Bringing your puppy home is a real thrill, and we know you want to return all the love and loyalty that sweet little pup will give your family during the coming years. Our veterinary team also knows that providing the healthcare your puppy requires is a big responsibility, and that’s why you’re considering Deerfield Veterinary Hospital.

An advanced animal hospital in Springfield, MO, Deerfield is widely trusted for our puppy care. From day one, we put patients on a proven health plan that includes deworming puppies, a series of puppy booster shots, worming puppies, regular examinations, and plenty of valuable insight on puppy behavior. Our veterinarians share your commitment to your new friend’s health, and we hold up our end of the deal with the latest advancements in veterinary medicine coupled with the simplicity of a caring touch.

We’re here to help with every phase of a dog’s life.

Deerfield Veterinary Hospital schedules a series of puppy booster shots and vaccinations to meet the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) vaccination guidelines.

Dhpp Booster Shot for Puppies

Dhpp vaccinates for Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, and Parvovirus. Distemper is a neurological virus that can cause meningitis, seizures, and possibly death. The Hepatitis virus often causes liver disease in puppies. Parainfluenza is an upper respiratory virus. Parvovirus is an intestinal virus that can cause severe bloody diarrhea, vomiting, dehydration, septicemia, and possibly death. It’s important to keep your puppy isolated from unfamiliar dogs until your animal hospital has given it two Dhpp boosters to minimize the risk of contracting these serious, highly contagious diseases. Our veterinarians administer the first Dhpp vaccination at 6 to 8 weeks of age and then every 3 to 4 weeks thereafter until your puppy is a minimum of 16 weeks old.

Rabies Booster Shot for Puppies

Rabies is a neurological virus that causes seizures and death. We give your puppy an initial, single vaccination at 3 to 4 months old. The immunity from this first Rabies booster shot lasts one year. The city of Springfield, MO requires dogs be vaccinated against Rabies regularly to prevent this serious health threat from impacting Springfield residents.

Bordetella Booster Shot for Puppies

Bordetella Bronchiseptica is a bacteria, which causes tracheobronchitis—kennel cough. Deerfield Veterinary Hospital schedules an initial booster shot for 6 weeks of age or older and a follow-up booster shot 3 to 4 weeks later. Our veterinarians recommend Bordetella vaccinations for puppies who will attend puppy classes, visit a groomer, or stay at a lodging facility.

Leptospirosis Booster Shot for Puppies

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease caused by a family of rod-shaped bacteria. Clinical signs of the disease include anorexia, lethargy, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Leptospirosis can cause kidney and liver failure. Raccoons, skunks, opossums, rats, cattle, pigs, and dogs can contract and harbor the organism. It is transmitted in the urine of infected animals. This disease can cause serious illness in humans. If your puppy’s lifestyle will potentially expose it to this disease, we recommend starting a series of these puppy booster shots at 12 to 16 weeks old.

Worming puppies is important for healthy development as well as comfort of the animal. After performing a fecal exam to check for intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, coccidia, and tapeworms, we will perform worming / deworming and therapy accordingly. Our veterinarians recommend routine prophylactic worming for puppies to ensure their health and prevent transmission of canine intestinal parasites to humans, especially children.

VETERINARY FUN FACT: WORMING PUPPIES

While pet owners and even many skilled veterinarians commonly use the term worming puppies, the medical term is actually deworming puppies. As our veterinary professors would say, no sane veterinarian would ever administer worms to a puppy. Whatever you call the procedure, as long as we or another veterinarian protects your puppy from worms, we will be happy.

Puppies and dogs acquire heartworm larvae from mosquito bites. Immature larvae migrate to the heart, where they mature into adult worms that reside in the heart and pulmonary vasculature. Heartworms can cause permanent damage to the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

Monthly preventives stop the maturation of heartworms and additionally control intestinal parasites. Puppies under 6 months of age can start on a heartworm prevention program without an initial blood test.

Puppy teeth require consistent care. To acclimate your puppy to dental care, our animal hospital staff recommends owners begin brushing puppy teeth at an early age. Puppies begin losing their puppy teeth, or deciduous teeth, around 4 months of age and have their permanent set of teeth by about 7 months of age.

Early in a dog’s life, routine brushing becomes important. Brushing your puppy teeth regularly and maintaining the practice as puppy teeth give way to adult dog teeth will decrease tartar build up and prevent gum disease. Periodontal disease can lead to other health problems, and it is the number one cause of tooth loss.

Puppy teeth are sharp as can be, but as you likely know, puppy teeth can be vulnerable to damage. Puppies enjoy chewing. It is a natural process of exploring their environment, and chewing aids in teething. Provide toys that are approved for puppy teeth, so your puppy can safely chew away and enjoy constructive rather than destructive chewing habits. While it is not harmful to puppy teeth, our veterinarians warn puppy owners to avoid rawhide for young puppies since it is not digestible and can possibly lead to gastrointestinal upset and blockage if swallowed.

Please contact our animal hospital with any questions you have concerning your puppy’s teeth or chew toy safety.

Many new-generation monthly flea preventives are safe for your puppy. Some are applied topically, and some are given orally. A few flea preventives are also combined with a monthly heartworm preventive. Successful flea prevention requires early, consistent use—monthly and year round. Deerfield veterinarians do not recommend flea dips, sprays, or collars, as safer, more effective options exist.

Most tick control products are topical. A new oral tick product is now available. Tick control is important for puppies because ticks can carry diseases, which can affect both dogs and humans.

Our veterinary team recommends using a pet crate to potty train your puppy. Please ask a Deerfield animal hospital team member for a crate training handout for detailed information concerning this very important topic.

House training can be difficult in the beginning, but most puppies catch on by five months of age, and many learn much sooner. Always remember to positively praise your puppy when he or she does well. A small treat given in association with elimination reinforces wanted behavior.

We strongly recommend having your puppy spayed (female) or neutered (male). Our veterinarians recommend spaying or neutering your puppy at 4 to 6 months of age. A spay procedure involves removal of both ovaries and the uterus from the abdominal cavity. A neuter procedure removes the testicles from the scrotum. Spaying or neutering your pet at a young age significantly decreases health and behavior problems, and both procedures are available at our comfortable animal clinic in Springfield, MO.

We recommend a high-quality diet for your puppy. Not only can the kibble be easier on puppy teeth, your pet will also digest a premium food more completely. With thorough digestion the pup will have less frequent, firmer stools, helping with potty training. You will waste less food and ultimately save money feeding a premium food.

Feed your puppy two to three times each day, depending on the age, breed, and size of your puppy. Consult the package for a feeding guide and discuss with the doctor the specific nutritional needs of your puppy.

Food refusal can be a sign of illness, so please contact us if this occurs.

We recommend all puppies go to puppy class so they are appropriately trained and socialized to other dogs and people. Proper training can prevent behavior problems and ultimately help your puppy become a well-mannered, enjoyable family member. Training is definitely worth the time, effort, and investment. Our veterinarians can recommend a program that’s right for your puppy.

Our pet clinic offers puppy playdays to let your puppy socialize with other puppies from the Springfield, MO area. These involve fun, low-stress visits to Deerfield, and they offer a great opportunity for our hospital staff to bond with your puppy. Your puppy will learn appropriate canine manners from other dogs, puppies, and our team. We require that all playing puppies be current on puppy booster shots, dewormings, and preventives.

Routine bathing is an excellent way for you and your puppy to become acquainted. Bathe your puppy with a mild hypoallergenic shampoo that is gentle on sensitive skin. Do not use people shampoo on your puppy. Some dog breeds need regular grooming. Schedule that first puppy grooming appointment at Deerfield Veterinary Hospital early to help your puppy adjust to the grooming process more easily. Routine bathing and grooming helps prevent skin and ear infections, torn nails, and anal gland issues.

Beyond keeping your puppy looking great and feeling frisky, regular grooming is important to your pet’s health.