ARF Information

The following table lists the standard procedures ARF dogs receive before they are rehomed and why we do it. Information gathered from resources on the Internet with special thanks to Weston Creek Veterinary Hospital online at http://www.wcvh.com.au

See also:How much does an ARF dog cost?

Description	Benefit	Risks if not done
C5 Vaccination (required annually)	Protection against: Parvovirus, Distemper, Infectious Hepatitis, Parainfluenza (the viral cause of Kennel Cough), and Bordatella bronchiseptica (a bacteria that makes Kennel Cough worse).	Some of the signs of: Canine Distemper include fever, diarrhoea, vomiting, depression, muscle tremors and paralysis. Infectious Hepatitis include fever, depression, abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhoea. Severe cases are rapidly fatal. Kennel Cough includes a hacking cough. Not usually fatal, but can be severe and prolonged. Canine Parvovirus include sudden death in young pups, bloody smelly diarrhoea, abdominal pain and uncontrollable vomiting. Note: Parvo is a major killer of dogs. It is extremely contagious and transportable to unvaccinated dogs. In some regions of Sydney, Parvo has reached epidemic proportions. Being so easily transported, it is definitely not confined to these areas. Vaccination highly recommended.
Heartworm test and prevention (monthly or annual prevention)	Protection against heartworm.	Clinical signs of heartworm infection include persistent coughing, laboured breathing, general lethargy and tiring easily after exercise, a distended abdomen, collapse and sometimes death. Treatment for the condition is both expensive and traumatic for the animal - prevention is very definitely better than cure.
All-wormer medication (required quarterly)	Protection against intestinal worms.	Not only can worms make your dog sick, some species of worms can also be transferred to humans, with children being most at risk. Some of the signs of: Hookworms include weight loss, poor appetite, bloated abdomen, black tar-like diarrhoea, dehydration, enteritis and lethargy. Severe infections can be fatal. Roundworms include coughing, diarrhoea, vomiting, bowel obstruction, pneumonia, a dull coat, and a swollen abdomen. Severe infections can be fatal. Whipworms include abdominal pain, anorexia, pale eyelids and gums, dehydration, smelly bloody diarrhoea and weight loss. Infection in adult dogs is generally not as serious as infection in puppies, which can be fatal. Common Flea tapeworm include irritation and itching around the anus but not considered to be a major health risk. Hydatid Tapeworm cause life-threatening infection in humans who come in contact with hydatids from the faeces of infected dogs.
Desexing (permanent)	In the ACT, all dogs must be desexed, except those to whom a permit to keep a sexually entire animal relates. Fees must be paid annually for these permits. Apart from the obvious benefit to female dogs of not producing unwanted puppies, desexing can also reduce the possibility of breast cancer. Desexing male dogs can reduce aggression, wandering, urine marking and other anti-social behaviour, as well as being effective in preventing prostate trouble and cancer of the testicles.	There is absolutely no need to breed from your dog. Indiscriminate breeding causes many problems because there are simply not enough homes for the accidental litters that are born each year, so desexing is recommended for both male and female dogs. There are many myths surrounding desexing that aren't true. Discuss any questions or concerns about desexing your dog with your vet.
Microchipping (permanent)	A permanent and safe way of ensuring that your pets can find their way home if they ever become lost or stolen.	Not microchipping reduces the chance of a missing dog being reunited with its owner.

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