Puppies and Kittens!

2 weeks

• Dewormer Protocol is started

4 weeks

• 1st FVRCP (kittens) or DAPPV (puppies) vaccine is due

6 weeks

• 2nd FVRCP or DAPPV vaccine due

• Test for FELV and FIV at this appointment (kittens only)

• Install microchips

8 weeks

• 3rd FVRCP or DAPPV vaccine due

• Spay/neuter surgery if weight is at least 2.2 lbs!

  • Brother Wolf will schedule this surgery and will contact you with details

• Kittens can stay at the Adoption Center and be available for adoption after surgery

• Puppies return to foster homes and are available for adoption out of foster

10 weeks

• 4th FVRCP or DAPPV

12 weeks

• 5th FVRCP or DAPPV

• Rabies vaccine for kittens & puppies

• Puppies can stay at the Adoption Center and be available for adoption after surgery

14 weeks

• 6th FVRCP or DAPPV

16 weeks

• Last dosage of FVRCP or DAPPV

Adult Dogs

• Bordetella every 6 months

• DAPPV every 12 months

• Rabies every 12 months

• Topical flea treatment every month

• Edible heartworm/tapeworm/hookworm preventative

Adult Cats

• FVRCP every 12 months

• Rabies very 12 months

• Topical flea treatment every month

Our medical team at Brother Wolf Animal Rescue serves all of our animals. We have veterinarians on staff that treat our foster pets. If your foster pet is experiencing any health issues, please contact medical@bwar.org for guidance. If it is an emergency (see below), please call (828) 820-2115.

Do not take your foster pet to an outside veterinarian without prior approval from our team; we will not reimburse any medical fees unless the visit is pre-approved*.

Information about common health concerns and situations that occur in foster pets

Distemper:

Distemper is a highly contagious and fatal disease that attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. It is transmitted through direct contact with contaminated saliva, blood, or urine. Symptoms include severe URI or pneumonia, lethargy, or neurological signs like seizures, convulsions, and partial or complete paralysis.

• Call (828) 820-2115 if you suspect Distemper in your foster dog.

Ear Mites:

Ear mites are parasites that live in the ear canal. You may notice a bald spot behind your foster pet’s ears due to continuous scratching. They may also violently shake their head. Their ears may smell bad and you may see a brown discharge like coffee grounds. Ear mites are contagious to other animals and need to be treated.

Email medical@bwar.org and make an appointment for your foster pet to be seen at www.brotherwolfanimalrescue.setmore.com

Eye Discharge:

It is normal for animal to have little pieces of crust in their eyes after waking up. If you see continuous yellow or green discharge, swollen or closed eyes, use a warm, damp towel to wipe the affected eye(s). This is often a sign of Upper Respiratory Infections in kittens.

• You can schedule a check-up with the medical team at www.brotherwolfanimalrescue.setmore.com.

Fading Puppy or Kitten Syndrome:

Occasionally, a puppy or kitten that appeared healthy will suddenly stop thriving. They will stop growing, socializing, and crawling. They will begin to lose weight and may cry continuously. When this happens, they fade quickly and, even with medical intervention, may not survive 48 hours.

Extreme lethargy, not eating, dehydration, failure to gain weight are some of the symptoms. If baby is crashing, you have to act fast. Baby needs to be warm, but a snuggy disc or a heating pad may take too long to heat up. Wrap baby up in a blanket and keep them close to you. Use your body heat to help them stay warm.

Karo syrup is key, as well. Their blood sugar levels are likely dropping, so keep some Karo syrup on hand. Use a q-tip to rub some Karo syrup on baby's gums. While you do this, call (828) 820-2115 for next steps.

Fleas:

Animals that have fleas will scratch themselves very often. Topical and oral flea prevention are given to pets over eight weeks of age. Flea prevention for kittens and puppies under eight weeks includes daily brushings with a flea comb and daily bedding changes. If you notice signs of fleas, you can wash a puppy or kitten in a small amount of Dawn dish soap followed by using a flea comb to remove any remaining fleas. Be sure to thoroughly dry your foster following a bath and not to bathe your foster more than once every one to two weeks as their skin can be sensitive to repeated bathing.

• If fleas persist, email medical@bwar.org

Kennel cough:

Shelter environments are like day cares - if one dog has a cold, almost all the dogs will catch it. Kennel cough develops when the dog is stressed, or when the immune system becomes compromised. Kennel cough is often cured faster when the dog has a warm, quiet place to sleep and where they receive lots of TLC!

Kennel cough exhibits as a dry, hacking cough (sometimes the dog will cough up a clear liquid) with discharge from the nose. Kennel cough is contageous, and they should not be around other dogs until they are over their cough. Strenuous activities can bring on coughing episodes, so limit activity and encourage rest. Contact medical@bwar.org if you suspect kennel cough in your foster dog.

Mange:

Mange is caused by a parasite that infects the skin of animals, and some forms of mange are contagious to other animals and humans. The symptoms include itching, hair loss, and sores.

• If you suspect mange, please make an appointment at www.brotherwolfanimalrescue.setmore.com.

Parasites:

Puppies are given deworming medication upon intake in the shelter, and several days of “passing” worms will ensue. Tapeworms may look like grains of rice; roundworms look like spaghetti. All Brother Wolf animals have been treated for worms, so it's common to see these parasites in your foster's stool.

• If they continue after three days, email medical@bwar.org and we will give a second dose of dewormer.

Parvovirus:

Parvovirus is a deadly and contagious virus that attacks a dog’s gastrointestinal tract. Once parvovirus is present in an environment, it is difficult to remove. It is transmitted through direct contact with contaminated feces. Symptoms include lethargy, dehydration, loss of appetite, abdominal pain and bloating, fever, low body temperature, vomiting, severe diarrhea with or without blood.

• Call (828) 820-2115 if you suspect Parovirus in your foster dog.

Stool:

There are three types of stool: normal, soft, and diarrhea. Occasional diarrhea is common in puppies and kittens, and can be caused by parasites, viruses, bacteria, food changes, stress, and other issues. Diarrhea must be monitored as it can lead to dehydration. If the puppy or kitten remains active, mild diarrhea is not a concern. Feed your puppy less at a time but more often.

• If the diarrhea is severe, lasts more than 24 hours, or contains blood/parasites, email medical@bwar.org.

Upper Respiratory Infection:

URIs are common, especially in puppies and kittens. Symptoms include sneezing and discharge from the eyes/nose, congested breathing, loss of appetite, lethargy, and dehydration.

• Email medical@bwar.org at the first sign of a URI.

Vomit:

Vomiting is not serious unless it happens continuously or is accompanied by diarrhea. It can lead to dehydration.

• If vomiting occurs 2-3 times in a row, call our emergency medical line at (828) 820-2115.

• If it occurs more than once, but not common enough for emergency, email medical@bwar.org.

Ringworm:

Ringworm is a contagious fungus that can spread. A sign of ringworm is thinning hair of patches of hair loss. Ringworm is difficult to remove from your house but can be prevented by consistent cleaning and hand washing.

• Call (828) 820-2115 and make an appointment at www.brotherwolfanimalrescue.setmore.com so our medical team can test your foster pet for ringworm.