Puppy Health
Important Considerations and Solutions to Common Puppy Health Problems
Owning a puppy requires constant attention, and lots of TLC. Like us humans, they need to be taken care of or else they'll suffer from mild to more serious health problems.
Taking your pup to your vet for regular check-ups is your best bet to avoiding serious Puppy Health problems. But it is also crucial for you to develop a keen eye for his usual predisposition - so that if and when something's not right - you will be able to spot the tell-tale signs and take action accordingly.
It might sound like a hard job to have to keep an eye on your puppy all the time - but it is easier than you think. Once you've been by his side for a week or two, you will get to know and love him, and you will instinctively understand if his health is not the way it should be.
I have put together a checklist below, to help you spot some of the most common Puppy Health problems. You should take your puppy to the vet if:
- His eyes are lifeless.
- Pus is oozing out of his eyes, it would signify a more serious eye problem that the vet needs to diagnose.
- His ears are dirty. They should be clean, because this might cause severe ear infection in the future.
- His nose is not moist. If it's dry, your dog might have bacterial infection. If it's too wet, your dog might be experiencing the early stages of flu. Beware of this one though, his nose might just be temporarily dry in which case nothing's wrong. Always look at this one in context - is he eating as he used to, is he more miserable than usual, is he hotter than usual and so on
- His coat is dull. This may not seem like much of a worry, but it may be a signal for insufficient diet. So you should speak to your vet to see if that's the cause. If dryness is combined with gravely dirt or dandruff, your puppy may have flea problems, or skin problems - either way it's best you let the vet decide.
- His mouth has cuts or is swollen. A swollen tooth is the usual cause, which can be really, really painful for any dog. But also - it's likely he's chewed on something and cut himself, or he may have been in a fight. Either way if the wound is bleeding you should take him to the vet to make sure the appropriate steps are taken so as not to cause any unnecessary infection - and of course to allow the wound to heal properly.
- He has low appetite - this is by far the one symptom that I've learned to take seriously. Dogs love food generally - so if you see he's not eating as much, this is almost always a sign of a health problem in your puppy. But don't panic - it may just be the heat too.
If you suspect the heat has nothing to do with it, and you pup has not eaten in the last 12 to 24 hours you must take him to your vet. He'll decide what to do from there. Beware that if you leave it for too long after 24 hrs, you may cause serious damage to his digestive system and other internal organs through dehydration and malnutrition. Puppies are like babies - very fragile in the beginning.
- He vomits regularly - dogs are not like cats in the respect that they throw up fur balls. So if your puppy vomits 2-3 times in a row, or regularly - like once a day, this may be a sign of a digestive health problem, or that something's wrong with his food. Either way - best you take him to Mr. Vet
- He coughs - a regular cough should alert you that somethings not right - again the best solution is to take him to the vet.
So how do you prevent health problems from even becoming a problem in the first place?
Here are a few easy to follow, basic tips on keeping your puppy's health problem free:
- Fleas - De-flea your puppy regularly. Wether you deside to use drops, injections or a collar is up to you, but make sure you keep up with the expiration dates.
Fleas hide a multitude of ailments for your puppy. They can cause severe skin problems, they can carry diseases, not to mention that they are very irritating for your pup, and can cause havok with your home if an infestation sets in.
Luckily keeping them under control is just about keeping up with the treatments. If you're unsure of which treatment is best for your environment and your pup - consult your vet.
- Ticks - Ticks are more dangerous than fleas, but are less common (depending on where you live). They are also very preventable with treatments like anti-tic drops, collars, and sprays. Apart from the treatments, you should also regularly check your puppy's coat and skin for any bumps or lumps that are unusual. A dayly run of your fingers through his coat should enable you to spot anything unusual - check it as you find it to ensure that if it is a tic - you can take it out and treat the wound immediately.
Tics carry a lot of diseases - some of them can be lethal to your furry friend. Make sure you speak to your vet about the proper way to remove them, because ticks have a head that tends to stay behind in your puppy's skin and can cause infection and inflammation.
You may find that in summer you see more of them than in winter. If you do - make sure to up the precautions you take. Always consult your vet before you do that to make sure the dosage is right for your puppy.
- Worms - Worms are part and parcel of a dog's life. Puppies in particular love to explore and muck around in durt. They also love to eat poo - nasty - but true. Your vet will advise you of the proper deworming schedule and treatment, when you take your puppy to him the first time around.
It sounds nasty, but like fleas, if you keep up wth the treatments, you most likely will never experience a problem. However, if worms are left untreated, they could cause severe discomfort to your dog and in extreme cases death.
- Grooming & General Health - well, it should go without saying, but I have to mention this just to complete the checklist. Depending on your dog breed and its coat, you should be brushing your puppy at least once every 2-3 days (every day if he has a long coat). This will prevent his fur from becoming matted. It will stimulate the oils in his skin, resulting in a healthy shiny coat. It will also enable you to keep an eye on any other skin problems and flea or tic infestations.
Just like you wash your face in the morning, you should make sure his eyes are clean every day. Have some dog wipes handy for this.
Make sure you trim his nails regularly if the breed requires it. And generally make sure he's properly fed, well exercised, and entertained daily. If at all unsure of how to take good care of your puppy's health - your vet will be able to advise you extensively.
Overall you will have no problem avoiding most of the common Puppy Health problems, if you follow my checklist above. Remember to always look at symptoms in context of the bigger picture of your puppy's health. Love him and treat him well, and he'll respond with endless hours of joy and love. And if in doubt - your vet is always at hand to advise you.
Anita Watson is passionate dog owner with years of experience in helping people raise and train their dogs, using real methods that work fast. Visit Raise a Loving Dog for more great tips and advice on other common puppy health problems.
Rottweiler Puppy Food Question?
I have a 5 month old Rottweiler and have been feeding him Wellness Large Breed Puppy Health dog food since we got him. I was wondering if this is the best possible food I can feed him right now. It is just so expensive! We are paying around 64 bucks for a big bag of it. And was just wondering what you guys thought. Thanks.
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What to do when a breeder doesn't give puppy health records?
I purchased a puppy from a breeder approximately 4 months ago. She claimed he was healthy and had his first shots from the vet. She claimed she would send his health records and blood lines (he's a pure bred - also claimed) as soon as she returned from a family emergency. During that time, I vaccinated my dog as recommended by my vet just in case, so he should be healthy as he's had no problems in 4 months.
She just informed me, after I sent her numerous emails/phone calls, that she vaccinated the puppy herself, no longer has the information or has lost it, and will not be sending anything. How important are the bloodlines/health records - and is there anything I can do to take legal action somehow against her, like get a portion of my money back?
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puppy health problem?
my puppy all of a sudden just started shaking, like vibrating like a cell phone. i think this all started because last night my 8 month old puppy somehow got his collar and was chewing it when he was in his crate and i think he swallowed a piece of the plastic thing that locks that collar around the neck. then this morning he wouldnt drink or eat. my mom gave him a little rice to see if he would eat, he did eat it. the only thing he'll eat now is treats and other things, just not his own dog chow. we also gave a little milk to see if he'll drink anything. he drank like half a cup of milk. then after he started shaking. please help. the vet is closed right now. will he be alright? help please
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my new puppy has tapeworms .. need advice & help asap please ?
Okay, im sixteen years old and i just got a new chipin (chihuahua - miniature pincher mix) shes is only 10 weeks old, almost 11 weeks old. I was told by the breeder that she was given a deworm treatment, but today while my cousin was over she found a "shell" that looked like rice. i just got her a treatment at petco, cannot make a vet appointment today. the treatment i got is called : safe guard 8-1 dewormer .. this is the link to it : http://www.petco.com/product/105336/8-in-1-safe-guard-4-Canine-Dewormer.aspx?CoreCat=LN_Shopping_DogSupplies_Wormers . i gave her the first treatment about 30 minutes ago. first off, im concerned for my puppies health and also for mine, my families, and my other family dogs health as well. she is an amazing dog & she is 100% attatched to me.. she cries when i am not in the same room as her. i refuse to stop playing with her and treating her the same as i was when i got her (4 days ago) . What would be youre advice? What are the chances of me having tapeworm? Can i get a "preventive treatment" or over the counter medicine to kill the tapeworm just in case i would have it? Please let me know, i am extremely nervous about this whole thing. The treatment i have her on right now is a 3 day treatment, if this does not work and the worms are not completely gone, i will be taking her to the vet immediately. No questions asked. But please any information or advice you could give me? Thanks for taking the time to read and everything.
i have had my german sheperd for 9 years now and she never had worms in her life, fleas have never been an issue either and i checked her for fleas the day i got her, there were none.
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impatient new owners and risking the puppies health?
I have recently had a litter of puppies, i had a list of people waiting and they took priority as we did not know the exact number from the scan.
The puppies are all K.C reg and no problems with health etc. The problem is with one of the potential owners, or i do not know if am being a little sensitive on this sub ject.
The new owners already have the same breed as i have bred [siberian husky] and contacted me early last year for a pup. i did not have any so they said they would wait. They kept in touch and as a gesture of goodwill i have knocked some money off the K.C price. They have visited, met our dogs, the parents and are a very nice couple. They asked me if i would sell to them without papers as they have one also and it has no papers and they are not concerned about a piece of paper [as they put it].
I considered it, and thought for a while and stated that all my dogs are vaccinated prior to leaving and vet checked. This is included in the price. I was silly and agreed to the non K.C, but still to go by the same guidelines of check etc, so the pup will still go vaccinated and vet checked, just no papers as requested.
My vet has recently changed the date of vaccinations to pups to 8.5 weeks, so the puppies will not leave here until 9th week [earliest]. Now this couple have insisted that they want to take the puppy this sunday when it is 8 weeks old. I said to them if they do they have to sign a waiver to state that it is under their insistance that he leaves, and i would prefer him to stay till he is vet checked/vac with 1st jab. I will then know he is leaving safe and well.
I feel really let down by this, i have dropped the money for this couple by over £150 because they were on a waiting list so long and kept in touch, a genuine goodwill gesture. But i feel they are throwing it back in my face. I believe a dogs health is more important than taking the dog earlier. They are getting the dog cheaper but they want it all their own way from what i can see. They do not appear happy signing the waiver and wanted the vaccination price knocked off as they would be getting it done.
am i being too soft on these people, or am i right to have asked them to sign a waiver as it is their decision. They do not seem too happy about the waiver, and i regret now saying they could have the dog non K.C and should have kept it official and no knock down price even though they were waiting the longest. i was stupid to do it, a lesson learnt!
I feel like they are trying to take advantage of the situation by asking for no waiver and vaccination money off too!
APOLOGIES FOR THE LONG POST.
they do ahev a fit and healthy same sexed dog [as i have met him] so iam not concerned of the breeding issues. If they were to take papers i instist on the p/work a PNFR, and no breeding unless the mating couple are health tested. They do not intent to breed just run them, hence one of the reasons no papers was given. I was worrying why there was such a rush. the man has to go on a course for 2 weeks, so i said collect afterwards. i will not back down with the money, and as many replies have suggested i believe i have compromised enough.
if the waiver is not signed, or they will not wait then they should not get the pup. but can they sue me for breach of agreement [if they could afford to of course]?
Thank you all for taking time to reply and be so helpful. forgot to add that on my last post. x
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