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‘Tis spring, when shelters everywhere are filled with the offspring of dogs that haven’t been spayed or neutered.
If you are adopting a puppy (yay for you!) or buying one from a reputable breeder, here are some tips for taking care of your furry new bundle of joy.
What Should I Feed My Puppy, How Much and How Often?
Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs. Until your puppy is a year old, you should feed him food that is specially formulated for puppies.
When your puppy is 6 months to a year old, “it can be tempting to switch from puppy food to dog food, but he still needs puppy food because he is growing and maturing,” writes Veronica Davis on dailypuppy.com. “Some dogs can be switched to a once-a-day feeding, although many breeds do better with two smaller meals a day.”
On peteducation.com, Race Foster, DVM, recommends feeding puppies high-quality dry kibble instead of canned dog food because it contains less fat. “Economy brands are cheap and are made of the cheapest ingredients available. As such, their energy values are lower, and most importantly they often use poorer-grade proteins with lower digestibility,” he writes.
“Ensure the food has meat listed as the first ingredient,” Davis writes. She notes that your puppy will probably gain weight when he’s between 3 and 6 months old, so you should adjust the amount of food you give him accordingly.
“The amount of food given with each meal should never be dictated by what is on the back of the puppy food bag,” Foster writes, since some puppies will need less while others may need more. Consult with your vet as to the right amount to feed your puppy to keep him at his optimal weight.
You should feed your puppy on a regular schedule, and supervise him to make sure he’s eating all his food. Puppies younger than 6 months should be fed three times a day. After he’s 6 months old, you can feed your puppy twice a day.
Avoid giving your puppy table scraps. “We strongly recommend never starting because once you do, it never stops,” Foster writes. Table scraps can cause diarrhea, and they don’t provide the nutrients your growing puppy needs.
After your puppy eats, take him outside so he can pee and poop. Foster recommends keeping your puppy calm for at least an hour after he eats to avoid an upset stomach.
Water – It is very important to provide your puppy with fresh, clean water. In fact, Foster writes that water is the most important nutrient for puppies, who require more H2O per pound than adult dogs because they are still growing. “A dog or cat can lose almost all of his body fat and half of his protein mass (muscle) and still survive,” Foster writes. “However, if this same animal loses 15 percent of his body water, he will die.”
Treats – Foster recommends that treats should not account for more than 10 percent of your puppy’s caloric intake. “Hard chew treats keep your puppy entertained and may improve dental health by exercising the gums and scraping the teeth,” Foster notes. “It also satisfies your teething pup’s need to chew.”
What Vaccinations Does My Puppy Need?
Puppies must be vaccinated to protect them from parvovirus, rabies, distemper and other diseases. These shots are given to puppies in a series rather than all at once to accommodate their developing immune systems.
The first series is usually administered when puppies are 6 to 8 weeks old. After that, vaccinations are scheduled for every three to four weeks, until puppies are about 16 weeks old.
For more information, see HOW TO Keep Track of Your Puppy’s Vaccinations and consult with your veterinarian.
When Should My Puppy be Dewormed?
Most young puppies are infested with roundworms (also called ascarids), which, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are the most common parasite of dogs’ small intestines. Roundworms can be 3 to 4 inches long and resemble spaghetti.
While a puppy with a mild infestation may show no symptoms, a more serious infestation can result in weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea and other health issues. For that reason it is important that your puppy is dewormed.
Petswebmd.com notes, “It is advisable to have your veterinarian check your puppy’s stool before deworming for ascarids, because if other worms are present, a broad-spectrum deworming agent may be recommended.”
Worm medications are administered orally in liquid or tablet form. Your puppy should have received his first treatment when he was 2 weeks old. According to peteducation.com, since the medications kill the adult worms but not the larvae, the process needs to be repeated every two weeks after the first treatment, until your puppy is 8 weeks old. After that, he should be treated once a month until he is 6 months old.
PHOTOS: moonstarsandpaper.com, phaewilk, nanette
Find A Vet HOW TO articles are intended for informational purposes only. You should always consult with your veterinarian about any health issues affecting your dog.
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Category : HOW TO
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