What you need to know to successfully live with your new Puppy Basic information for owners A Publication of Sykesville Veterinary Clinic
Table of Contents Introduction Check List Chapter 1 Dog Care Tips for Your Puppy s First Vet Visit Chapter 2 Good Dog Care Includes House Training Your Puppy Chapter 3 Dog Care Tips: Avoid Destructive Chewing in a New Puppy Chapter 4 TOXINS Contact information
CHAPTER ONE Dog Care Tips for Your Puppy s First Vet Visit
CHECK LIST Puppies should not be taken away from their mother until they are 8 weeks of age. 8 weeks: First Exam, Fecal (to test for internal parasites), 1 st DAP, 1 st Bordetella, Start Heartworm Preventative 12 weeks: Puppy Exam, Fecal, 2 nd Dap, 1 st Lepto 16 weeks: Puppy Exam, Dap 1 year booster, Lepto booster, Rabies 1 Year 18 weeks: Puppy Exam, 1 st Flu, 1 st Lyme and Bordetella booster 21 weeks: Lyme Booster and Flu Booster Heartworm and Flea & Tick preventative are given every 3-4 weeks based on weight of the puppy at time of visit. Lepto & Lyme vaccines may be deleted from the schedule for those puppies that are too small or that will not be spending much time outside.
Dog Care Tips for Your Puppy s First Vet Visit When your puppy reaches 8 to 10 weeks of age, it is highly recommended you bring him or her to the vet for their first exam. Having your veterinarian take a look at your pup and providing them with the necessary vaccinations is valuable to promoting a healthy development. But what exactly will be done during your puppy s first vet exam? And what preparations do you need to make? Here s a sneak peek.
Expect Some Q and A The first thing you ll be asked is how things are going with your puppy. If there s anything alarming or unusual that you think might be worth bringing up at this point, do express your concern, as it could change how your vet approaches the checkup. If everything s fine, expect additional questions about your puppy s behavior, eating habits and other related issues. Don t let the brief question-and-answer exchange pass without asking the vet for advice on behavioral or health problems you ve encountered so far, or for insight into matters you re worried or unsure about. To make the most out of this opportunity, jot down all your questions prior to your visit so you don t miss out on anything.
A Thorough Physical Exam Will Take Place This is a routine procedure vets carry out to ensure that your dog s development is on track and to rule out any abnormalities or ailments. Most exams begin with your puppy being weighed. His or her temperature will be taken next, to make sure it is between the 100.5 and 102.5 Fahrenheit. Their heart and pulse will be checked next to detect possible heart murmurs or any breathing problems. An inspection of your puppy s eyes, ears, nose, teeth, gums and lower regions will be done as well. If something doesn t appear, feel, sound or smell right with your puppy, the doctor will recommend performing further testing. During the exam, avoid acting worried or anxious around your puppy as they will pick up on your emotions and thus end up feeling worried or anxious about their visit. It s crucial to establish a positive attitude at the office during this stage, so he or she doesn t end up dreading future visits.
We Will Check For Parasites Puppies are typically born with roundworms, so your vet will test your dog s stool (based on a fecal sample) for roundworms, as well as for possible other parasites. The first of two rounds of de-worming medication are typically provided. The vet will also check your puppy s coat for fleas and ticks. If any parasites are found, you will receive further instructions and medication to resolve the problem.
Lastly, There s a Series of Vaccines It is standard for puppies to receive their initial vaccinations during their first vet visit. Diseases that require vaccines right away include distemper, parvo, hepatitis, bordetella, rabies and canine influenza. Depending on you and your pet s lifestyle, other additional vaccines may prove beneficial. Your vet will usually ask you to return in two to four weeks for booster shots, which are required until your puppy reaches a particular age depending on their breed. Besides arranging your puppy s vaccination schedule, your vet will probably set your next appointment for a general checkup and discuss spay or neuter options with you. Additional dog care tips and recommendations will be provided based on the exam that just took place. Before you leave, make sure you have all of your last-minute concerns addressed. Vet visits are key to keeping your puppy growing up healthy and happy, so it helps to have everything covered.
CHAPTER TWO Good Dog Care Includes House Training Your Puppy
Good Dog Care Includes House Training Your Puppy An essential part of dog care that cannot be overlooked is house training your puppy with knowledge, patience and determination. Puppies must be taught that it s improper behavior to urinate or defecate in the house. There are two main points to remember: first, house training must be carried out in a positive manner in other words, use rewards instead of punishment second, it should be done consistently with your puppy closely supervised
House Train a Puppy Using Rewards The basic process in house training is to take your dog outside the house, both on a regular schedule and whenever he or she shows signs they are about to urinate or defecate. Then, be sure and reward your puppy each time he or she successfully eliminates outside. The time it will take a puppy to learn to eliminate outside varies with factors such as age, breed and any previous training. Some puppies learn very quickly while others take longer to get the hang of it. Usually, puppies become reliable by the time they re 8 to 12 months old.
Take all the Necessary Steps In House Training Step One Feed your puppy on a consistent schedule. Do not give snacks in between meals. Step Two Take your puppy outside on a regular schedule, too. This should be done often, usually after meals and after playtime and naptime. Puppies should also be taken out when they wake in the morning, before they go to sleep and before they are left alone. Step Three Keep a close eye on your puppy. You should be aware where he or she is at all times so that you can see if there are any signs they re about to eliminate. Common signs include circling, sniffing, pacing, whining and attempting to get out of the room. If he or she shows any of these signs, take them outside immediately. Step Four Reward your puppy every time they successfully eliminate outside the house. Rewards can be in the form of treats, praise or play. Step Five If you catch your puppy eliminating inside the house, startle him or her by clapping sharply twice. Do this to get their attention, not to scare them. Then, quickly take him or her outside where they can finish up. When they re done, reward them with a small treat. If you find out that your puppy has had an indoor accident, don t do anything at all. You can only correct the behavior when you catch him or her in the act.
Here are Some Tips for House Training Success Take your puppy to the same spot outdoors each time. The smell of that spot will stimulate the urge to eliminate. Minimize odors inside the house by using an enzymatic cleanser on all areas where your puppy has had accidents. It s important to get rid of odors inside the house, since these will encourage them to return to that same spot over and over whenever they feel the urge to urinate or defecate. Watch your puppy very closely when you re visiting other people s homes. Just because he or she is house trained in your home doesn t mean they won t have accidents in other people s homes. Puppies don t have the ability to generalize what they have learned just yet. Rubbing your puppy s nose in their waste doesn t work, and neither does scolding or punishing them. The reward system is the most effective form of house training puppies. House training is often a long and arduous part of dog care, but with patience, determination and the proper knowledge, it can be done successfully, and will be a big relief to the whole household when it is accomplished!
CHAPTER THREE Dog Care Tips: Avoid Destructive Chewing in a New Puppy
Dog Care Tips: Avoid Destructive Chewing in a New Puppy When it comes to new puppies, it s normal to allow them to chew on objects. Chewing is a way for them to explore their new environment, as well as relieve teething pain, alleviate boredom, combat stress, anxiety and frustration, clean the teeth and strengthen the jaws. However, chewing can quickly become a problem when your puppy chews on things like your favorite pair of shoes, furniture, your clothing or even your hands. What s considered a useful routine can turn into a destructive act that not only destroys your home but also take a toll on your relationship with your new pet. It s best to resolve the problem as early as possible. Here are a few dog care tips to keep your new puppy from destructive chewing.
Identify Any Potential Medical Problems In some cases, destructive chewing can be caused by an underlying medical problem. For example, most puppies in a new home will undergo pica, the compulsive action of chewing on items that are not food, in order to understand their new surroundings. However, if a puppy grows to be over six months old and they continue to chew destructively, the pica becomes a symptom that indicates your dog is experiencing nutritional deficiency in their diet. Separation anxiety is another likely cause of destructive chewing. Whatever the cause, you should always bring your new puppy to the vet so that he or she can receive an appropriate diagnosis.
Dog-Proof Your Home You can use the following tips to make your home less prone to inappropriate chewing while at the same time making it safer for your new pup: 1. Store household chemicals and cleaners in a locked cabinet. 2. Cover electric cords or make them inaccessible to your curious new pet. 3. De-clutter your home. Put away any object that might interest your pup. These can be anything from wallets to socks to shoes, and so on. 4. Don t give your puppy access to rooms that are not dogproof. Train him or her not to enter these rooms. 5. Secure cabinets and drawers so your puppy won t be able to get anything from these places. 6. Store wastebaskets in places your pet won t be able to reach.
Train Your Puppy on Appropriate Chewing Training that supports acceptable chewing is easy. You can give your puppy certain chew toys that they will enjoy munching on. Make sure the chew toy you provide is safe and made of non-toxic materials. You can also give your puppy chewable and rawhide bones. Avoid giving your puppy any cooked bones including chicken, as these can split apart into sharp edges that can seriously hurt your pet internally. Also, don t give your dog old items that resemble everyday things inside your home. For example, you might think of giving your pet an old shoe to chew on, but this might teach your pet that it s okay to chew on shoes, and they won t know the difference between new and old footwear. More often than not, destructive chewing in puppies is caused by a lack of attention or boredom. Make sure that you give your new pet all the love and attention they need and deserve. By doing so, you will be helping to prevent their chewing habit from getting worse.
CHAPTER 5 TOXINS
KITCHEN TOXINS CHOCOLATE XYLITOL (SUGAR-FREE GUM & CANDY) GRAPES & RAISINS CAFFEINE (COFFEE & TEA) FATTY SCRAPS ONIONS, GARLIC & CHIVES MACADAMIA NUTS UNBAKED YEAST BREAD DOUGH ALCOHOL TABLE SALT PET POISON HELP LINE 800-213-6680 WWW.PETPOISONHLEPLINE.COM PLEASE BE ADVISED THERE IS A PER INCIDENT FEE
DOG TOXINS TOP 10 CHOCOLATE MOUSE & RAT POISONS IBUPROFEN AND ACETAMINOPHEN XYLITOL (SUGAR FREE GUM & CANDY) VITAMIN D OVERDOSE ANTIDEPRESSANT MEDICATIONS FERTILIZERS GRAPES & RAISENS DECONGESTANT MEDICATIONS CAFFEIN PILLS PET POISON HELP LINE 800-213-6680 WWW.PETPOISONHLEPLINE.COM PLEASE BE ADVISED THERE IS A PER INCIDENT FEE
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