If you’re a new puppy parent you might not know how this whole vaccination, worming and tick and flea prevention thing works. 

 

I’m going to break it down for you in a simple timeline of when your cavoodle should be vaccinated, wormed or given their tick and flea medication. 

 

Vaccinations for your cavoodle puppy are essential to protect them from contagious or potentially deadly diseases. 

 

Vaccinations

Your cavoodle’s first vaccination will be the breeders responsibility. 

1. Cavoodle 6-8 weeks old - first vaccination C3 - Distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus

Distemper is a viral disease that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal system and neurological systems, causing inflammation of the brain. Initially, infected cavoodles will develop watery to pus-like discharge from their eyes. They then develop fever, nasal discharge, coughing, lethargy, reduced appetite, and vomiting.  It is caught through airborne exposure (through sneezing or coughing) from an infected dog or wild animal. The virus can also be transmitted by shared food and water bowls and equipment.

 

Hepatitis in cavoodles targets the infected cavoodle puppy's liver, lungs, kidneys, spleen, lining of blood vessels and occasionally other organs. Signs of hepatitis can vary from fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, enlarged lymph nodes, tonsillitis, eye inflammation or swelling, and bruising on the skin. Your cavoodle puppy can  become infected with canine hepatitis by consuming faeces, saliva, nasal discharge or urine from infected dogs.

 

Parvovirus attacks the lining of the small intestine leading to severe vomiting and diarrhoea often with blood. This can cause severe dehydration, shock and death, especially in small dogs and puppies. Parvovirus is highly contagious and can survive for long periods in the environment. It can be easily transferred through the faeces of infected animals, and dogs easily come into contact with these when sniffing the ground when on walks or at the dog park.

 

2. Cavoodle 10-12 weeks old - Booster Vaccination C5- Distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and bordetella.

 

Your cavoodle’s second and third vaccination will be your responsibility, it is important you do not take your cavoodle puppy out on walks or out to dog parks during their first 14-16 weeks of life. They are highly susceptible to many diseases during this time until they are fully vaccinated.

 

Parainfluenza is a highly contagious respiratory virus component of kennel cough that results in influenza-like signs including coughing, sneezing, fever, lethargy & pneumonia or chest infections.  It is highly contagious and commonly develops in situations where a lot of dogs are in close proximity with each other.

 

Bordetella is a highly contagious component of kennel cough. This is a dog-specific form of “whooping cough” that results in severe illness and cough in dogs. It is spread from dog to dog through aerosol droplets, direct contact, or contact with contaminated surfaces like food and water bowls and toys.

 

3. Cavoodle 14-16 weeks old - Final puppy vaccination C3 - Distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza, and bordetella. 

 

4. Every year after last vaccination - Annual Booster - Your adult cavoodle will require yearly vaccination boosters for the rest of their life to remain immune from these diseases

 

Worming

Intestinal worm prevention

Puppies should be wormed every 2 weeks from birth until up to the age of 12 week, then monthly until they are 6 months, then every 3 months after that for life. Be sure to check with your cavoodle breeder or pet shop when your cavoodle was last wormed so you can keep up with the treatment once you bring you furbaby home. 

 

Be sure to select an all wormer which will cover for all intestinal worms including all major gastro-intestinal parasites like roundworm, hookworm, whipworm and tapeworm.

For small cavoodle puppies liquid wormers are best like the aristopet worming syrup for puppies and kittens, until they are able to take tablets like drontal, some options below: 

 

Heartworm prevention

Unfortunately, most intestinal worm prevention does not cover heartworms, this is important to note as you will have to give an additional treatment to cover this.  

Monthly tablets should be given from 8 weeks of age until 6 months old. After this you can continue with monthly tablets like the below or get an annual heartworm injection from your vet.

 

Tick & Flea Treatment 

Ticks and fleas are a threat to your cavoodle puppy all year round so from 8 weeks of age it is important to use an oral or a spot on prevention treatment monthly. 

 

There are many types of flea and tick treatments on the market but the one we like to use is NexGard Spectra as it does fleas, ticks, heartworm, intestinal worms and mites all in one easy monthly tablet!

 

 

Here’s an easy downloadable so you can track your cavoodle pups' vaccinations and medications:

Remember to always consult your vet if you have any questions about which product is best for your cavoodle.