FAQs: Poodle Health Care

How often should my puppy be wormed?
Puppies should be wormed fortnightly from birth until they are twelve weeks old with any good quality worming product. The fortnightly worming is very important. Heavy infestations of hookworm can kill a young pup within a very short time. Your breeder will probably advise you when the puppy was last wormed. If there is any doubt, worm your puppy within a day or two of its arrival at your home.

As a rule we prefer to purchase our worming products from our local vet rather than the supermarket. Your vet will be able to advise you on what he thinks is the best product available for your puppy depending on the puppy's age. Depending on the product used, after the puppy has reached twelve weeks, usually the puppy needs worming monthly until they are six months of age and after that every three months is usually sufficient. Again, this is only general advice and if unsure, please consult your vet.

When should my puppy be vaccinated?
In Australia most puppies are vaccinated at six weeks, then depending on where you live and the local problems, most puppies are vaccinated again at between twelve to fourteen weeks. After that a yearly booster is given.

In some areas, some pups are vaccinated three times between six and twelve weeks. This is usually done because of local problems and it is best to follow your vet's advice as he will be aware of what problems are prevalent in your locality. Before you have your puppy vaccinated it is wise to ask your vet about any possible after effects and ask your vets advice about any alternative vaccinations, so you may make an informed decision on the correct vaccination for your puppy.

What can I do about fleas?
All puppies need protection from fleas particularly in the warmer months. If not protected your puppy will be miserable, he will be constantly scratching and he will probably eventually develop a form of dermatitis caused by a flea allergy.

There are several good products on the market - they range from rinses after a bath to treatments that are only necessary a few times a year. Whatever you use, be careful to read the instructions, as many of the products available are not suitable for use on dogs under three months. This is another good reason for consulting your vet regarding your own puppy rather than taking something off the supermarket shelf.

What can I do about heartworm?
Consult your vet about a heartworm preventative treatment for your puppy; usually the best time to start this treatment is when the puppy has his twelve-week vaccination. If the puppy has not had any heartworm medication and it reaches six months of age, the puppy will need to be tested for heartworm before it can be started on any preventative treatment.

When should my puppy be groomed?
This is important in all breeds of dogs. Regular brushing will remove excess hair and knots and helps remove fleas. Regular grooming also helps you notice any abnormal cuts, scratches, lumps or skin conditions that you might otherwise miss. Most dogs enjoy the grooming process if it has been a pleasant experience from the beginning. It is important to check their ears, eyes and teeth.

With poodles, they need to have their wool clipped regularly, say around every six weeks if you like the wool kept short, and up to about twelve weeks if you like the wool long. However, if you leave the clipping to twelve weeks, you will have to brush the wool very regularly in the last few weeks.

Even if you like the wool to be kept long, it makes sense to clip around their feet, their tail and around their mouths.

The wool needs to be plucked out of poodle's ears from about eight weeks of age for the rest of the dogs life. The ears need to be kept free of wool and clean. There are some excellent products available that inhibit the build-up of wax and dirt in the ears. Your vet will be able to advise you on these products.

If you take your puppy to a groomer, make sure beforehand that the groomer, will clean the pup's ears, not just clip the coat. If the groomer does not do ears, either change the groomer or be prepared to do the job yourself.

If left untended, poodle ears can develop infections quite quickly. Once the dog has an ear infection, it is very hard to treat, as the dog hates the ears to be touched. It is much better to get the puppy used to the ears being plucked and cleaned on a regular basis from the beginning.