What Your 12-Week-old Puppy Needs

Dogs

Your 12-week-old puppy has certain needs to stay healthy! The following is a list of recommended wellness care for an 12-week-old puppy including tips and advise on dewormers, heartworm prevention, flea and tick control, spay and neutering and nutrition.

Vaccines – 12-week-old puppies should have at least their second set of shots. If they have not, get their first set as soon as possible. They will need shots now and again when they are 16 weeks old. Rabies is required by law between 12 and 16 weeks of age and your veterinarian may give it now or in 3 to 4 weeks. Additionally, Lyme disease vaccination may be recommended depending on your pet's level of risk.

Dewormers – Most puppies are born with worms and therefore should be dewormed by your veterinarian. The first deworming generally occurs at 6 to 8 weeks of age and another deworming is generally given at this time.

Heartworm Prevention – Canine heartworm disease is a serious parasitic disease caused by a long, thin worm that lives in the blood vessels and heart of infected dogs. The disease is spread by mosquitoes. Heartworms are present in most parts of the United States. Ask your veterinarian if your dog is at risk. Heartworm prevention is important to puppies and should be started before they are 6 months of age.

Flea/tick Control – Depending on where you live and your current flea/tick situation, there are very good preventative medications to control flea and ticks. The best and safest products are prescribed by veterinarians.

Spay/Neuter - Some puppies are spayed and neutered at an early age or later, closer to 6 months of age. If your puppy is not "fixed", discuss when the best time is with your veterinarian. Pet overpopulation is a serious issue and by allowing your dog to have litters, you are adding to the problem. Pets that are spayed or neutered are quieter and not prone to roam looking for a mate and tend to be more gentle and affectionate. Also, fixing your pet reduces the risk of developing breast and prostate cancer and eliminates the risk of uterine infections.