Puppy Care
The Basics of Puppy Care
If you think all you have to do is play with your puppy and feed him in order to take care of him, think again. Puppy care is a huge responsibility and it is much like taking care of a small child. If you have a full breed puppy, you have to find out how to take care of the specific breed because the protocol can be different. For example, Chihuahua puppy care requires certain types of food for optimum health and different vaccinations than other breeds.
Food Basics of Puppy Care
Choose a dry food and avoid cheap, generic brands in puppy care. Buy only brand name dog foods to make sure you are getting a quality product. If you have a large breed dog, choose food made for large breed dogs. Don’t judge dog foods by their vitamin and mineral content because often times over-supplementation of vitamins and minerals can lead to hip dysplasia.
Try not to give your puppy too many special treats like milk bone biscuits in puppy care because they are not that nutritional. Canned dog food is okay on occasion but it is best to stick with dry food because it is inexpensive, easy, and better for your puppy’s teeth. In puppy care it is important to avoid giving human food to your puppy because it can cause digestive problems.
In young puppy care, it is best to offer food three times a day. If your puppy doesn’t feel hungry that often, you can reduce the frequency and when he reaches around 10-12 weeks of age you can start feeding your puppy twice a day. It’s not good to feed your puppy only once a day because he will get so hungry in between meals that he will overeat at the next meal.
In puppy care, it is best to let your puppy eat as much as he wants during a 15 minute period and then take the dish away. It’s not good to provide freely available food. This can lead to your puppy becoming overweight and getting hip dysplasia and other health problems later in life. When overfed, your puppy will also stop enjoying food altogether.
The Importance of Shots in Puppy Care
Your puppy loses his natural immunity to disease somewhere between six and sixteen weeks of age. Fortunately there are new vaccines that can protect your puppy from most diseases. It is very important to take your puppy to the vet and get vaccines but until then, make sure your puppy stays away from areas frequented by other dogs. Also avoid letting your puppy come into contact with stray dogs and sick dogs.
So there you have it. Puppy care may not be as easy as you thought it was but by following the right protocol your puppy will be healthy. The most important aspects of puppy care are proper feeding and shots. If you follow these basic steps, your puppy will be healthy and vibrant and will rarely have to see a vet.
