Medical Care

In order to maintain your dog’s health and protect him from infectious disease, it’s important to keep him current on his vaccinations. Fetch vaccinates all dogs and puppies over 6 weeks upon arrival and on-schedule until they are adopted. This means that adopters of young puppies will often need to finish up their new puppy’s schedule of booster shots after adoption. We provide a vaccination history for adopters so that they are able to continue the schedule. Fetch vaccinates dogs that enter our care with the following vaccines:

DA2PP: Protects against Distemper, Adenovirus-2, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus

Bordatella (dogs over 16 weeks): Protects against Kennel Cough

Rabies: (dogs over 16 weeks): Protects against Rabies virus. Wisconsin State Law requires that all Dogs be vaccinated for Rabies by the age of 5 months. Rabies Vaccinations are good for 6 months, 1 year or 3 years depending on the type of vaccine used and the age of the animal when the vaccination was given. Owners should check with their vet and make sure their pets are up to date on rabies vaccinations at all times.

Flea/tick: Keep your dog on monthly topical flea prevention! Besides being an irritant for your dog, flea bites can cause hot spots and irritation. Some dogs have allergic reactions to fleas, which can cause hair loss and red, irritated skin. Fleas can also transmit other diseases such as tapeworms. Be sure to thoroughly read the instructions for the topical flea treatment you use and talk to you bet about what to do in the winter months.

Heartworm: Talk to your veterinarian about heartworm prevention – your vet will be able to make recommendations based on the risk to your individual dog.

Ticks, Foxtails and Burrs: If your dog has a longer coat he is more likely to collect ticks, foxtails and burrs, but any dog can pick them up. Check your dog frequently, especially after walks and hikes in woodsy areas. Ticks can transmit disease, burrs irritate the skin, and foxtails can travel through your dog’s skin and lodge themselves inside your pet. Make sure to check sensitive areas such as the paws, nose, ears, and around the eyes especially.

It is important to maintain appropriate grooming! Different dogs have different grooming needs. Dogs and puppies with short coats need less grooming but more skin care, while dogs with long fur need frequent brushing (2-4 times per week) to prevent mats and tangles. Dogs with hair instead of fur (such as Yorkies, Poodles and Schnauzers) require regular trips to professional groomers. Grooming also includes trimming your dog’s nails every couple of weeks, cleaning ears regularly, and brushing teeth several times per week.

Your dog should visit a veterinarian once a year for a routine exam and yearly vaccinations. Senior dogs may need to go to the vet more often to have additional procedures, such as regular dental cleanings or blood work.Description goes here

In addition to monitoring your dog for coughing, sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, limping and areas of skin irritation or growth, we recommend paying close attention to signs that may be less obvious. Weight loss or gain, increased appetite, drinking or urination, reluctance to jump or be active, bad breath or drooling and thinning of hair or coat can all be signs of illness or injury. Please take your dog to a veterinarian if you notice these signs. It is much easier to treat illness early before it has progressed.