amyd
Well-known member
I realize that vets aren't necessarily experts on Cavaliers, but they are experts on dog health in general. My breeder has been breeding Cavs for 20 years so she has some level of expertise on the breed. Her advice on some matters conflicts with my vet's advice and I'm wondering whose advice I should follow!
The vet wanted to do Cori's rabies vax along with her 3rd set of puppy shots, but the breeder recommends waiting 4 weeks after the 3rd set. The vet said she never heard of waiting 4 weeks. I told her I thought it was because Cavs are very sensitive to vaccines and it's recommended that they not receive more than one at a time. She said she'd go along with whatever I wanted but thought 4 weeks was too long, esp. because that would mean postponing starting training classes that much longer. I decided to compromise a bit and wait 3 weeks, but that meant I couldn't start Cori's class this week and the next one doesn't start for another month.
The breeder said not to start flea and tick treatment until she is 6 months old. When I took her for her first appointment (2 days after we brought her home), they found fleas on her. My vet said it was fine to give the medicine at 4 months and we needed to since she already had fleas.
The breeder also said not to start heartworm preventative until 6 months old, but the vet said there is no need to wait. Also, the breeder said not to give the flea and tick medicine and heartworm medicine at the same time--to separate by 2 weeks. Again, the vet said that's not necessary. (I'm going to do that, though, because it's easy enough to do.) Do you all start heartworm preventative before 6 months??
Lastly, the breeder was feeding Cori twice a day (she's 4 months old), but the vet said it's really better to feed puppies 3 times a day until 6 months. So, I started doing that, while still feeding the same amount (1/3 cup, 3 times a day). The vet also said I should add 1 Tbsp. wet dog food to each feeding (and a little less kibble) since dry kibble is so processed. Our breeder said she experimented with lots of different foods over the years and has had the best health in her puppies with just feeding the kibble she recommended to me.
All this conflicting advice! LOL Do any of you have the same issue? How do you decide whose advice to follow?
Thanks so much for your help!
Amy
The vet wanted to do Cori's rabies vax along with her 3rd set of puppy shots, but the breeder recommends waiting 4 weeks after the 3rd set. The vet said she never heard of waiting 4 weeks. I told her I thought it was because Cavs are very sensitive to vaccines and it's recommended that they not receive more than one at a time. She said she'd go along with whatever I wanted but thought 4 weeks was too long, esp. because that would mean postponing starting training classes that much longer. I decided to compromise a bit and wait 3 weeks, but that meant I couldn't start Cori's class this week and the next one doesn't start for another month.
The breeder said not to start flea and tick treatment until she is 6 months old. When I took her for her first appointment (2 days after we brought her home), they found fleas on her. My vet said it was fine to give the medicine at 4 months and we needed to since she already had fleas.
The breeder also said not to start heartworm preventative until 6 months old, but the vet said there is no need to wait. Also, the breeder said not to give the flea and tick medicine and heartworm medicine at the same time--to separate by 2 weeks. Again, the vet said that's not necessary. (I'm going to do that, though, because it's easy enough to do.) Do you all start heartworm preventative before 6 months??
Lastly, the breeder was feeding Cori twice a day (she's 4 months old), but the vet said it's really better to feed puppies 3 times a day until 6 months. So, I started doing that, while still feeding the same amount (1/3 cup, 3 times a day). The vet also said I should add 1 Tbsp. wet dog food to each feeding (and a little less kibble) since dry kibble is so processed. Our breeder said she experimented with lots of different foods over the years and has had the best health in her puppies with just feeding the kibble she recommended to me.
All this conflicting advice! LOL Do any of you have the same issue? How do you decide whose advice to follow?
Thanks so much for your help!
Amy