Care for New Puppies

Veterinary Care

Your new puppy depends on you to help him or her live a healthy happy life. Next to you, your veterinarian is your pet's best friend. By establishing a preventative health care program with your veterinarian as soon as you get your new pet, you can help protect him or her from contagious diseases, parasites and other health problems:

• Schedule a veterinary appointment as early as possible.
• Give your vet as much information as possible about your new puppy - age, where acquired, vaccination records, etc.
• Follow your vet's schedule on your puppy's preventative health care. Your puppy received some immunity from its mother, but this decreases quickly after weaning. It's important to have your pet inoculated against contagious diseases as early as possible. Some vaccinations required initial and booster inoculations so be sure your pet receives the full series.
• Take a fecal sample to your vet to be examined for internal parasites on your puppy's first visit. Some parasites are passed from mother to babies. It's important to have your vet treat them early. It's not recommended that you treat your pet yourself with over-the-counter products.
• Your vet will examine your puppy's eyes, ears, mouth, nose, body and haircoat for abnormalities.
• Discuss the benefits of spaying/neutering your pet with your vet and at what age thjis procedure should be done.
• Ask your vet for behavior and training advice and housebreaking tips.

Protecting your puppy at home

• Petproof your home by eliminating unsafe conditions and substances. Remember, your puppy is much lower and closer to the ground than you are and can find small objects which may be swallowed. Most young pets are curious and will chew or taste almost anything they find so take the same precautions with drugs, household products, insecticides, electrical wires, etc. as you would with a toddler.
• Know where your pet is at all times. Puppies like to investigate and sometimes hide in or get locked in strange places. Do a pet check before leaving a room, leaving the house or going to bed. This is true for kittens as well.
• It is preferable, and safer for your pet, to be kept indoors. If it is necessary to take your pet outdoors, be sure he/she has a collar, leash, and identification. Do not leave your pet outdoors alone.
• Provide a bed for your puppy in a safe, draft free spot in your home. Do not move the bed once "his/her place" is established.
• Teach basic obedience which may help save your pet's life.
• Keep fresh water in a clean bowl available at all times for your puppy.
• Exercise your puppy daily by walking or playing with him/her.
• Groom him/her regularly.
• Become familiar with your puppy's normal appearance and behavior. The more familiar you are with his/her appearance and personality, the easier it will be for your to see the signs of injury or illness.
• And give you puppy lots of love everyday!!