Pet Insurance
Trupanion Go Home Day Offer Overview
● Valid within 24 hours of your puppy going home (the day before, the day of,
and day after going home!) Call 855.266.2156 (available 24/7!) or activate online Provide offer code: BR1HG011323
● First month of coverage at a $250 deductible
● Waived waiting periods! Coverage begins immediately upon activation.
● No obligation offer! It’s truly a peace of mind for the first month. If it’s not set up to continue, it will cancel itself at the end of the 30th day.
Find a Veterinarian
Finding a veterinarian to treat your puppy is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make for your pet. If you’ve never had a pet before, you may not know where to bring your furry friend, but don’t feel lost! You can ask your rescue shelter or breeder for recommendations, consult friends in your neighborhood, check Yelp or Google reviews, or seek advice from local Facebook groups to find the right doctor for your dog. Aside from bedside manner, some factors to consider when choosing a vet are budget (some are pricier than others) and location (especially if you don’t drive). It’s also a good idea to look at their emergency procedures – some clinics will send you elsewhere and that’s fine, but it’s worth being aware of this and working out how you’re going to get there in an emergency, visiting a few clinics (without your puppy) will give you an idea of the feel of the place. Are the staff friendly? Is the place clean and well organized? First impressions count, but remember that there may be extenuating circumstances. Have a look at their facilities, too – if you’ve stumbled across a branch practice, they may not have surgical facilities or X-rays, and will send you to a main ‘hub’ for these. This might not put you off, but checking you can access this higher level of care easily is important, too.”
Want to vet your vet further?
Here are some questions to ask both the veterinary staff
and yourself about the experience:
● What is their approach to medicine? Are they paid a bonus for offering certain
medications/vaccinations? Do they prefer holistic methods or medications for
certain conditions?
● Do they treat dogs? Remember, veterinarians deal with all sorts of pets, so a vet who’s great with your best friend’s parakeet may not necessarily be the best match for your pup.
● How do they feel about vaccines and when? Can you titer test them?
● Do you always need to be seen for a prescription?
● How many vets are in the office?
● What are their office hours and do they accept calls outside of office hours?
● What insurance do they accept and how does that work in their office?
● Do they support you in your food choices?
● Are they familiar with treating large breeds?
● What are their costs for certain medical procedures like spaying and neutering?
Your puppies have been treated and been seen at Animal House Ewa Beach
Veterinarian for reference. In your go-home materials, you will find a clean bill of health, exam documentation from their well check before they were released to go home with you.
Have Your First Wellness Visit with Your Vet
Once you’ve found a great vet, it’s time to book your first wellness appointment.
Here’s what to remember on your first veterinary visit:
● Bring all your paperwork from any prior veterinary visits your puppy has had.
● Let your vet know what food you’re feeding your puppy, as well as what treats and any and all supplements you may be giving them.
● Your vaccine protocol and desires for your puppy.
● Remember to have your puppy microchipped, then register that chip number ASAP! For a wellness visit, you can expect your vet to check in on the following for your puppy:
● Body condition (joints, muscles, and body weight)
● Movement of the pup
● Auscultate the lungs and the heart
● Ear canals and eyes
● Visibility and hearing tests
● Please also discuss the recommended vaccine protocol based on integrative veterinarians.
Suggested Vaccine Protocol
- Parvo -
- Corona -
- Lyme -MLV (modified live virus) vaccines are used, and it is important to start the immunization schedule AFTER the maternal antibodies are gone from the puppy’s system. These antibodies identify the vaccine as infectious and destroy it before allowing time to build an immune response. This is why vaccines given at 6 weeks are only 30% effective.
Why do we wait until 12 weeks toAnother alternative to booster vaccinations is homeopathic nosodes. Suggestion: Puppies should receive the nosodes each week (starting at 8 weeks) up to at least six months old, when they are most susceptible and likely to have frequent exposure to the parvovirus. Under 10 lbs: 2 drops given at one time is one dose. Combo nosodes are not recommended. Give the puppy a dose of a 30c nosode once a week (give each different nosode) a few days apart until they are six months old. For instance, give the parvo nosode every Monday – give the distemper nosode every Thursday.
**Always discuss the health of your puppy and vaccinations and schedule with your vet.
The information on this page is NOT medical advice.
The puppy’s well check and final deworming vet appointment will be completed before you pick up your puppy. Note that all puppies have worms, no matter how careful we are and how treated the Dam is. There is a deworming schedule that is strictly followed at 2, 4, and 6 weeks, then a follow-up at 8 weeks + if any are seen. Stress weakens the immune system, allowing dormant worms that the immune system suppresses to become very active and cause gut problems. The heartworm medicine HEARTGUARD, which you will begin with your vet when the puppy is a little older, will also take care of the regular and prevalent worms. *Note we do NOT suggest the heartworm/flea/tick combo injections or monthly medicines, such as Simparica Trio. We have seen serious side effects, including seizures and other health issues. We encourage you to do your own research. Wondercide is a natural flea collar to consider if/when you are in need.
We use Diatomaceous Earth in our yard and have luckily never had to deal with fleas, ticks, or other pests. You will need to make your own vet appointment to begin your puppy’s PARVO and other vaccine series/schedule. Have your puppy microchipped and register it online immediately if your vet does not automatically do this. This coming week of age, the week after you bring them home, is when the maternal antibodies they received from the milk begin to wear off, allowing their bodies to better respond to the vaccines and/or Nosodes. Out vet suggests that your puppy should receive their final PARVO vaccine in the series around 17 weeks of age, then you will need to wait an additional 10 days so they will have protection before walking around your neighborhood grass areas (please avoid playing with larger dogs, and dogs parks until they are about a year +, they are fragile, and growing. One knock can hurt their growing joints and cause life long health problems). Always discuss your puppy’s care, and follow your Vet’s guidance. Please DO take your puppy to the store in a shopping cart on a towel in the basket to get used to many sights/sounds/people. Go to children’s events (but keep puppy off the grass), and to all stores/coffee shops, malls, that allow dogs. The puppies NEED to get out and about to continue in a positive and safe way to socialize, getting to know sights and sounds, and smells. They are very happy just sitting at your feet at an outdoor coffee place, Nico’s Pier 38 is also another very dog-friendly place.
Your puppy has been raised in our living rooms, bedrooms, and has played outside only in our sanitized, specially made K9 grass area. We have worked very hard to guard them from any risk of PARVO. Please remember PARVO is very prevalent here in Hawaii. Read up on the information and links previously shared, and how to keep your puppy safe until 2 weeks after the last PARVO vaccine in the shot series/schedule, or the Nosodes maintenance schedule. As the time to pick up your puppy nears, here is the feeding information: up to 3-4 months old: offer 4 meals a day (can be the canned NULO for the first few days until they settle, then NULO dry kibble mixed with water so it is mushy, canned puppy food, greek yogurt, pumpkin, or bone broth are great mix-ins). We always add in the liquid because puppies, in general, are always a bit dehydrated. *Remember, if you have a very busy, energetic puppy, feeding the puppy on a lick mat will also help get their energy needs out!
When they reach 4 to 6 months old: lessen the meals to only 2-3 meals a day, age 6 months and above: about 2 meals a day, and be mindful of their weight, if they are not gaining or are gaining too much, either add or lessen the amount of food as needed.
Please only give puppy formulated food until your puppy is 18 months old. Their bodies are growing and changing, and they need the puppy-formulated dog food. Switch to adult dog food when they are around 18 months old. We feed the brands “NULO”, “Royal Canin”, “Purina Pro Plan”, and “Sunday’s for Dogs”. Please follow your vet’s advice on feeding. We do NOT recommend spaying/neutering until over 1 year of age. Hormones affect growth, and we want these puppies to grow into strong, sturdy dogs with excellent joints and connective tissues (all affected by hormones that are in those sex organs).
Your puppies have 2 sets of teeth, like humans do. They will lose their baby teeth. Sometimes the puppy tooth fairy may bring them a new chewing toy at this time (YAK cheese bones are FANTASTIC, but take away when they get chewed too small, as they are a choking hazard). Always set your puppy up for success, removing items that they may want to chew on (slippers) and having ready the puppy chew toys, Yak cheese sticks, or redirecting them to chew on appropriate items (lick pats are also great when they have “busy mouths”). An easy alternative is an Amazon box folded shut with a beach towel inside, tied in a knot with treats inside.
Remember, your puppies will need time to adjust to their new home with you. They still require about 20/24 sleeping hours. Try not to overstimulate them with toys and people during the adjustment period. The 3-3-3 rule: 3 days to decompress, 3 weeks to get used to the new routine, 3 months to fully settle, because of the way hormones normalize, but this is different for every puppy. If your puppy is still showing signs of nervousness and fear, you obviously need to adjust their socialization schedule accordingly.
Remember to leave your shoes outside your home as you can easily track PARVO into your home flooring (it is a very difficult and strong virus that lives for 5 years)! Puppies will mouth and chew just about everything. Make sure you read up on “bite inhibition”, and also how to prevent resource guarding (key take away is to never take anything out of the puppy’s mouth, but to “trade” them a high value treat and they will naturally drop the object and learn that you are not a threat to taking “their” treasure, but you bring something better to trade with). These 2 “trainings” must be continued (we have been working with all the puppies).
Your puppy’s current vet is Animal House Ewa Beach ( 91-919 Fort Weaver Rd #114
57 Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii 96706, 808-689-1797). Feel free to continue their care there with Dr. Tracy Mullins, or find a trusted vet closer to your home for continued care.
The trainer we highly recommend and work very closely with is Vivi from Loving Dog Training. She offers in-home training and has a truly amazing 6-week program that will set you and your puppy up for a lifetime of successful training and a very good dog! https://www.lovingdogtraining.com/ Better to take the time and money to start right, so your puppy can reach their full potential, versus additional time/money down the road to “fix” things. It’s so tempting to invite everyone you love to meet the newest one you love. But truly, the most loving thing you can do for that little one is create a quiet, predictable, safe environment and allow your new puppy to simply settle. And I say three days (rule of 3-3-3) because of the way they normalize, but this is different for every puppy. If your puppy is still showing signs of nervousness and fear, you obviously need to adjust their socialization schedule accordingly. Puppies can be deceiving because they are puppies. But despite the wagging tail, entering a new home is stressful. Because their brains are so adept at locking in learning, and particularly negative learning, it is important that the overwhelming feeling they experience is SAFETY. And safety comes from a peaceful, predictable environment. (Remember, this is why we recommend the smaller puppy area. That is a yes area for your puppy.)
Having extra people over these first few days is one of those things that is a “no” for now, but not forever! You have plenty to do in those first few days home, the rest will come later!
If you have not gotten back to me with your puppy’s name, try and do that ASAP so I can have the vet record completed/registered with your name and your puppy’s name. The final contract and AKC paperwork will need to be completed before you take your puppy home. I will have paper copies at pick up, or to can complete online on our website. I look forward to introducing you to your new family member soon. It has been such a blessing raising them!
We always enjoy updates and photos, you can never send enough, if you take a favorite and think of us, please send!
