| |
| |
|
Pets Information |
|
|
|
Puppy Care 101
Puppy Care Puppy care can be a lot of work, but is also quite rewarding. This article should answer a lot of your questions you might have about your new puppy, or the puppy you are thinking about getting. Here we cover the basics you need to know. Feeding Most people will have received their puppy after they are weaned. But if you actually need to wean your puppy, starting at about 2-3 weeks of age your puppy should start to eat solid food. Offer the puppies solid food at least three times a day. You can start by offering dry puppy food mixed with some warm water to soften it. When the puppy reaches about 12 weeks of age, slowly start feeding dry puppy food only twice a day. Only offer the food for about 15 minutes and then take the dish away, to train the dog for eating twice a day. Between 6-9 months of age start mixing puppy food with an adult dog food over the course of a month. The dry food should be specially formulated for puppies. If you have a large breed puppy feed a large breed formula. But be careful not to over feed large breed dogs. If you do they are more prone to joint and bone problems. Also stay away from a lot of extra treats, and be careful not to over feed your puppy over 6 months of age to prevent obesity. Vaccines Vaccinating your puppy is the basis of good puppy care. Vaccines help reduce the risk of you puppy acquiring diseases like parvovirus, distemper, kennel cough, and rabies. Vaccines are given when puppies reach 6-8 weeks of age and are given every 2-4 weeks until the puppy reaches 16-20 weeks of age. Boosters are then needed every one to three years. There are many different vaccine schedules your veterinarian might use. For example you puppy might receive shots at the following ages: 6, 9, 12, and 15 weeks of age. Puppies are usually vaccinated against: Distemper, Adenovirus (hepatitis), Parvovirus, and Parainfluenza. All of these vaccines are usually combined in one vaccine typically referred to as "the distemper shot." Also depending on where you live, you may also need vaccines against Coronavirus, Giardia, Lyme disease, Leptospirosis, and Bordetella. Also Rabies is needed as well. Usually at sixteen weeks of age, and then boostered a year later, and then boostered one to three years later depending on the local laws and regulations. Rabies vaccine is the only vaccine that you must absolutely get for your dog. Only a veterinarian is licensed to administer rabies vaccine. Parasites 1. Heartworm prevention Most puppies should be started on a heartworm preventative at least by two months of age. And now in most areas of the United States, it is recommended that heartworm preventative be given all year long, although the risk of getting heartworms is still greatest in the summer months. Heartworm preventative is usually given monthly in the form of a chewable tablet. The most popular brands are Heartgard and Interceptor. It is important the you give this tablet every month and if you miss a month, to tell your veterinarian. 2. Intestinal Parasites (Worms) It is important that you get your puppy dewormed. Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, coccidian, and giardia are the most common parasites that can affect your puppy. It is recommended that you have a fecal done on your pet, and then yearly after that. Deworming medication is commonly placed in heartworm medication these days, these include Heartgard plus and Interceptor. Intestinal parasites can cause diarrhea, weight loss, and death. Tapeworms often found around the anus of your puppy. They look like grains of white rice. These are the egg filled segments of the tapeworm. 3. Fleas and Ticks Most flea products these days are also effective against ticks as well as fleas. The most popular of these is Frontline. It is a medication that is applied once a month to help prevent fleas and ticks. It is a liquid product applied topically to the skin between the shoulder blades. Grooming Grooming is also a part of good puppy care. All pets need some degree of grooming. It is an important part of taking care of your new puppy. By starting to brush and bath your puppy while they are young, they will grow accustomed to the contact as they grow up. Exercise and Training It is important for you to provide plenty of space for your puppy to run and exercise. Also, now is the right time to begin training your puppy to help avoid unwanted behaviors. Also be sure to avoid taking your puppy to dog parks until after they have had their full series of vaccines. If you take the time to learn about proper puppy care, you soon will have a healthy happy dog. Take the time to ask lots of question when you see your Veterinarian. They are the best source for puppy care and health information. Find out what additional steps you can take to help your puppy at http://www.free-online-veterinarian-advice.com You can submit a question to the veterinarian by clicking here http://www.free-online-veterinarian-advice.com/askavet.html Chris Suckow, DVM, currently lives and works in Los Angeles.
MORE RESOURCES:
Pets - Google News |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Lemon Tetras Glassily transparent, the lemon tetra (hyphessobrycon pulchripinnis) could appear to be just a sunbeam flashing through your community tank if not for background elements like plants and driftwood. Another member of the large characin clan, the lemon tetra has a fairly elongated body like its smaller relative the neon tetra and like neons and other characins, the lemon tetra does best if kept in small schools of six to eight fish. Comparison of the Cost and Effectiveness of Holistic Horse Care versus Conventional Care After years of practicing both conventional and holistic medicine for horses, I decided to compare the cost, effectiveness, and net results of managing and treating horses holistically versus conventionally.In this article I compare results for the average trail horse that is ridden about 2-3 times a week. A Dog Day Care Business Can Be A Lot of Fun! If you love dogs and you enjoy making money then a dog day care business may be a very good fit for you!Let me ask you a question, "Can you imagine starting your very own dog day care business?" If you asked yourself that question and still aren't sure, let me give you a bit of dog day care business advice.. Saving Ginger From Being Put To Sleep - Part 2 The Story Continues.. Dog Behavior Problems: Help! My Dog is a Nuisance When he Misbehaves! How many times have I hear fellow dog owners say, "I hate it when he barks non stop? or he utterly embarrassed me when he mounts people's leg". Dog owners usually have no problems to fill in tons of their dog behavioral problems into the above statements. Cancer and Your Pet Just say the word cancer and any of a host of undesirable thoughts will pop in your mind- and with good reason. Cancer is one of the most common of diseases among pets and increases as the pet ages. Pet Tracking Devices It was the Saturday morning of August 20, 2004 and my two kids saying that they couldn't find our cat Nala anywhere waked me up. I didn't pay much attention, because it was common for her to find a new hiding spot and sleep there for hours. Is A Premium Dog Food Really That Much Better For Your Dog? ==========The Scoop on Premium Dog Food========If you're interested in premium dog food, then I probably don't have to tell you about the importance of diet in keeping your dog active and healthy. You already know you want something better than "average" for your furry friend. Immune System Booster for Your Pets Many chronic diseases commonly seen in pets result from immune suppression. Diabetes, allergies, breathing difficulties, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, recurrent ear infections, and even cancer, are all examples of an immune system gone wrong. Dog Training -What You Should Keep In Mind When Playing With Your Dog Dogs, especially young dogs are very playful by nature.Play provides them with the opportunity to exercise and also to form bonds with littermates. Dog Training Basics All positive commands should be spoken sharply and distinctly during training. Make sure you also use a positive tone. You Cant Fool A Horse By Jeffrey Rolocopyright 2004 AlphaHorseIn the dating world many men and women put their potential partners to a "dog test," whereby they introduce their date to their dog and see how the dog reacts to the stranger. If the dog reacts badly towards their date then a red flag is waved, whereas if the dog accepts the stranger instantly the opposite holds true. How to Choose a Pet Did you know that pets outnumber people in the United States? Recent statistics have shown that 62% of homes have a pet, and that 46% of homes have more than one pet. That adds up to 380 million pets in a nation with a human population of 290 million people. Seeing Past Cuteness When Selecting the Best Dog Breed For You: Part 3 of 3 Are there so many great dog breeds out there that you just can't decide where to begin? If so, let's break it down and sort through all the options. In Part 3, the final article in this three part series, we'll continue looking at the seven Groups of dogs that are acknowledged by the American Kennel Club. Agility Training For Dogs Without agility, the most muscular person in the world couldn't win a fight against a fifth-grader. But did you know that for a dog agility is possibly even more important? With so many of a dog's happiest moments spent running, jumping, catching, and stretching, dog agility training can really help dogs age gracefully and happily. 4 Ways In Which You Can Show Your Dog How Much You Love Him Do you have at least one framed photo of your dog somewhere in your house.. Does Your Bichon Frise Eat His Own Poop? Hi,I'm Janet CombsMy mother bred and raised Bichon Frises for 23 years. I have been a Bichon Frise breeder for 13 years. What You Need To Know To Keep Your Dog Safe In Your Car Man's Best Friend is a great companion around the home, but Rover will love joining you on road trips - short or long - as well. If you've tried taking your dog along in the car before and met with bad results, don't give up. West Highland White Terriers - Westies- A Wonderful Breed Apart "Westies" or West Highland White Terriers are furry coated dogs, with dots for coal black eyes and button noses.Why are West Highland White Terrier puppies sought after by many dog lovers? Because these friendly creatures are well-behaved, loyal and affectionate dogs, who may be pocket sized (average a 10-11 inches tall), but are highly intelligent animals. Dog Grooming and Dog Care Dog grooming is relatively simple for most dogs. I have a greyhound and spend about 5 minutes per day on dog grooming.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2007 |
