Congratulations on the
Adoption of Your New Dog!

Your new pet is sure to be a welcome part of the family especially if you follow suggestions:

• If your pet was just sterilized, please read the post-surgical instructions.
• Try to keep your new dog away from other dogs you already have at home for at least 1 week.
  As far as we know, your new dog is healthy; however, because the animals are here for such a short time it is possible for your new dog to be incubating a disease that it’s not showing symptoms for yet.  If it does start showing symptoms (see below for signs/symptoms) and the disease infects your dog already at home, we cannot treat your existing dog.
• Take your new pet to the vet within one week of adoption. It is important to get your new dog established with a veterinarian immediately to get it started with a wellness check-up and vaccinations.  Make sure you take along its health record; it shows the vet everything we have done to the dog while it was here.
• All puppies less than 12 weeks of age will need at least one more puppy shot. We give all adoption puppies their initial vaccines, however, just like children, puppies need a series of vaccines to be considered protected. Most vets feel that re-boostering the puppy vaccine every three weeks until the puppy is at least 16 weeks old is adequate.  You are responsible for getting these vaccinations from your vet.
• All puppies less than 12 weeks of age will need a rabies vaccination at 12 weeks of age. If you bring your adoption puppy back to the shelter at that time, we will give the rabies vaccine and issue a county license at no charge.  Just be sure to bring the health record with you when you come in for the vaccine.
• Get your new dog started on heartworm prevention medicine immediately.  All adoption dogs have been checked for heartworms and are negative. However, they will not stay that way unless you start them on heartworm prevention which is only available from veterinarians.  Be sure to ask your vet about it.

Signs/Symptoms:  We try to put out for adoption only the healthiest of animals. However, occasionally an animal will not show any signs of illness until it gets into its new home.  Signs in which you would want to call your veterinarian or the vet staff at Animal Services for assistance may include: vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, decreased appetite or not eating anything offered, excessive sneezing/runny eyes, or suture area open or oozing. If any of these symptoms are noticed or you have any questions regarding the pet, call your veterinarian or Animal Services at (727) 582-2600 and ask for a veterinary technician. You may have to leave a message on a voice mail, but someone will return your call as soon as possible.

What is Kennel Cough? Kennel Cough is a “cold” that dogs can get that is highly contagious from dog to dog.  Dogs from shelters can be susceptible to it due to stress and exposure to a large number of unvaccinated animals.  There is no cure for it; it has to run its two to three week course much like when people get colds. It is contagious to other dogs for much of that time.  Signs of kennel cough include runny eyes, nasal discharge and a cough that may or may not produce foam or bile. If you notice these symptoms, try to separate the adoptions dog from other dogs as much as possible. Also, call (727) 582-2600 and ask for a vet tech within the first 7 days after adoption.  We can either tell you some home remedies to try to relieve the cough or we can get you some antibiotics. The antibiotics don’t cure the disease; they just help prevent a secondary bacterial infection that could lead to pneumonia, which is rare. Your veterinarian can assist you and your pet for any issues that arise after the 7 day period.  Please understand we cannot treat pets you already have at home that may have been exposed.

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