We have covered the important vaccines and when to start but what about side effects, are there any? What should I watch out for?
To start with it's a good idea to speak with your vet before the vaccine to find out if that vaccine has any specific known reactions and to help you figure out what to watch for. There are the more normal reactions and the more serious reactions.
Similar to people, puppies can have some of the same effects. There can be tenderness or small bump at the injection site, drowsiness or lethargy, or even a low-grade fever, sneezing, or a decreased appetite. These are things to watch but do not necessarily have to be taken to the vet.
Also, just like humans, puppies can have more serious reactions such as persistent vomiting, diarrhea, instability (falling or uneven walking, stumbling), facial swelling (lips, eyes, face), a rash, and the most obvious - difficulty breathing. For any of these things, you should call the vet.
We never know if our puppy will be one of the ones that may have a reaction. There are some things we can do to prepare for an adverse reaction before it starts.
1) set the vet appointment in the morning, preferably for a day when you or another person is home to be able to watch for any adverse reactions. If there are some you can call the vet and get the puppy in during the vet's regular hours.
2) Ask your vet what the reactions could be or ask for a handout. If the vet suggests anything to have on hand. You can start creating an emergency kit.
3) If your puppy does have an adverse reaction, document it so that you can avoid it in the future.
Lastly - we always advise that you speak with your vet and follow their suggestions.
May your have Luv-N-Laughter throughout your Lives!!
Whether your dog has a long coat or short coat they will need groomed and if your dog is anything like mine they will need bathed more often than you hoped, especially in winter. I like to have a kit ready to just bring out when i groom my dogs and I want to share a few of my favorite items in my kit.
1) a metal comb (I actually have both fine and wider toothed comb's) These help me to get tangles out of my long coated dog
2) a slicker brush which is used after or while you have tangles to brush through the coat
