Puppy Wellness

Congratulations on your new puppy! We’re glad you’ve chosen us to be part of their care team during these critical first months.

Our puppy wellness program is designed to give your pet the healthiest possible start. Puppies are vulnerable to several serious diseases and parasites early in life, which is why preventive care is so important.

Core Vaccines: What We Protect Against

All puppies need a series of core vaccines to protect against three dangerous diseases. These are not rare or obscure — they’re present in the environment right here in our community:

• Parvovirus – A highly contagious and often fatal gastrointestinal virus. It causes severe vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration, and treatment can cost thousands of dollars — if the puppy survives.
• Leptospirosis – A bacterial infection spread through contaminated water and soil. It can cause deadly liver and kidney failure in dogs as well as humans.
• Rabies – A fatal virus spread through bites that affects the brain and nervous system. It’s legally required to vaccinate against rabies due to the public health risk.

These vaccines aren’t optional — they’re essential to protect your puppy and your family. Lepto and parvo are in the environment now, right here in San Diego, not theoretical risks. Rabies, while less common, is always taken seriously due to its lethality and potential to spread to people.

We typically complete the vaccine series at 16 weeks, with your puppy reaching full protection by 18 weeks (two weeks after the last round). Until then, they are not safe to be in public spaces, including:

• Dog parks/beach
• Sidewalks and trails
• Pet stores
• Apartment common areas
• Outdoor cafés or patios

Even casual walks or potty breaks in shared spaces can expose your puppy to deadly viruses. Please stay cautious until they’re fully protected.

Lifestyle-Based Vaccines

We may also recommend additional vaccines based on your puppy’s lifestyle and risk:

• Bordetella (kennel cough) – A contagious respiratory infection common in boarding, grooming, and daycare settings.
• Canine Influenza (dog flu) – A respiratory virus that spreads easily in social settings.

We’ll discuss these options and tailor a plan at your first visit.

Parasite Protection

Many puppies are exposed to and contract parasites early in life–they can pick them up from their mother or the environment. Our wellness plans include deworming treatments and fecal testing to check for:

• Roundworms and hookworms (can be transmitted to people)
• Giardia, a microscopic parasite that causes diarrhea and is common in puppies
• Coccidia and other intestinal parasites

Some of these can infect humans, especially young children, so early detection and treatment are important for your whole family’s health.

Schedule your puppy’s first exam today. We’ll walk you through their health plan, answer your questions, and make sure you’re confident in every step of their care.