Going Home: Suggestions/Tips

My Small Paws

Suggestions/Tips

Please always follow a Vets advise. This is information that I have found on the internet and have provided for personaly reference only.

We are often asked what buyers need to do to prepare for their new puppy. And sometimes we are asked what we have done so far. Below are a few suggestions/tips that will hopefully help your new family member get settled in. Please read this info carefully it is alot of information but it is all VERY IMPORTANT.

**First & most importantly please know that when your puppy goes home with you it needs lots of rest. Here he/she has had play time but lots of rest time. You can not take your puppy home & allow other family pets to play with them non stop. This will tire your new puppy and put the puppy in stress. Your puppy is like a baby it does not know its limits. A 6 month old cant go outside and run with a teenager- the same goes for puppies!

1.) Contact a vet and set up an appointment for your new puppy that will occur within 48 business hours after pick up.

2.) Your puppy will already have its first set of shots at 6 weeks of age so he/she will not need another set until he/she is 9 weeks old (set this appointment up w/ your vet at your puppy wellness exam)

3.) Your puppy will be wormed when he/she is 2, 4, and 6 weeks old.

4.) Your puppy will be eating Eukaneuba Puppy or Purina Puppy Chow. You can find Eukaneuba at a Pet Store such as Pet Lovers or Pet Smart. Purina Puppy Chow can be found at your local grocery store or Walmart. For the Purina, you can look on the bag and get the variety with brown & tan pieces only (not the colored ones.) If you have to get the colored pieces this may cause a little discoloration in their stools.

5.) Doggy treats- We DON'T recommend any that a grocery store or Wal-Mart sells- these will upset your puppy's stomach and leave you in a mess. We use and LOVE Bil Jac Liver Treats. They come in a tiny looking paper milk jug. These can usually be found at places like Pet Lovers or Pet Smart.

6.) We always suggest that you start out with a small crate, then step up to a larger one when your puppy matures. You don't want to allow your puppy room for an accident. Who wants to poop and lay in it? :-)

We do provide you with an information packet that we have put together that will help with potty training, crate training, teaching your puppy commands and such.

Immunizations:

Puppy shots should be given no more than three weeks apart
Rabies can be given at 12 weeks of age or 16 weeks if preferred.
Puppies SHOULD NOT PLAY OUTSIDE UNTIL THEY HAVE AT LEAST TWO SHOTS (12 weeks is best).

Heartworm:

Should be given monthly year round depending on brand used.

Wormer:

We use Pyrantel (Vet Wormer) you can find an average wormer at Wal-Mart called Nemex. Worm according to vets advise at the puppy exam.
after 6 months, use a wormer that includes tape worm treatment.

Crate:

When you are not home (dogs are den animals by nature) they should be crate trained. Items to keep in crate: Litter box or wee wee pad, food and water, bedding and (chew) toys.

Bath:

Every two weeks with conditioner.
Take care to dry ears. Water can keep ears moist and cause a yeast infection.
Always blow dry hair

Food:

Offer puppies dry food free choice.

Water:

Offer free choice. Nutri-Cal or sugar water if puppy will be left alone for a long period of time.

Important Suppplements:

*Nutri-Cal.   A high calorie dietary supplement for small pets. Nutri-Cal won't burden the digestive tract. It provides an added source of energy for puppies and suppliments their calorie or nutritional intake. Give as needed. If puppy is sick, give twice a day.
*Nutri-Drops. A high energy nutrient-rich concentrate. It dramatically energizes weak, hypoglycemic puppies.   Good for any stress situation. Give as needed.
*Imodium. Is what you can give if puppy gets a watery stool. You can find it in any drug store. It is the same as what people take.   Give one half cc. Ask your veterinarian how many times a day to give depending on the situation. Pepto Bismal can also be given for stress diarrhea.
*Albon. Used to treat coccidiosis.   If a puppy has a runny stool for more than two days, or blood in the stool, have a vet check it for coccidiosis, hook worms and whip worms. It's vital to get a good worm medication as these worms can be a threat to your puppies health

Puppy Vaccines:

When children are but a few weeks old they must be vaccinated to prevent potentially deadly contagious diseases such as measles and whooping cough. Similarly, when dogs are young, they need vaccinations to protect them from life-threatening diseases such as distemper, parvo virus, para-influenza and hepatitis. A young animal is usually protected while still nursing its mother, but after weaning the animal’s ability to stay free of disease decreases rapidly. Puppies need to visit the veterinarian for the first set of vaccinations at about 6 weeks of age, or as soon thereafter as possible. Waiting too long increases the risk of the puppy getting sick.

Just as babies get booster vaccinations every few months when very young, the baby dog also need to get re-vaccinated every 3-4 weeks. A puppy usually needs three combination distemper parvo vaccines every 3-4 weeks starting at about 6 weeks of age with the last series at 12-14 weeks of age. To have the best protection against parvo virus the puppy should visit the veterinarian at 6 months of age for a single parvo vaccination. At this time your puppy should be spayed or neutered. Heartworm prevention, fecal examinations, and dewormings should be initiated with the first puppy visit.

Children also get boosters when they enter school. Puppies need boosters 12 months after they have finished their baby series and then the frequency of vaccinations may be based on your pets’ life style, health and individual circumstances to be discussed with your health care professional.

Distemper is a viral disease that often starts with a runny nose, sneezing, fever and discharge from the eyes. Distemper can progress to pneumonia and may affect the brain and cause seizures, coma and death. Parvo virus causes fever, lack of appetite, bloody diarrhea, vomiting and dehydration. Often death follows; sometimes even if treated these terrible viruses will still snuff out the puppy’s life.

The above diseases that veterinarians vaccinate for are contagious from dog to dog, but not to cats or humans.

Rabies is a vaccine that the law requires all dogs and cats to receive at 4 month old, and is repeated a year later.