Vaccines


NEW 2020 VACCINATION PROTOCOL


We vaccinate the puppies at 8, 12, 16 & 20 weeks of age with Nobivac Canine 1-DAPPv  This is a 5-way modified live canine vaccine for protection against canine parvovirus (CPV), adenovirus type 1 (hepatitis) and type 2 (respiratory disease), parainfluenza, and canine distemper. Our dogs receive a booster no later than 1 year after completion of initial series, and then every 5-7 years thereafter based on blood titer levels. Many vets will revaccinate every year and this is now found to be unnecessary AND unhealthy.


The puppy vaccine received at 20 weeks is the MOST important as previous vaccinations can be eliminated by maternal antibodies.  The latest research and development reveals that the puppies have maternal antibodies circulating in their systems up to 20 weeks of age thus, it is imperative, that the last shot be given at or after 20 weeks to be considered protected! Most Vets do not practice this so be your puppy’s advocate and insist on the rabies vaccine and puppy shot #4 at or after 20 weeks of age!

Puppies get their Rabies Vaccine at 20 weeks (new owner).  Puppies will require a Rabies Booster no later within 1 year of initial dose regardless of age at time of initial dose, then every 3 years thereafter or as required by law. Many vets will vaccinate annually and this is now found to be unnecessary AND unhealthy.


Parvo kills more dogs than anything else and it is totally preventable. It is strongly recommended that you DO NOT allow your puppy to socialize with unknown dogs until they are at least 16-20 weeks old. This means do not allow the puppy outside on grass, dirt or common areas where other unknown dogs may have visited until their vaccine series has been completed.  In order to give our puppies added protection, we administer NeoPar  at 4 and 6 weeks of age.  Puppies vaccinated with NeoPar generated high levels of the IgM and IgG classes of antibodies and thus are more protected against the Parvo virus if exposed to it before the 5-way vaccine series can be completed.  I feel it is my responsibility to protect my babies as much as possible before they head out the door to their new homes and thus, we have implemented this new Vaccine Protocol in 2020.


Until their vaccine series is complete, DO NOT take the puppies to dog-parks, shows or trials.  Be mindful that public areas may have unvaccinated dogs walking about... one could be carrying Parvo and not even appear sick but that Parvo can be deadly to your puppy!  When going to the the Vet, it is best to carry them 100% of the time until the puppy vaccine series is complete. Do not take the puppies with you to the pet store as pet stores have all kinds of young (and sometimes sick) puppies running through them.


You can an in-depth article regarding our Vaccine Protocol in the "Notes" section of our Facebook page.  In fact, there are several great articles posted their for you to read!


I am a big fan or Terrierman's Blog.  Patrick Burns is a world renowned breeder of Jack Russel Terriers and has done extensive research in canine health including  vaccines, intestinal worms, heartworms and antibiotic treatments for canines. Better yet, he freely shares all of this research in his blog. I am not going to re-write his      blog here but rather provide you with the link to his site because KNOWLEDGE IS POWER!  Do your own research and discuss your pet's care with your Veterinarian.




Intestinal Worm Treatment

We worm the puppies at 2, 4, 6, 8 & 10 weeks of age with Pyrantel Pamoate. Starting heartworm prevention, with Pyrantel added, at 12 weeks of age will ensure ongoing monthly protection.

Our adult dogs receive Ivermectin with Pyrantel every month as part of their Heartworm prevention. The adult dogs also receive an annual de-worming with the use of Fenbendazole, which kills all canine worms.




Heartworm Treatment

We treat our dogs with Liquid Ivermectin 1%.  It is the same medication in HeartGuard chewable. If you chose to give the HeartGuard chewable, please break it apart into pieces as it is NOT effective if it is swallowed whole.  There are numerous cases where dogs are coming up heartworm positive even though their owners religiously give the HeartGuard chewable monthly.  It even states on the box, “MUST BE CHEWED” however most owners just give it without even knowing it will be ineffective if swallowed whole!!! 

Puppies can start Heartworm preventative at 10-12 weeks.  Your Vet will give you the chewable dose based on the puppy’s weight.  As you go back to the Vet, for follow up visits, the Vet will adjust the dose based on the puppy’s current weight.  Please consider using the Liquid Ivermectin 1% or ensure you break up the chewable into several pieces before administering!!!




Flea and Tick Prevention

We treat our dogs with Fiproguard Flea & Tick squeeze-on monthly the same date they are given their heartworm preventative ONLY IF THEY NEED IT...we do not dose our dogs year round with these chemicals as the topical flea and tick medication (as well as the oral pills) are damaging to a dog's liver and nervous system. We do not have a flea problem, however, if one should arise we would first treat with food grade Diatomaceous Earth (DE). 

Wolf Creek Ranch has shared extensive information about DE and we highly recommend that you use this non-poisonous and effective treatment before reaching for the chemical treatment of fleas and ticks.





Puppy Nutrition


We believe that providing the highest quality nutrition is paramount in the growth and development of our puppies. We feed, and recommend, only premium adult and puppy formulas. We raise our puppies and breeding dogs on Diamond Naturals Large Breed Puppy kibble. It is a NATURAL, Large Breed puppy formula which can be purchased at online pet stores and local Tractor Supply stores. Diamond Naturals is a No Corn, No Wheat, No Soy dry dog food that has ideal Carbohydrate and Fat levels for optimal nutrition, growth and development. The puppies are fed Diamond Naturals Large Breed puppyformula because it contains the proper Calcium & Phosphorus ratio to help large breed puppies avoid growth issues such as Hip Dysplasia, Elbow Dysplasia and Panosteitis (Pano). Our adult LGDs are fed Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult kibble in addition to raw meat raised on our farm. The adults receive a combination of both adult formula and the Large Breed puppy formula during the cold winter months.


Great Pyrenees puppies grow exponentially in the first 12 months (it takes a human 18 years to reach full stature) and puppy owners who feed excess carbohydrates and calcium end up with a dog with developmental orthopedic disease (DOD). DOD describes a group of diseases that can occur during growth and development, the most familiar being Hip Dysplasia. The latest Research and Development indicates that a puppy diet with excess Carbohydrates, Calcium and Phosphorus is the contributing factor for developmental orthopedic disease. For this reason, large breed puppies should be fed a Large Breed puppy formula until 18 months of age (when the growth plates close). Many Vets and Breeders still suggest changing puppies to Adult or All Stages formulas to avoid "fast" growth. This has now been found to be detrimental to their growing bones!

In the past, commercial diets for puppies were marketed with no distinction or formulation differences considering the mature dogs' size. These diets were nutrient-dense, high-energy foods designed to actually encourage maximum growth, which is now known to be the primary risk factor for DOD. Today, many dog food companies offer diets formulated for large breed puppies, with energy density, calcium and phosphorus levels that are lower than those of standard puppy feeds. These diets are what owners of large breed puppies should be feeding to help avoid developmental diseases.

We send home a bag of dog food to mix with the brand you will purchase to help transition over to their new food. Your puppy will need to eat three times a day. Around six months of age they will eat only twice a day and then eventually taper off to once a day. We recommend that you do NOT allow your puppy free-choice food at all times. Research has shown that over-nutrition of large breed puppies, during their rapid growth phase, can result in developmental orthopedic disease (DOD). 

These puppies are genetically programmed to grow to a certain height and length…it is determined by their DNA. Allowing your puppy to eat free-choice can lead to over-nutrition which can potentiate developmental and health disorders. For optimum bone and joint development, never supplement your puppy's diet with calcium. Research has proven that excess dietary calcium negatively influences skeletal development in large breed puppies. Feeding the right portion of carbohydrates, fat, calcium and phosphorus at scheduled intervals will ensure optimal growth and development of your puppy.

Here is a great video by Dr. Karen Becker that sums it all up: 

















The vast majority of commercial dog foods contain multiple GMO grains, fillers and preservatives which do nothing to benefit your puppy. We urge you to familiarize yourself with following website https://www.dogfoodadvisor.com

Lastly, we highly recommend NuVet Plus Immune System Builder to all of our puppy buyers.  NuVet Plus helps to support the puppy’s still maturing immune system which will help protect them from a variety of health issues caused by free radicals, including allergies, skin & coat issues, ear infections and more. NuVet Plus is not just a vitamin. It’s an Immune System Builder with a precise balance of vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, amino acids and high-potency antioxidants. NuVet Plus protects against dangerous toxins and other harmful substances that pets encounter daily in the environment and in foods (many of which contain hormones, preservatives, meat by-products, pesticide residue, sugar, and allergens like corn and grain). NuVet products help put pets on the “path to perfect health” and support their development through every stage in life.
 
While all quality dog foods will provide everything needed to sustain life, virtually all of them are cooked during the manufacturing process. The heat from cooking causes much of the nutrients to be lost during the process. NuVet Plus is cold processed allowing all of the benefits of its rich nutrients to be retained, giving your new puppy an extra layer of protection, especially during the most critical first year of life.
 
All of our dogs receive NuVet Plus and our puppies are started on NuVet Plus before they go home.  To encourage our puppy buyers to continue giving their new puppy NuVet, we will extend the terms and conditions of our Puppy Health Guarantee to 5 years if your new puppy is given NuVet Plus daily, as recommended by the manufacturer, starting as soon as you bring your new puppy home.

Call to Order 1-800-474-7044. Please use order code #29485 and ask for autoship for a 15% savings. Using the order code #29485 provides you up to 50% off what most Veterinarians charge and enables us to verify that the puppy is receiving the NuVet Plus supplement so that we can extend the Puppy Health Guarantee to 5 years. We are very passionate about our Pyrs and our goal is to Help Increase Your Pet's Longevity and Quality of Life!
 

Health Information

A Veterinarian is a great resource for dog care. The following information on medication and nutrition is for your information only and it's best to follow your Veterinarian's advice on all dog care issues. New puppy owners will receive a vaccine and worming record so your puppy’s Veterinarian will know where the puppy is at in the vaccine series. Always check with your Veterinarian for advice on all medications and nutrition.

The following information is offered based on how we treat our dogs. For more detailed information, discuss your puppy's care with his Veterinarian.

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