NEW WESTIE/NORWICH OWNER INFORMATION
What shots has my puppy had?
Inoculations have been given to your pet according to the standard schedule. You will receive a record from the veterinarian about your particular pup. You will need to visit your vet at least once a year for booster shots, rabies and a heartworm check for the rest of your dog’s life.
What vet do you use?
Dr. Rebecca Kestle, Centre Court Veterinary Clinic, Sandy Springs Circle, Atlanta, GA
What has my dog been eating? Innova puppy kibble
The following is recommended as well. Good nutrition is critical to your puppy’s continued good health.
High quality, natural pet food like NutraMax puppy dry kibble or Natures Recipe or INNOVA (this requires no supplementation). Look for natural, good food products at the top of the listing.
a good multivitamin
Fatty acid supplement - Omega 3
Fresh vegetables, plain yogurt.
1 tsp. apple cider vinegar
How often should I feed my dog?
Twice a day until your WESTIE is 12 to 18 months, then, once a day. One & a half to two cups a day will be about right.
What about parasite control?
We worm everyone quarterly with Panacur (puppies get wormed at 3,5,7 weeks with Nemex 2 or Panacur paste) for intestinal parasites. We also use Revoluation, a topical product which is applied once a month for heartworm prevention and flea management Talk to your vet about what will work best for you. We do not recommend FILARABITS PLUS because of potential side effects. Parasites will impact not only the health of your dog, but how the coat grows and overall appearance as well.
What else should I do to keep my dog healthy?
There are two additional things that are important to the health and good condition of your terrier: dental care and coat & skin care.
First, brush your dog’s teeth. Otherwise, you will have annual cleaning that will require your dog to be anesthetized or risk tooth loss and infection. Poor dental card has been linked to heart disease in dogs. Terriers live a long time so dental care is even more important to their overall health!
Second, remember your terrier has very dry skin and coat. Bathe as little as possible and use a non-detergent shampoo when you do bathe your dog. Fleas must be controlled or your dog will be miserable and have no hair! Food must have a good oil content and supplementation is important. Pick a food and treats that have no dye. A good number of the skin problems we see are more caused by conditioning and environment then genetics.