Puppy Rearing 1: Guide for New Owners
Congratulations
on the acquisition of your new puppy. Owning a dog can
be an extremely rewarding experience, but it requires
a commitment to years of responsible care. This document
will give you the information needed to make good decisions
for your new puppy's well-being and healthy aging.
Copyright
©1996, 1997 HomeVet
What
Type of Playing Should I Expect From a Puppy?
Stimulating
play is important during the first week. Stalking and
pouncing are important play behaviors in puppies and
are necessary for proper muscular development. If given
a sufficient outlet for these behaviors with toys, your
puppy will be less likely to use family members for
these activities. The best toys are Iight and movable.
These include wads of paper and rubber balls. Any toy
that is small enough to be swallowed should be avoided.
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Can
I Discipline a Puppy?
Disciplining
a young puppy may be necessary if its behavior threatens
people or property, but harsh punishment should be avoided.
Hand clapping and using shaker cans or horns can be
intimidating enough to inhibit undesirable behavior.
However, remote punishment is preferred. Remote punishment
consists of using something that appears unconnected
to the punisher to stop the problem behavior. Examples
include using spray bottles, throwing objects in the
direction of the puppy to startle (but not hit) it,
and making loud noises. Remote punishment is preferred
because the puppy associates punishment with the undesirable
act and not with you.
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Should
My Puppy Be Vaccinated?
Vaccination
is a double-edged sword. On the one hand vaccinosis
has cause irreperable harm to our pets. Vaccines
are even known to cause cancer. On the other hand,
immunization in the right situation can save lives.
Personally I do not recommend vaccination of most pets.
My own dogs and cats only receive the rabies innoculation
as required by law every three years. Vaccination
can be useful in the midst of an epidemic or when a
puppy is exposed frequently to sick dogs, e.g. the puppy
of a vet tech who doesn't understand the harm of vaccination.
In my opinion, you should consult a homeopathic veterinarian
and consider homeopathic prophylaxis with a constitutional
homeopathic remedy before giving any vaccinations.
Treatment and prophylaxis start 1-2 weeks after obtaining
a new pet. Schedule these visits 3-5 weeks apart
until 4 months of age or until the symptoms
of imbalance are gone.
If you still
feel neglectful of your puppy due to not vaccinating
you really shouldn't. If you still do, please
read
this info from a vaccinologist and a noted immunologist.
Regardless of whether you have a holistic or homeopathic
veterinarian you need to have a discussion about vaccination
to find the right path for you.
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Do
All Puppies Have Worms?
Intestinal
parasites are common in puppies. Puppies can become
infected with parasites before they are born or later
through their mother's milk. The microscopic examination
of a stool sample will usually help to determine the
presence of intestinal parasites. This exam is recommended
for all puppies, if your veterinarian can get a stool
sample. Please bring one at your earliest convenience.
Even without t a stool sample, the use of a deworming
product that is safe and effective against several of
the common worms of the dog is recommended. It is important
that deworming be repeated in about 3-4 weeks, because
the deworming medication kills only the adult worms.
Within 3-4 weeks, the larval stages will have become
adults and will need to be treated. Dogs remain susceptible
to reinfection with hookworms and roundworms. Periodic
deworming throughout the dog's life may be recommended
for dogs that go outdoors.
Tapeworms are
the most common intestinal parasite of dogs. Puppies
become infected with them when they swallow fleas; the
eggs of the tapeworm live inside the flea. When the
puppy chews or licks its skin as a flea bites, the flea
may be swallowed. The flea is digested within the dog's
intestine; the tapeworm hatches and then anchors itself
to the intestinal lining. Therefore, exposure to fleas
may result in a new infection; this can occur in as
little as two weeks.
Dogs infected
with tapeworms will pass small segments of the worms
in their stool. The segments are white in color and
look like grains of rice. They are about 1/8 inch (3
mm) long and may be seen crawling on the surface of
the stool. They may also stick to the hair under the
tail. If that occurs, they will dry out, shrink to about
half their size, and become golden in color.
Tapeworm segments
do not pass every day or in every stool sample; therefore,
inspection of several consecutive bowel movements may
be needed to find them. Your veterinarian may examine
a stool sample in his office and not find worm segments,
but then the next day they may appear. If you find them
at any time, notify your veterinarian.
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How
Dangerous Are Heartworms?
Heartworms
are important parasites, especially in certain climates.
They can live in your dog's heart and cause major damage
to the heart and lungs. Heartworms are transmitted by
mosquitoes so your dog does not have to be in contact
with another dog to be exposed. Fortunately, there are
drugs that will protect your dog from heartworms. These
drugs are very safe and very effective if given regularly.
Be aware that having a long haircoat or staying primarily
indoors does not protect a dog against heartworm infection.
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There
Are Lots of Choices of Dog Foods. What Should I Feed
My Puppy?
Diet
is extremely important in the growing months of a dog's
life, and there are two important criteria that should
be met in selecting food for your puppy. A name-brand
food made by a national dog food company (not a generic
or local brand), and a form of food made for puppies
are recommended. Depending on the size of your puppy,
it should get puppy food until it is about 6-12 months
of age. Only food with the AAFCO certification is recommended.
Certifification usually appears on the label. AAFCO
is an organization which oversees the pet food industry.
Its certification is not an endorsement but an assurance
that the food has met minimum nutritional requirements.
Most commercial pet foods carry the AAFCO label. Generic
brands often do not. In Canada, look for foods which
are approved by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
(CVMA).
Feeding a dry
or canned dog food is acceptable. Each has advantages
and disadvantages. Dry food is the most inexpensive.
Soak dry food well before feeding to larger breed puppies
in order to avoid bloat later in life. Allow dry kibble
to sit in water for 5-10 minutes before feeding. It
can be left available dry (no soaking) during the day
for smaller breeds that may enjoy snacking. Always read
the label; not all pet foods (even "super premium")
are equal. Store dry food properly so that it remains
nutritious.
Canned foods
are also acceptable. However, hey are considerably more
expensive than dry food. They often appeal more to the
dog's taste, but they are not more nutritious. If you
feed a very tasty food, you are running the risk of
creating a dog with a finicky appetite. Certain high-quality
fresh foods often round out an excellent diet.
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How
Do I Insure That My Puppy Is Well-Socialized?
The socialization
period for dogs is between 4 and 16 weeks of age. During
that time, the puppy is very impressionable to social
influences. If it has good experiences with men, women,
children, cats, and other dogs, it is likely to accept
them throughout life. If the experiences are absent
or unpleasant, the puppy may become apprehensive or
adverse to any of them. Therefore, during the period
of socialization, your dog should be exposed to as many
kinds of social events and influences as possible. [See
Puppy Rearing 2: New Puppies and
Socialization . Use your browser's BACK
BUTTON to return to this page.]
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What
Can Be Done About Fleas?
Many
of the flea control products that are safe on adult
dogs are not safe for puppies less than four months
of age. Fleas [Use your browser's
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do not stay on your puppy all the time. Occasionally,
they will jump off and seek another host, and flea eggs
are laid off your dog. Therefore, it is important to
kill fleas on your new puppy before they can become
established in your house. A flea comb will help isolate
any adult fleas your puppy may have. The once-a-month
oral flea pill "Program®" prevents flea infestation
by sterilizing the fleas and preventing their eggs from
hatching.
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Can
I Trim My Puppy's Sharp Toe Nails?
Puppies
have very sharp toe nails. They can be trimmed with
your regular finger nail clippers or with nail trimmers
made for dogs and cats. If you take too much off the
nail, you will get into the quick; bleeding and pain
will occur. If this happens, neither you nor your dog
will want to do this again.
A few points
are helpful:
- If your dog
has clear or white nails, you can see the pink of
the quick through the nail. Avoid the pink area, and
you will injure the quick.
- If your dog has black nails, you
will not be able to see the quick, so only cut 1/32-of-an-inch
(1 mm) of the nail at a time until the dog begins
to get sensitive. The sensitivity will usually occur
before you are into a blood vessel. With black nails,
it is likely that you will get too close on at least
one nail.
- If your dog has some clear and
some black nails, use the average clear nail as a
guide for cutting the black ones.
- When cutting nails, use sharp trimmers.
Dull trimmers tend to crush the nail and cause pain
even if you are not in the quick.
- You should always have styptic
powder available. This is sold in pet stores under
several trade names, but it will be labeled for use
in trimming nails.
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What
Are Ear Mites?
Ear mites
are tiny parasites that live in the ear canal of dogs
(and cats). The most common sign of ear mite infection
is scratching of the ears. Sometimes the ears will appear
dirty because of a black material in the ear canal;
this material is sometimes shaken out. An instrument
for examining the ear canals, an otoscope, has the necessary
magnification to allow us to see the mites. Sometimes
the mites can b found by taking a small amount of the
black material from the ear canal and examining it with
a microscope. Although mites may leave the ear canals
for short periods of time, they spend the vast majority
of their lives within its protection. Transmission generally
requires direct ear-to-ear contact. Ear mites are common
in litters of puppies whose mother has ear mites.
Ear infections
may also cause the production of a dark discharge in
the ear canals. It is important that your puppy be examined
to ensure the black material is due to ear mites and
not infection.
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Why
Should I Have My Female Dog Spayed?
Spaying
offers several advantages. The female's heat periods
result in about 2-3 weeks of vaginal bleeding. This
can be quite annoying if your dog is kept indoors. Male
dogs are attracted from blocks away and, in fact, seem
to come out of the woodwork. They seem to go over, around,
and through many doors or fences. Your dog will have
a heat period about every six months.
Spaying removes
the uterus and the ovaries, and heat periods no longer
occur. In many cases, despite of your best effort, an
unspayed female will become pregnant. Spaying prevents
unplanned litters of puppies.
As unspayed female
dogs age, the incidence of breast cancer and uterine
infections increases. Spaying before the first onset
of heat practically eliminates the chance of either.
If you do not plan to breed your female dog she should
be spayed. This can be done anytime after she is five
months old.
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Why
Should I Have My Male Dog Neutered?
Neutering
offers several advantages. Male dogs are attracted to
a female dog in heat and will climb over or go through
fences to find her. Male dogs are more aggressive and
more likely to fight, especially with other male dogs.
As dogs age, the prostate gland frequently enlarges
and causes difficulty urinating and defecating. Neutering
will avoid or render less harmful all the aggression
and ailments common in male dogs. Surgical neutering
can be done at any time after the dog is five months
old.
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If
I Choose to Breed My Female Dog, When Should That Be
Done?
If you
plan to breed your dog, she should have at least one
or two heat periods first. This will allow her to physically
mature allowing her to be a better mother without such
a physical drain on her. Breeding after five years of
age, unless she has been bred prior to that age, is
not recommended. A first-time litter for a female more
than five years old increases the risk of problems during
the pregnancy and delivery. Once your dog has had her
final litter, she should be spayed to prevent the reproductive
problems of older dogs.
Also see How
Dogs Think . Use your browser's BACK BUTTON
to return to this page.
Please note: The information
provided here is meant to supplement that provided by
your veterinarian. Nothing can replace a complete history
and physical examination performed by your veterinarian. - Dr. Jeff
I greatly value your feedback.
Please let me know what you think of this site and what
you would like to see on it. drjeff@homevet.com
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