Healthy Puppy Guide

Welcome Home Puppy

Hopefully, you’ve had the chance to puppy-proof your home before the new arrival. Simple things like locking trash bins, hiding electrical cords, stowing small ingestible items away, and installing child-proof latches on lower cabinets can help keep your pup out of harm’s way.

Safe chew toys are paramount and will remain a staple throughout your dog’s life, so have plenty on hand. Careful, they’re easy to trip over.

You’re now the leader of this pack who needs to guide your pup, especially during this time of frequent distractions and active exploration in his new environment. Developmental changes will happen fast so here’s what to watch out for during these first few months.

Good Puppy Health Starts Here

Hopefully, you’ve had the chance to puppy-proof your home before the new arrival. Simple things like locking trash bins, hiding electrical cords, stowing small ingestible items away, and installing child-proof latches on lower cabinets can help keep your pup out of harm’s way.

Safe chew toys are paramount and will remain a staple throughout your dog’s life, so have plenty on hand. Careful, they’re easy to trip over.

You’re now the leader of this pack who needs to guide your pup, especially during this time of frequent distractions and active exploration in his new environment. Developmental changes will happen fast so here’s what to watch out for during these first few months.

Your puppy’s health is paramount so be sure to keep up with vet appointments. Since your puppy’s immune system isn’t fully developed until he/she’s about three months old, vaccines are seen by most veterinarians as imperative.

Check with your veterinarian for their guidance regarding initial vaccines.

Pups usually get a combination vaccine, DHPP, to protect against distemper, canine hepatitis, parainfluenza, and parvovirus.

Your vet may also recommend:

• Leptospirosis vaccination
• Bordetella (kennel cough) vaccine
• Lyme Disease vaccine.

After vaccinating, watch for possible, though rare, allergic reactions. Contact your vet immediately if your pup exhibits:

• Signs of swelling
• Loss of consciousness
• Seizures
• Hives
• Difficulty breathing
• Disorientation or clumsiness

Ask your veterinarian how soon you can have play dates with other dogs since it can take days to weeks for the vaccinations to fully protect your pup.

You may want to start Heartworm prevention treatments before your pup is six months old, as well. Check with your veterinarian to help decide what’s right for your pet. Also you can read what others say about vaccines and heartworm prevention on helpful sites like PetMD.com.