One month old female puppy

What Health Care Is Provided To The Puppies?

First and foremost, we make certain that the parents of our puppies are healthy.  This includes proper nutrition, exercise and appropriately timed inoculations for the dam and health screens for both the mother and father of the litter.  We strive to breed only healthy individuals.  So, we have our breeding dogs cleared through the OFA for potential hip problems.  This cannot guarantee that the puppies will be clear of this disease, but is currently the best option for striving to create sound puppies.  We also have our parents eyes examined for ophthalmologic diseases.  The most typical of which is CEA in Border Collies.  There is now a DNA genetic screen for the condition, and many of our dogs have now been tested with the new test from Optigen.  The DNA tests offers a breeder the opportunity to guarantee that none of the puppies will be affected with CEA.

 At around two and four weeks of age our puppies are wormed with Nemex-II to rid them of worms that can be passed from the mother (even if she has been wormed prior to whelping).  At around six weeks they receive three days of Safeguard wormer which covers all of the parasites that Nemex-II kills and controls along with whipworms. 

At around four weeks old, after they have been eating solid food for about a week and their mother is offering less "clean up" assistance, we move the puppies from (daily changed) blankets to cedar shavings for bedding.  This keeps them clean and dry and offers a level of hygiene that newspapers or other bedding does not offer.  As early as four weeks old, the puppies begin to show signs of "house training", as they prefer to move to a remote location to make a potty.  So, at this time, we also enlarge their whelping pen to twice its size.  This allows the puppies to develop a natural desire to keep themselves and their sleeping and play areas clean.

At around seven weeks, we give a high quality vaccine (not the kind that you purchase at a Farm Store).  We usually choose Fort Dodge brand.  It is a combination vaccine that covers against Distermper, Adenovirus Type 2, Corona Virus, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus and Leptospirosis.  Most puppies are with their new owners before a second, booster vaccine is required.  We attach the actual vial label from the vaccine to the puppy contract so that the new owner can present it to his veterinarian for continued veterinary care.

Puppies are taken to a Board Certified Ophthalmologist for a CERF exam between 6-8 weeks of age.  Although the DNA test offers proof of the parents’ genetic status for CEA, a CERF exam offers a far more thorough investigation of the puppy’s eyes, including but not limited to CEA.  The CERF certificate is provided to the puppy buyer.

Our purchase contract allows the buyer to take the puppy to a licensed Veterinarian within 3 days of purchase.  If a health condition is identified during the exam, the purchase price will be fully refunded if the puppy is promptly returned along with the veterinary report.

Five week old puppy

  1-1-07