Keeping your puppy healthy

YOUR FIRST VET VISIT.

Your first priority is to choose a vet - see separate article "Choosing a vet for your puppy"
When you have done this, make an appointment to see him, and be sure to state that it is the puppy's first visit as they may need to allocate a longer appointment time for this first check.
Obviously you should take your puppy with you, but keep it on your lap - do not allow it to walk - even on a lead - as until your puppy has been fully vaccinated it can pick up unwanted, and sometimes fatal, illnesses.

Your breeder may have already given the puppy one or perhaps two vaccinations, but discuss these with your vet, as the total course is usually three vaccinations.
You will be given a vaccination certificate, and keep this safe as you will need if you use boarding kennels, attend dog training classes, or if you take your dog abroad.
A booster vaccination is also required every year, and this too should be recorded.
At this first vet visit, discuss ongoing treatments such as worming (every 3 months), Flea / tick control (every month - and seek the vet's advice about what to do if you see a tick attached to your puppy, as incorrect removal of ticks can have serious consequences), and microchipping ( a once-only occurrence which may soon become law).

You will probably need to get your puppy insured, and it may be worth asking your vet for advice. Some practices offer a comprehensive package which includes the provision of annual boosters, worming and flea control treatment.
However, insurance is expensive, so research it thoroughly and do not jump at the first one you see.

Finally, you may want to talk to your vet about the pros and cons of neutering.You may feel that you do, or do not, want to do this, but in any case it is better to make an informed decision.

DENTAL CARE.

A dog's mouth is used for far more than eating, drinking and barking! Their mouth is how they interact with the world around them, and is also used to fetch and carry sticks etc., and to show affection by licking you.
It is therefore obvious that the mouth should be healthy, yet dental care is often overlooked in everyday grooming. You should make your dog's teeth a part of regular care for your dog's health.

Puppy Teeth

Puppies have 28 temporary teeth (called puppy teeth or milk teeth) which are first seen at about 4 weeks of age - so they will probably have them by the time you collect your new puppy.
These teeth generally fall out between 14 and 30 weeks of age and are replaced by 42 adult teeth.
If yours is a young puppy it will fall within this range and there are some things you should consider:-
• You may notice that your puppies eat less but chew more! You should certainly buy a variety of puppy teething toys (lots on this site) as they help clean teeth, prevent plaque, and can stop a lot of unwanted household damage. It is not unknown for puppies to enjoy a good meal by chewing holes in furniture. This is dangerous for the puppy, and expensive for you.
Some toys come complete with squeaks, which are great fun, but NEVER let your puppy play with these unless you carefully supervise him, as if he tears the toy apart and swallows the squeaker, it can be serious.
• Although puppy teeth do not last long, now is a great time to familiarise your puppy with dental hygeine.
Buy a finger brush, gently lift his lip and rub his gums and teeth every day, so that human care of teeth becomes second nature to him. This will make future dental care so much easier, and your vet will thank you for it!
• You can quickly progress from finger cleaning to the use of a toothbrush specially designed for dogs. This can even be an electric brush.
• Buy toothpaste specially made for dogs. Human toothpaste contains ingredients that can harm your dog if swallowed in excessive amounts.
• If your puppy still has puppy teeth much after 30 weeks, then check with your vet as they may need to be removed to make room for adult teeth. In this respect, as with many others, caring for a puppy is similar to caring for a child.
• The most common problem for dogs is the buildup of plaque, and left unchecked this may eventually lead to inflammation of the gums, the teeth may become infected, and that infection can spread to other parts of your puppy's body. The introduction of regular dental care by you will help to stop this.
• Your choice of the correct food can have a major effect on the health of your puppy's teeth and mouth - please see the separate section on this site for this important aspect.
• When you first see your vet, see what is available regarding ongoing dental checks and care.

HOW TO HEALTH CHECK YOUR PUPPY REGULARLY.

You need to check your puppy regularly for anything which looks or feels out of the ordinary.
Look for lumps (especially mammary or testicular), and also for cuts, grazes, rashes, tick infestation etc.
In addition to the regular dental checks above, check out eyes, ears, nails and claws.
If you notice anything that you can't explain, or easily treat yourself, have no hesitation in contacting your vet. It may be that your mind can be put at rest over the telephone, or (more likely) a visit to the practice will be advisable.

GENERAL SAFETY TIPS.

Sorry, but 'Health and Safety' are inextricably linked!
• If you have a garden, make sure it is escape proof. Check with your vet or breeder about the height of any fence - you may be surprised as to how high some dogs can jump!
• If there is no garden, or if it is impractical to fence it, you may want to think about a dog run made of weatherproofed galvanised wire and tube. These are available either in sets, or you can buy them by the panel in a choice of heights and designs (see this site for details.)
• Use a car crate when travelling with your in your car - or at the very least, use a car harness. This will not only help to prevent your dog being hurtled through the windscreen in the event of an accident, it will also stop your dog suddenly distracting the driver and actually causing an accident. You must never, ever, allow your dog to travel with its head out of a window as eye damage will almost certainly follow, and your dog may literally lose its head if you pass too close to anything.
• Always keep your dog on a short - not extending- lead when near roads or livestock.
• Be aware that everyday items can be poisonous to dogs, and these include human chocolates, cocoa powder, raisins, grapes and some nuts. Ask your vet for guidance on this if you are in any doubt.
• When using garden or lawn fertiliser, or if you have a garden pond, check that any treatment is safe for use with animals. Don't forget that this includes ant treatments and of course mouse or rat poison.
• Never leave your dog unattended in a locked car, epecially in the summer. It is a sad fact that every year dogs die in cars by becoming overheated. Do not let this happen to your dog. Also, never leave your dog tied up outside a shop in case it escapes or gets stolen.

All information on this site is given in good faith, but should never be taken as final authorative advice. In all cases of doubt or query you are strongly advised to check the position with an expert - and your vet is the person to see first.