Puppy Class #2 How to Raise a Healthy Puppy

How to raise a healthy puppy
Puppy Class # 2
Copyright YourDogNeedsYou.com 2010 -
2014

Mia Montagliani
Your Dog Needs You – online
provider of training and
obedience resources & tools for
dog owners.
Copyright YourDogNeedsYou.com 2010 - 2014

This is the second of three classes:
How to Raise a Confident Puppy
How to Raise a Healthy Puppy
How to Raise an Obedient Puppy

 Vaccinations
 De-sexing
 Good diet & poisonous foods
 Dental care
 Worming
 How to make vet visits stress-free

 Vaccinations
The correct level and type of
vaccinations should be discussed
with your vet, as requirements
vary between location, breed,
lifestyle, health and age.

 Vaccinations
From roughly the age of 6
weeks, puppies should be given
a course of 2-3 injections about
3-4 weeks apart.
After that, injections can be
given on an annual basis.

 Vaccinations
These injections can protect your dog against:
• Distemper
• Parvovirus
• Cough
• Hepatitis
• Rabies

 Vaccinations
Keep your records up to date
and easily accessible.
You’ll need these records for
emergency care, training classes,
grooming or boarding. If you
travel with your dog, keep a
copy in the vehicle.

 Vaccinations
Until fully immunized keep puppy away
from:
• Pet stores
• Parks and other public places where
dogs congregate
• Animal shelters or kennels.

 De-sexing (Neutering)
Neutering is the removal of the female
dog’s reproductive system (ovaries and
uterus) or the testicles for male dogs.
Most dogs are neutered between 5
and 8 months old.

 De-sexing
This operation can help ensure your
dog is less aggressive.
It can also an inhibit the dog’s desire
to mark in inappropriate locations,
such as in the house.

 De-sexing
Benefits of neutering include calm,
attentive behavior and less likelihood
of cancer in the dog’s reproductive
organs.

 De-sexing
Female dogs go into heat twice a year.
A female in heat might try to run away.
If she manages to escape, there is the
danger that she might find herself a
mate and fall pregnant.
Once neutered, female dogs no longer
go into heat.

 Dental Care
Caring for your dog’s teeth is vital
for your dog’s health and
longevity.
Healthy puppy’s gums are pink,
with no redness or swelling along
the gum line.

 Dental Care
Bad breath, gum redness,
discoloration (such as ugly brown
build-up) and refusing food can all
be signs of bad dental hygiene. This
can be painful for your dog and can
lead to other health problems.

 Dental Care
To keep your dog’s teeth healthy and
clean you can brush daily or several
times a week and use:
• a doggy toothbrush or rubber
thimble.
• yummy, flavoured toothpaste
formulated for dogs.
(Human toothpaste is fatal to dogs).

 Dental Care
Brush mainly in the outside of the
dog’s teeth to minimize tartar
build-up.
Ensure your brush right down to
the back of their long, deep jaws.
Occasional professional cleaning by
a vet is recommended.

 Dental Care
These treats will keep your puppy’s teeth clean:
• High quality grain-free kibble (dry-food)
• Raw meaty or marrow bones
• Frozen poultry
• Kong toys & Nylon bones
• Greenies
• Bully sticks
• Dentastix

 The best diet for your puppy
There is no one ideal diet for your
puppy.
Cheap supermarket brands are not
recommended.
Your puppy needs the correct
proportion of protein, calcium and
minerals.

Your breeder can give you good nutritional
information.
Do not substitute dog food for puppy
food.
Puppies need protein for growth.
Don’t experiment with new foods often.
Ensure your puppy has access to fresh
water.

Feeding schedules:
• Up to 8-12 weeks: three times a day.
(Four times a day for toy breeds).
• From about 3 months old you can
wean your dog down to twice daily.
• Occasional food refusals may occur.

The right amount of food:
• Start with recommendations of
packaging, or expert (breeder/vet)
suggestions
• Make sure you make adjustments as the
puppy grows
• Puppy must not become tubby or too
bony.

6 weeks 3 months 6 months
Small breeds - mature weight of 10
kg (22 lb.)
330 530 700
Medium to Large breeds – mature
weight of 30 kg (66 lb.)
1200 1800 2600
Giant breeds – mature weight of 50
kg (100 lbs)
1950 2500 4000
Daily Calorie Requirements for Growing Puppies

Small and soft puppy treats:
• Used as rewards for good behavior.
• Use small pieces of commercial
treats or chopped vegetables cooked
meat and unsalted popcorn.
• Should not make up more than 10%
of the puppy’s diet.

 Poisonous foods
1. Grapes
2. Raisins
3. Onions
4. Garlic
5. Chocolate
6. Caffeine products
7. Macadamias and walnuts

 Poisonous foods
8. Animal fats and fried foods
9. Cooked bones
10. Tomatoes
11. Avocados
12. Nutmeg
13. Certain fruit seeds or pits
14. Raw eggs

 Poisonous foods
15. Excessive salt
16. Some types of mushrooms
17. Xylitol (sweetener)
18. Sugar and corn syrups
19. Many human medications
20. Potatoes

Intestinal Worms
It is necessary to protect your dog
against intestinal worms and
heartworm.
Intestinal worms can include:
whipworm, hookworm, roundworm and
tapeworm.

Intestinal Worms
Whipworm – Dogs can become infected
by eating infected poop or dirt.
Whipworm is not generally life
threatening, although it can cause
significant discomfort.

Intestinal Worms
Roundworm - Many puppies are actually
born with roundworm as the worm passes
from their dam prior to birth or during
whelping.
Roundworm can also infect puppies and
adult dogs if the dog eats infected poop,
vomit or vermin (such as rodents).
Not generally life threatening.

Intestinal Worms
Hookworms can cause itchy feet,
coughing, wheezing, diarrhoea,
abdominal cramps, nausea and bloody
or black poop. In advanced cases,
anaemia and death can occur. Puppies
are particularly vulnerable and can die if
infected.
Hookworm is difficult to detect.

Intestinal Worms
Dogs can get tapeworm by eating an
infected flea whilst self-grooming or
licking their coat.
Tapeworm segments can be found in the
dog’s poop.
The itching may result in your dog
‘scooting’ its bum along the ground.
Tapeworm is not life threatening, however
they can cause discomfort.

Intestinal Worms
Prevention:
• Broad-spectrum worming preventive
from 2 weeks of age.
• Keep your dog's living area clean and
remove poop regularly.
• Keep your dog from eating wild animals
and vermin
• Keep your dog from eating animal
carcasses such as birds and rodents.

Intestinal Worms
Prevention:
• Do not allow your dog to eat offal from
any animal.
• Ensure areas and parks that your dog
visits are clean and well maintained.

Intestinal Worms
Prevention:
• As part of your dog’s annual check-up,
have your vet examine your dog’s poop.
• Ensure your dog’s toys, bones and
chewy items are relatively free of dirt.

Heartworm
Heartworm is a parasitic disease that is
spread by mosquitoes, so all dogs are
vulnerable.
Chronic infection can cause loss of
appetite, weight loss, lethargy,
intolerance to exercise, coughing and
breathing difficulties.
Acute infection can result in shock,
vomiting, diarrhoea and fainting.

Heartworm
There are two types of preventative
treatments:
1. Monthly tablet or chew – broad
spectrum covers heartworm and
intestinal worms.
2. Annual injection given by a vet, usually
at same time as vaccine booster.

Monthly Prevention of Heartworm &
Intestinal Worms
1. Give monthly doses on the same date
each month.
2. Ensure the correct dose is given
according to your dog's weight.
3. Set reminders for heartworm
prevention.

 Choosing the Right Vet
1. Make sure you find a vet before, or
soon after, picking up your new puppy.
2. When inspecting different veterinary
practices, have a look at their kennel
area.
3. For practices where there is more
than one vet in attendance, ask
whether your puppy will be assigned to
one vet only.

 Choosing the Right Vet
4. Your new vet should make you feel
welcome and take your concerns seriously.
5. Check their prices, but don’t base your
decision on this solely:
• Vaccinations
• Neutering
• X-rays
6. Ask for Pet Insurance recommendation.

Summary:
• From roughly the age of 6 weeks,
puppies should be given a course of
2-3 injections about 3-4 weeks apart.
After that, injections can be given on
an annual basis.
• Vaccinations should protect your dog
against: Distemper, Parvovirus,
Cough, Hepatitis & Rabies (in some
countries).
• Keep your vaccinations updated &
handy.

• Until 2 weeks after final puppy
vaccination, keep puppy away
from other dogs and dog areas
• Most dogs are neutered between
5 and 8 months old.
• Benefits of neutering include calm,
attentive behavior and less
likelihood of cancer in the dog’s
reproductive organs.

• Bad breath, gum redness,
discoloration and refusing food
can all be signs of bad dental
hygiene. This can be painful for
your dog and can lead to other
health problems.
• Regular brushing with special
doggy toothpaste or dental chews
and bones are highly
recommended.

• Feed your puppy high quality
commercial food specifically
formulated for growing puppies.
• Don’t experiment with new foods
often.
• Ensure your puppy has access to
fresh water.
• Feed 3 times per day up to 12 weeks
old, then 2 times per day thereafter.

• Occasional food refusals may
occur; see a vet if food is refused
more than twice in a row
especially if your puppy seems
unwell.
• Use small treats as rewards for
good behavior – treats should not
make up more than 10% of overall
diet.

• Be careful what you feed your
puppy – a list of dangerous foods
is available for you to download
from the link below.
• Intestinal worms and heartworm
can be prevented with a monthly
broad spectrum tablet or chew –
check the label for details of which
worms your dog will be protected
against.

• Other measures such as keeping
your dog’s living area clean of
poop and vermin will assist in
protecting your dog against
worms.
• For heartworm, annual injections
can be given as a preventative.
• When choosing a vet, check their
prices, kennel area, one-vet policy
and their customer service.

Thanks for watching!
YourDogNeedsYou.com

Puppy Class #2 How to Raise a Healthy Puppy

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Puppy Class #2 How to Raise a Healthy Puppy