Caring for your Doodle

Vaccinations & Health

Choosing a Vet

Visiting the vet can be a source of anxiety for your pet, so be sure to introducing your new puppy to your preferred vet early. This can help set you and your pet up for a fulfilling and purposeful relationship throughout their entire lives.

Choose a vet that is well regarded in your area and can make your pet feel at ease when they visit. If this isn't your first pet, you may already have a preferred vet, which is great.
If adopting for the first time, ask your local friends or family members, or consult your local area social media groups. Word of mouth recommendations are always far more compelling than ratings.

Watching for signs of illness

Puppies can’t tell you when they are feeling unwell but there are some signs that you can look out for that will indicate that a visit to the vet might be necessary:

- Discharge and scratching at the eyes, nose and ears. Head shaking.
- Swollen or bleeding gums, tartar build up and bad breath.
- Chewing at paws or cuts and abrasions on pads.
- Bare or clumped fur on skin, especially at the base of their tail.
- Blood in the urine or stools. Diarrhoea or constipation.
- Loss of appetite for more than a few days.
- Strange behaviour such as hiding or lethargy.

Vaccinations

Initial vaccinations are administered at 6 weeks, with second round vaccinations due on/around the 12 week mark. Ensure your labradoodle remains at their optimal health by aligning to your vets recommended vaccination schedule.

Flea and Worm Control

Fleas on puppies are inevitable but can be controlled. Adult fleas live on animals and reproduce there but their eggs fall all over the backyard, park or your home to hatch and develop later. About 95% of the flea life cycle does not occur on the pet, but in the environment where the pet lives and sleeps. That’s why the environment has to be treated as well as the pet.

To treat very young puppies for fleas it is best to talk to a vet but generally the key is to treat the mother as this will provide ongoing protection to the kitten. Easy-to-apply flea control products are available for puppies from 8 weeks and should be applied every month.

Puppies can become infected with worms from a very young age and should be wormed every two weeks until 16 weeks of age and then every three months for life. Spot-on applicators, tablets and pastes are available at your local pet store.

Pet Insurance

Sometimes a trip to the vet can be unexpected and costly. We strongly recommended all pet owners take out Pet Insurance cover appropriate to their pets needs and circumstances. This can give you peace of mind that you're covered for large unexpected expenses and ensure you are adequately covered to meet the needs of your pet.