Medication Info:

My philosophy is the old saying "An ounce of Prevention is worth a pound of Cure ". But there are always risk, limitations, and special circumstance's!

Vaccinations

Currently there are Two Schedules of vaccinations,

1. Core- are considered the Required vaccinations based on an annual or other schedule.
2. Non-Core- are also required/needed but sometimes considered more an optional based vaccination or additional vaccinations, also based on an annual or other schedule.

1. Multivalent- better known as Combination vaccines aka Nobivac/SoloJec #5,6,7,9…
2. Monovalent- known as a Singular or Specific (targeted) vaccination such as Parvo “only” Vaccine.

For Puppies, it is recommended that different vaccinations be given starting at ages of 5 weeks and up! Therefore it can be confusing to decide when and which shots are needed at a certain age. In addition to this, there is a certain risk factor (level of exposure or risk of exposure) in certain situation and/or conditions such as if the pup is
(1) kept in the house,
(2) allowed to range in the yard,
(3) exposed to other pets and/or drinking water in a park during walks,
(4) part of a kennel or boarding facility.

All of which can occur in any combination or in other risk situations/conditions such as taking the pet on a trip and stopping at rest stops, boarding the puppy, etc. Each and any of the later can expose the pup to different potential levels of risk and should be considered when vaccinating your llewellin setter puppy.

Since I am not a veterinarian or member of AMVA, a similar vaccination schedule can be seen here (this link is Down)TheDogPlace.org as the AMVA seems to have removed access to non registered members or it's deeply burried (somewhere) on their site.

Along with the required annual vaccinations, assessing the pups potential risk level of exposure and a little common sense will help you and/or your veterinarian decide which is the best course of vaccinations to give to your puppy and adult dogs, and such will go a long way to help keep your Llewellin Setter Puppy healthy and virus free.




Vital to the Llewellin Setter Puppy!

Vaccinations can contain one or both of two types of virus(es) (1)Live and/or (2)Killed virus's, so injection's of certain types can actually introduce virus's into the Llewellin Setter puppy's body and do more harm than good if given before the pups immune system is ready!

The logic and reasoning behind the above is obvious. Llewellin Setter Puppies (all newborns pups for that matter) DO NOT HAVE the ability to develop antibodies at a young age. So, the pup (on its own) lacks the ability to fight off infections and virus's! Studies have shown and proven that sometime during weaning the pups bodies will have then started to develop antibodies as to fight off infections. After weaning it may take a week or two for the Llewellin Setter puppy’s immune system to reach its full potential as it is not an immediate or overnight transition. Of course when they start to have the ability to create antibodies (commonly by the 5-10 week milestones), immunities to certain virus's and infections are usually absent and present a gap, or lay dormant and antibodies are only created when an external threat invades the body. In such case, introducing (Live or Killed) virus by means of injection into a Llewellin Setter Puppy before its body can produce antibodies can be harmful or fatal to the young pup and is not recommended.

So what keeps the young Llewellin Setter Puppy from getting sick or contracting a virus when it is young?

Nursing!
Most of us are aware that the mothers milk is packed full of nutrients that the Llewellin Puppy needs to grow healthy and strong. But the mothers milk also contains essential antibodies that are consumed and absorbed as the pup nurse. Therefore it is the mother who in fact passes along her antibodies and immunities to the pup through her milk, that which keeps the Llewellin Setter Puppies body immune and protected.
As the mother starts to wean the Setter puppies in the later weeks, the antibodies decrease in her milk and along side the pups continuing development, it helps to trigger the puppies bodies to slowly start developing their own antibodies and immunities as they are exposed.

As stated above, by the time (or shortly after) the pup is 5-6 weeks old, its body should have started to create its own antibodies and build up immunities as they are exposed to such outside threats. However, there are no guarantee's that all pups will develop at the same rate, so if a pup is NOT exposed to a high risk environment its best to wait an extra week or two (if possible).

 

Dickens Llewellin’s Medication Program

Because I house a Kennel of 10 Adult Llewellin Setters plus the seasonal litter of puppies, I have a very strict cleaning, health and medical program implemented which consist of Required (core), Non-Core medications/vaccinations, and such occurs daily, biweekly, monthly and/or annually, as needed or required.

Based on the above, my vaccination scheduled (is pending to the pups age) as to start vaccination of my Llewellin Setter Puppies as soon as possible, but not prematurely.

• If a pup is scheduled to go to new homes at 8 weeks vaccinaions start at 6 weeks so that the pup can have 2 rounds of vaccinations.
• Otherwise vacinaitons start at 8 through to 14 weeks
I want my all my Llewellin Setter Puppies to have the most healthy start in life when they go to their new homes.

Lastly, all of my adult dogs are given the required annual vaccinations (including rabies).

The list below represents just some of the treatments that I practice.

All of the treatments noted below (in regards to the above) are given as preventive treatments and not because pups or adults have presented any symptoms or signs of parasites, virus, or other. (In accordance to age, all pets in my kennel are on a monthly preventive program and/or additional medications may be given in preparation of sales as a precaution only!).

• Annual vaccination against Rabies (Pups under 4 months excluded).
• * Vaccination against (Parvo-virus, Para-influenza, Adenovirus type 1 & 2, Distemper) SoloJec #5.
  ** 4 rounds of vaccinations depending on duration before puppy is re-homed
• * Annual booster
• * Topical Treatments: Monthly/biweekly Flea and tick Dip/spray (no Collars, pups chew and bite)
*** PREVENTIVE Medications: ***
• * Monthly preventive treatments against common Worms- (Heart, Hook, Whip, Round, Tapes, Pin, Fluke, Other)
  Meds used (Ivermectin, Fenbendazole, Praziquantel)
  *Other Meds( Albon as preventive)
  *HappyJack/Permethrin (safe flea and tick dip/spray)
  *Antibiotics (If Needed)

Lepto Virus Vaccination Warning

Lepto (Leptospira-4 types) is a common virus found in the wild and dogs can contract it by drinking out of bodies of water where other animals (that have the virus) visit to drink.

However!
Llewellin Setter Puppies should not be given the Lepto virus vaccine during their first year of life as it can stunt their growth!

The exception to the above rule is a risky one:
Only if you hunt your pup in the first year, and there is a potential that the puppy will drink from bodies of water where the Lepto virus might have contaminated the water....Only under such circumstance's should your pup receive the Lepto virus vaccine, preferable prior to hunting or there soon after.

There are many over the counter (combo) vaccinations out there to choose from. These vaccines are usually designed for home administration and come in combination of numbers such as # 4,5,6,7,9, and 12 as to indicate the number, types and strains of virus they vaccinate against. Some of the name brands are:
     ---* Solo-Jec (s)
     ---* Nobivac
     ---* Vanguard
     ---* Duramane

As of my last research, Many over the counter vaccines (such as SoloJec #7 and higher) will contain the Lepto Virus vaccine, and should not be given to a young Llewellin Setter Puppy. In some instances even a veterinarian may overlook this potential unwanted effect, so its best to know and remind them of the vaccinations ill effects. Veterinarian's are not usually offended by a kind reminder (in most instances) as they only want to help keep your new Llewellin Setter Puppy healthy!

I highly suggest that you read the labels on all vaccines available for purchase and become familiar with each of the virus's associated with the vaccine as well as the method of storage, and its potential side effects before administering to your pet. If you are unsure, visit your local veterinarian.

Puppy Development and Intro to Game Birds

Many times customers call and ask if my Llewellin puppy litters have started training or been introduced to game birds?

Please realize that many of my pups go to their new homes at 8 - 10 weeks of age, so there is little time for training other than the very basics of commands such as "No", "Here" and maybe a whistle as to reinforce or condition the pup. Beyond that, it is the customers responsibility to initiate their 8 week old puppy's training.

As for intro to game birds; an 8 week old pup may have been introduced to live game bird "only" if their curiosities or instincts beckons them to the game bird pen; then they are allowed to scent and investigate the source of scents. Outside of that, I may add natural game bird scents to certain toys as part of a supervised tool in order to test their natural instincts progression during evaluations.

However!
I do train the Llewellin Setter Puppies for sale as they get older , but not before their training time-lines allow as it is a multistage process of progressive training. In such I will usually comment on which pups have started training and the level of training on this page as time allows me to update the web site.

Comming soon training Blog

In regards to the Llewellin Setter Puppies For Sale (and Puppy Training), as explained below, a little common sense and insight to the development stages of the puppy helps others to understand the reasons for delaying a higher level of training, especially on live game birds.

0-3 weeks of age:
When you think about it, all litters of Llewellin Setter Puppies spend their first 3 weeks of life nursing and sleeping. Their eyes and ears are closed, their nose has very little scent ability, and all they can do is crawl on their bellies and suckle on the mother. In the later of this time frame, usually in week 3-4, the pups eyes and ears will start to open and they will progress from crawling to an uncoordinated climbing and maybe even start wobbly walk very short distances. Time wise, this leaves only 4-5 weeks before a Llewellin Setter is ready to go to their new home.

At 4-6 weeks of age
Even at this early age of growth, the pups will still have difficulty standing, walking, and seeing as their eyesight is still blurry but gaining focus. At 4-5 weeks it is a good time to consider weaning and start the puppies on puppy food's while allowing them to continue to nurse the mother. Due to their young ages, Potty training can start but is sometimes absent until the later of the 5-6 week. Although the Llewellin Setter puppies are progressing fast, they still having some difficulty in walking, balancing and climbing and they will rarely stray more far from their safety zone. As they reach 6 weeks, they will start to explore the surrounding area and start to venture out, play, chew and rough-house with their litter mates, but if "Lost in the puppy wilderness" they will usually call out with a whining howl/cry as to let you know where they are.

At 7-8 weeks old (2 months Old+)
A Llewellin Setter Puppy still has trouble walking and balancing but is more proficient and coordinated in the act, it is able to see better and thus will be more active and move about as it starts discovering the world around them. Llewellin Setter Puppies still fallow the routine of Eating and Sleeping, but the puppy has also become more active and curious and will venture out from the safe zone as it continues to explore. The activities which occur at this young of age is short burst of rough housing and play with litter mates and objects, and short explorations followed by a retreat to the bedding area or other cool safe area in order to nap.
Its also important to note that Llewellin Setter puppies will have started to teethe their first set of needle sharp teeth (between 4-7 weeks) and will softly chew on just about everything. Lastly, their little claws are equally sharp, but are slightly more tender and fragile; they can do a damage to both the mothers teats and other pups, as well as easily puncture and scratch human skin, or clothing.

Special Considerations
From the Kennel Master’s (Owners) stand point: any of the Llewellin Setter Puppies for sale, those reserved or sold, must start a transitional conditioning process of being weaned from the mothers milk at a stage (4-8 weeks) much earlier than they would normally be allowed to continue to nursing. Thus any Llewellin Setter Puppy for sale, reserved, sold, scheduled to be shipped or picked up at 8 weeks of age will be have to be started on a supplement of solid commercial puppy foods as to prepare it for the absence of the mothers milk. However! Pups will be allowed to continue to nurse during this transitional phase, but the goal is to supplement the mothers milk with a solid food source equal in the nutrients it needs to continues in its growth and development.

Nutritional needs
What many Owners and Customers tend not to consider or validate when weaning a puppy- is the fact that the Llewellin Setter puppy is only 4-5 weeks old when weaning is considered and/or started. Weaning the Llewellin Setter puppy at this young of age does not refer to removing a source of nutritious milk entirely, but more so a transition and introducing new foods while allowing the mother to continue the supply a nutritious milk until the puppy is ready to leave.
Removing the nutritious milk source entirely (prematurely) starves the puppy's body (not just their never ending abyss of an empty tummy) of the nutrients it needs to grow healthy and strong!
It also can force a pup to undergo a series of internal digestive stresses and chemical transitions before the Llewellin Setter Puppies body is ready or completely capable. The fact that the mother is no longer the sole supply of highly nutrient rich milk/ food source is just part of the transition we humans tend to force upon the infant state of the puppy!

The above is not to suggest allowing the pup's to nurse the mother until 3+ months nor take away the mothers milk at 4 weeks of age; but more so, as a supplement of milk (to balance out) the vital nutrients which may have been lost in the transition. Restated, allowing the mother to continuing to supply her milk to the pup (in addition to foods) as to assure the pups body and growth is not stunted due to early weaning.

FDSB Reply (Paraphrased/Simi-Quoted)

Many Llewellin owners are confused about the term Belton when it comes to registering a puppy with only two colors (Two-Tones) and most everyone list them incorrectly as a Belton in the registration form when they are not. We (FDSB) review each registration of this type and make the final decision based on the markings indicated in the registration form presented to us. We may even call or request photos of the pup or dog.