There’s nothing like adding a new, furry member to the family. Adopting a new dog, however, can come with many unexpected surprises.
In this article, we talk about what you need to know about adopting a new dog, and what monthly medications you’ll need to make sure your pet is healthy.
Making Sure Your Dog is Flea and Tick Free
You don’t want to risk bringing home more than just your new dog. Fleas and ticks are common pests that might be lurking on pets. Adopting a dog in the late spring, summer, and early autumn can mean pests are in full force on your new pet, so investing in a flea and tick medication can help prevent infestations.
Fortunately, we have plenty of tick and flea medications you can use to ensure your pet is healthy and happy, and your home is free of pests. Here are our most popular flea and tick medications for dogs:
Bravecto Chews
This bestseller is a chewable tablet that is easy to give to dogs ages 6 months and up for the prevention of fleas and ticks. It works for up to 8-12 weeks, and is considered one of the longest-lasting chew tablets for dogs that is FDA-approved.
Trifexis Chewable Tablets for Dogs
Made for dogs as young as 8 weeks, and at least 5 pounds in weight, Trifexis is another chewable tablet that protects and kills fleas and parasitical worms. This medication is given once a month and comes in a beef flavor that dogs love.
Revolution for Dogs
For a topical medication that protects dogs of all sizes from fleas and ticks, Revolution is our best-seller. Administered monthly, this medication also protects against mites, parasites, and sarcoptic mange.
Preventing Heartworm
While fleas and ticks are easy to spot on pets, heartworms are less obvious. Heartworms enter your pet via mosquitoes, and can infect dogs silently for months. In order to protect your new dog from these dangerous parasites, you’ll want to make sure you have one of our heartworm treatment medications:
Heartgard Plus Chewables for Dogs
This easy-to-administer, chewable tablet for dogs is made to protect against and kill heartworms, roundworms, and hookworms for up to a month. Designed for dogs 6 weeks and up, you can give Heartgard Plus to dogs of any weight to ensure they are safe from deadly worms.
Sentinel
Sentinel is another popular, monthly heartworm medication that comes in a naturally-flavored, beef flavor. This medication can be used to prevent heartworms, as well as fleas, hookworms, roundworm, and whipworm.
Getting Your Dog Up-To-Date on Vaccines
It’s also a good idea to make sure your pet is up-to-date on vaccines. Though vaccines are traditionally administered in a pet clinic, you can now order them online with a veterinary prescription.
Canine Spectra 5
The Spectra 5 vaccine is ideal for puppies that are at least 6 weeks of age, who are in need of their first shots. The single-use syringe is ready for use upon arrival and protects your pet from 5 viruses: parainfluenza, parvovirus, adenovirus, hepatitis, and canine distemper.
This shot should be given every 3-4 weeks until your puppy is 16 weeks old and has received at least 2 doses. It should then be given once per year afterwards.
Canine Spectra 9
Like the Spectra 5, the Canine Spectra 9 is an affordable vaccine that helps protect your dog from viruses. This vaccine is more comprehensive, protecting your dog against 4 types of Leptospira in addition to the 5 other viruses included in the Canine Spectra 5.
Cleaning Your Dog’s Teeth
Though your dog’s teeth might be the last thing on your mind, oral health in dogs is important to their overall health. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, daily brushing of your dog’s teeth can help prevent a number of diseases that might befall your pet’s mouth.
In addition, using a monthly oral care product for dogs can further help protect your dog’s teeth:
OraVet Dental Chews
These dental chews are an easy teeth cleaner for dogs. OraVet’s dental chews create a protective barrier against plaque and tartar, while preventing bad breath in dogs. As the only dental chews that provide dogs with a common human oral care ingredient known as delmopinol, this 30-day supply of chew tablets is effective at preventing disease.
Ready to Adopt a New Dog?
Adopting a new dog is an exciting experience that can also be riddled with stressful preparations. Allivet is here to help you every step of the way.
Contact us today to get assistance preparing for your new dog’s arrival!
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