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Bringing home a puppy is an exciting and joyous event. But it may also be a bit overwhelming, especially if you're a first-time pet owner. Puppies require a lot of care, and starting them off on the right paw is important. At North Powers Animal Hospital, we understand the importance of giving your puppy the best start in life, and we're here to help make sure that happens. In this article, we cover the essential topics of puppy care, including the importance of an early visit to the vet, common health problems, signs of a healthy puppy, and when to start training. We hope this article will help you care for your puppy and ensure you can give your pup the best life possible. If you are located in or near Colorado Springs, CO and need help caring for your puppy, please contact us at (719) 212-1857 to schedule an appointment.
How Will Proper Puppy Care Impact My Dog's Life?
One of the most important reasons to provide your puppy with proper care from the start is to ensure your dog's long, healthy life. Good nutrition and regular veterinary care are both essential for your pup's health and well-being and can add years to their lives. Providing proper puppy care can also help prevent certain health conditions.
You should also consider the emotional benefits of providing good puppy care. A well-cared-for puppy is more socialized, better behaved, and more likely to develop into a trusting and loving companion.
Why Is It Important to Start Good Puppy Care on Day One?
It's important to start proper puppy care as soon as you bring your pup home. This is especially true for puppies between 8 and 20 weeks of age, which is the period when they are most receptive to new information. During this time, providing your puppy with positive experiences and socialization is important. This will help them learn how to interact with humans and other animals in a positive way, preventing future behavior problems.
At this stage, it's also important to begin basic obedience training such as sitting, staying, coming when called, and walking on a leash. Training sessions should be frequent but short in duration due to the puppy's short attention span.
Setting your puppy up with good quality nutrition can also help them develop healthier joints and bones, reduce the likelihood of certain diseases, and curb obesity. Studies show that on average, dogs that are kept at a lean body condition through their lives live an average of two years longer!
Finally, this is an ideal time to build a strong bond with your pup by providing lots of love and affection. The more time you spend together during these early years, the stronger your relationship will become.
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How Soon Should I Bring My Puppy In to See a Veterinarian for Their First Exam?
The first step in providing proper puppy care is scheduling an appointment with your veterinarian as soon as possible. You should do this within the first week of bringing your pup home. The sooner you bring your pup in for an exam, the sooner you'll learn more about their overall health and needs. Your veterinarian can also diagnose health issues that could be problematic in the future.
When preparing for the appointment, make sure to bring any vaccination records from the breeder, shelter, or rescue organization, as well as any information about deworming treatments. Bring a fresh stool sample for testing worms, and provide information on the brand and formula of food you're feeding your pup. Bringing some of your pup's favorite treats or a chew toy can help make the visit much easier and more enjoyable for you and your puppy.
At our office, expect to discuss your puppy's environment, food, bathroom habits, and any concerns you may have about your new puppy with your vet team. Then, your veterinarian will perform a full physical examination where they will check your pup's eyes, ears, teeth, skin, abdomen, heart, lungs and joints. They may also check for breed-specific conditions and give advice on common health issues pertinent to your pet's breed.
We believe that puppy visits should cover much more than just the standard vaccines and deworming. Our goal through puppy visits is to give you as much information to set you and your puppy up for success, whether that is addressing potty training issues, mouthing/biting behaviors, or discussing diet and nutrition. Follow-up visits build on this by tracking responses to training, evaluation of growth, and setting you up for the next year of growth and development.
What Are the Most Common Health Problems in Puppies?
While adorable and joyful, puppies are susceptible to various health problems. Some of the most common issues include:
- Skin problems
- Ear infections
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Parasites
- Developmental dental issues
- Developmental orthopedic issues
- Obesity
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What Are Some Signs and Symptoms of Illness in Puppies?
It's important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of illness in puppies in order to provide timely medical care when needed. Some common signs and symptoms include:
- Lethargy
- Dull coat
- Skin changes
- Changes in appetite
- Ear problems
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Respiratory problems
- Behavior changes
- Joint stiffness
- Swollen gums
- Excessive thirst
- Runny nose or eyes
- Trouble urinating or defecating
It's especially important to be on the lookout for any signs of parvovirus (Parvo), a highly contagious and potentially fatal virus. Symptoms include severe diarrhea, vomiting, fever, lethargy, dehydration, stomach pain, pale gums, and weakness. Another serious condition that puppies can contract is distemper, which attacks the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems with symptoms such as green or yellow discharge from the eyes, fever, coughing, lethargy, decreased appetite, and vomiting.
What Are the Signs of a Healthy, Thriving Puppy?
Now that we've covered some of the common health issues in puppies, let's take a look at the signs of a healthy, thriving puppy. A healthy mouth is characterized by relatively clean-smelling breath and clean teeth without tartar buildup. Additionally, a healthy coat should be shiny and clean due to natural oils and shedding. Clean eyes, ears, and nose are also important signs of a healthy pup. Critically, a good body condition with a consistent lean body weight is one of the most important indicators for long term health - the ribs are easily felt with a small amount of fat covering them; a waist is starting to form behind the ribs (both from the top and from the side), and good muscle density is present over the head, hips, and spine. Finally, consistent urine and stool frequency and texture are signs of good health.
When Should I Start Training My Puppy?
Start training your puppy as soon as you bring them home, teaching them basic commands like sit, stay, come, and down. Use positive reinforcement training only, keep training sessions short (5-10 minutes), and always end on a positive note. Research has shown that positive reinforcement (a "yes" command, a clicker, and/or a treat) lasts longer and stands up to challenging situations more than a correction or negative command. Remember, you only have 2-3 seconds from a behavior for your puppy to associate that behavior with that command!
Puppies should also be exposed to various environments, activities, and people to help them become more familiar with the world around them as their vaccination status allows. Basic training for most puppies usually starts around 12-16 weeks, while more advanced training is delayed until around 6 months. This allows puppies to mature physically and emotionally before beginning more intensive training. Consult with your veterinarian about keeping your puppy protected against illness while training.
What Will My Vet Be Looking for When First Examining My Puppy?
At your puppy's first veterinary appointment, your vet will perform a comprehensive physical examination. This exam includes an observation of the puppy's overall body condition and checking the eyes, ears, and nose for redness, discharge, debris, or abnormalities. Your vet will also check your puppy's mouth and teeth for tartar buildup, gum issues, retained baby teeth, how the teeth fit together. They will evaluate the heart for any heart murmurs, abnormal rhythms, or changes in heart rate. They evaluate the lungs to determine if normal sounds are present and the rate of breathing. Plus, your veterinarian will palpate the abdomen to search for abnormalities in the stomach, spleen, liver, kidneys, intestines and bladder. We check lymph nodes to check for any signs of inflammation externally, as well as evaluate joints/gait, and check for abnormalities in development in bone growth and in neurologic function.
Your vet will also design a plan for vaccinations, heartworm prevention, and routine deworming to prevent life-threatening diseases. Your first puppy series of visits is usually from 8-16 weeks, and consists of 3 exams at regular intervals. Regular wellness exams should be conducted every 6 months to a year, depending on the pet's breed, age, lifestyle and overall health.
Should I Consider Pet Insurance for My Puppy?
In a world where pets are living longer, preventive care recommendations are becoming more comprehensive for overall health, and diseases are becoming more treatable, pet insurance is a good way to ensure the ability to take care of your pet as they get older. Typically, insurance is less expensive when you start your pet young, before they develop any pre-existing conditions. Insurance does not just cover big, catastrophic illnesses, it can be quite helpful for chronic conditions, such as allergies, kidney disease, or even arthritis over many years.
What to evaluate with insurance? Know if your insurance covers preventative care or if it is just for illness/injury coverage. Know your waiting period for coverage- some insurances will not cover any diagnoses made within that waiting period. Know the limits - some insurances have limits on the amount of claims you can make or the total value of claims within a year.
Conclusion
Providing your puppy with proper care is key to their long-term health and well-being. From scheduling the first veterinary appointment to providing regular socialization and training, there are many steps you can take to ensure that your pup gets the best start in life. If you live in or near Colorado Springs, CO, and are looking for quality pet care, come visit us at North Powers Animal Hospital where your pet is our priority. Contact us at (719) 212-1857 to set an appointment, or email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you! Don't forget to follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram.