Who doesn’t love a newborn puppy? They are cute, cuddly, energetic, playful and affectionate. While you might be ready to adopt one of these small pups, do you have adequate knowledge of a puppies’ health needs? Puppies, like any newborn creature, have underdeveloped immune systems at first. This makes them more susceptible to illnesses and disease.
Preventing these illnesses is the key to establishing your puppy’s health. The best way to accomplish this is to select a veterinarian and make your first appointment right away. When choosing a Vet, ask around for recommendations.
Another great way to prevent puppy health problems is to provide healthy puppy food, plenty of play and exercise, and proper rest periods. In the long run, proper prevention techniques and strategies will benefit both your family and your pet.
Proper puppy health involves understanding some common problems when becoming a new puppy owner, such as worms, ticks, fleas, malnutrition and dehydration. These conditions are very treatable and can be tackled right away. Purchase some heartworm medication from your vet during your first visit. They usually come in six month packages requiring you to dose your dog only once a month. Catching heartworms can be devastating for dogs so, as an owner, be very aware of this.
There are many diseases and ailments that can affect your puppy’s health. While you do not need to be an expert on all of these, you will need to have a chat with your vet about prevention. There are many vaccines available to help prevent a variety of severe, and often fatal, dog diseases. With young dogs, you will need to visit the vet more often because there are so many vaccines to be given during the first year. Your puppy will need shots at 6 weeks, 9 weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks at the least. These vaccinations should cover rabies, distemper, hepatitis, parainfluenza, coronavirus, and parvovirus at the very minimum. Avoid socializing your puppy with other dogs until after they are vaccinated. This will reduce the chance that your puppy will catch something from another dog that his immune system is unprepared for.
One of the most overlooked ways to ensure your puppy’s health is by providing your dog with good dental care. A puppy has at least 28 teeth by the time he is five weeks old. An adult dog has around 42 teeth total. Regularly brushing your dog’s teeth using a dog toothbrush and paste will help prevent gum disease. Starting a brushing routine early will help your dog get accustomed to the habit of letting you clean his teeth.
Other common problems to watch out for are weight loss, hair loss, vomiting, diarrhea, bloody urine, difficulty breathing, cough, lethargy, seizures, and loss of appetite. Your puppy will not be able to tell you that he does not feel well so be diligent in noticing changes in mood or behavior.
If your puppy has gotten used to eating too much and you are concerned about dog obesity, you should act quickly. A dog suffering from obesity will age quicker, possibly shortening its potential life span. Your puppy’s health is more important than over-indulging your pet. Treatment for dog obesity could include lowering your pet’s calorie intake by changing the type of pet food, increasing water and fiber intake, and increasing physical activity. It is also possible that the obesity could be caused by diabetes, hypothyroidism or other medical issues. See your vet right away if you have concerns or if you start to see symptoms.
Some signs of a healthy puppy are bright eyes, shiny hair, a good appetite, a healthy body weight, playfulness, clean teeth, and a good disposition. If your puppy falls into this description, he is most likely strong, healthy and happy.
No one adopts a puppy with the intention of getting him sick or hurt. Since a dog’s life span is shorter when compared to a human’s, you will want to ensure that your dog stays healthy as long as possible. Your puppy’s health is one of the most important aspects of puppy care so do not neglect it. A happy and long life with your pet is the best scenario a pet owner can hope for.
Related posts:
- Understanding Ticks
- Understanding Allergic Reactions
- Puppies Without Appetites
- Understanding Ear Yeast Infections
- Understanding the Role of Alpha Dog
Comments on this entry are closed.