There you are.
“How did I get here? How did it get this far?” you ask yourself.
And then your eyes lock. Brown, beautiful eyes. You know this is love – you love him and he loves you too. So what if he’s not your “type” and a little short? You know this will work. It has to work! Before you know it, the paperwork is signed and together you’re running down the aisle and speeding off in your car… you and your rescue puppy!
Bringing a new pet into your life is always an adventure, especially so if you are adopting a shelter or rescue pet. Like most serious relationships, the most important thing you can add to the equation is love and commitment. Love comes in many forms, but in this case, it includes the responsibility of ensuring that your new family member receives the quality care that he or she deserves.
If you are bringing your new puppy or dog to the Westwood Veterinary Clinic, whether a rescue or shelter adoption, you probably will not know his health history. Sometimes even his age and breed are mysteries. He may have been a stray or relinquished for other reasons. So, we recommend starting from the beginning.
First, we will run some tests. Heartworm disease is a horrible, but preventable, disease that strikes down many dogs. It is caused by a type of roundworm that takes up residence in the dog’s heart and whose larvae are spread through mosquito bites. A simple blood test lets us know if your new friend is infected and whether he should be placed on a preventative (heartworm pill) or a more serious treatment program.
Similarly, we may recommend testing for a number of different parasites, including fleas, ticks (which transmit Lyme disease), hookworms, ringworms, and tapeworms. For these, we may ask you to bring a stool sample with you (the dog’s, not yours).
A number of breeds are prone to ear mites and other ear infections. We will look for those, too.
Then we will strongly recommend that your new fur baby receive their vaccinations. These include vaccines for rabies (required by Indiana law), which can be deadly in dogs (think “Old Yeller”), distemper (also deadly), hepatitis (deadly), leptospirosis (again, deadly), parvo (yes, deady), and parainfluenza (deadly).
Because he was likely in a group setting with other dogs and cats before joining your household, we will again strongly suggest that your dog receive additional vaccinations against kennel cough (Bordetella) and Canine Influenza, especially if he is not your only pet.
Finally, your little (or not so little) guy will receive a full exam, looking for other ailments that might not be readily apparent. For us to properly do our jobs, we will rely partly upon your observations. Has he been scratching? Does he scoot his bottom across the floor? How are his appetite and water consumption? Are there behavioral issues? The more information you can share, the more thorough we can be.
It may start with love at first sight, but your commitment to love and protect your newest family member is ongoing and will hopefully continue for many years to come. Westwood Veterinary Clinic is eager to be a part of it. We want to be the best vet for your pet. Your new love deserves no less.
Dr. Holly Jacobson is chief veterinarian at Westwood Veterinary Clinic, 1306 W. Main St., Greenfield. The office can be reached at 317-462-5509.
