Finding a vet
Recommendation from a friend or neighbour is a good starting place in your search for a vet. Failing that you will have to pick a local vet and see how you get on. Most veterinary surgeons are dedicated professionals who adore animals and are committed to your puppy’s best interests. But you can always change to a different vet later on if you are not happy with your first choice.
When you take your puppy along for his first check-up, which should ideally be within a day or two of collecting him, you may be surprised to find that your vet suggests a date for neutering your new friend. Some veterinary surgeons, it must be said, have considerable enthusiasm for separating dogs from their reproductive equipment. This is for several reasons, including health advantages for the dog as well as for the more obvious birth-control purposes. Some of the health benefits to neutering are fairly significant, especially where bitches are concerned, but there are also some health disadvantages.
The cost of veterinary care
Veterinary science has kept pace with human medical science. Extraordinary advances have been made that were unthinkable when I was a child. But these advances have come at a price. Bills for veterinary treatment can run into many thousands of pounds. People without insurance may be in the desperate situation of having to choose between their dog’s life and their daughter’s college fund. One way to avoid this unhappy state of affairs is to take out veterinary insurance.
All insurance policies are not equal, and it is very important to read the small print. Some policies won’t cover a working dog for example. Others will not automatically renew your insurance at the end of the year if your dog has developed a serious illness. This can be devastating if a dog needs expensive treatment, such as chemotherapy or major surgery, which falls outside the policy renewal date. A good policy, with adequate cover for expensive treatment and unconditional annual renewal, can save you a great deal of heartache in the future.
Together with the support of your vet, you should be able to keep your puppy in good physical health. You can also call upon your vet for advice should you have behavioural problems with your dog in the future. However, your best safeguard against problems with temperament and behaviour is to raise a confident and happy puppy.
The next step on this journey is to create a place in your home where your new puppy can feel safe. In the following chapter, we look at how you can create a comforting den that will help your puppy settle in without too much fuss and bother, and set him on the road to becoming a happy and well-adjusted companion.
When you take your puppy along for his first check-up, which should ideally be within a day or two of collecting him, you may be surprised to find that your vet suggests a date for neutering your new friend. Some veterinary surgeons, it must be said, have considerable enthusiasm for separating dogs from their reproductive equipment. This is for several reasons, including health advantages for the dog as well as for the more obvious birth-control purposes. Some of the health benefits to neutering are fairly significant, especially where bitches are concerned, but there are also some health disadvantages.
The cost of veterinary care
Veterinary science has kept pace with human medical science. Extraordinary advances have been made that were unthinkable when I was a child. But these advances have come at a price. Bills for veterinary treatment can run into many thousands of pounds. People without insurance may be in the desperate situation of having to choose between their dog’s life and their daughter’s college fund. One way to avoid this unhappy state of affairs is to take out veterinary insurance.
All insurance policies are not equal, and it is very important to read the small print. Some policies won’t cover a working dog for example. Others will not automatically renew your insurance at the end of the year if your dog has developed a serious illness. This can be devastating if a dog needs expensive treatment, such as chemotherapy or major surgery, which falls outside the policy renewal date. A good policy, with adequate cover for expensive treatment and unconditional annual renewal, can save you a great deal of heartache in the future.
Together with the support of your vet, you should be able to keep your puppy in good physical health. You can also call upon your vet for advice should you have behavioural problems with your dog in the future. However, your best safeguard against problems with temperament and behaviour is to raise a confident and happy puppy.
The next step on this journey is to create a place in your home where your new puppy can feel safe. In the following chapter, we look at how you can create a comforting den that will help your puppy settle in without too much fuss and bother, and set him on the road to becoming a happy and well-adjusted companion.
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