet immediately.