Taking Your New Puppy For A Vet Check

You just bought a new puppy from a breeder or perhaps you adopted it from a shelter or rescue group. The first thing you should do is make arrangements to take the puppy to your vet for a wellness examination. Most breeders allow a certain number of days to accomplish the wellness exam and you want to make sure that you have a healthy puppy. This is especially true if you are going to bring this puppy around your other pets.

Your vet will be able to make sure that it is free of ticks and fleas while at the same time doing a fecal exam to make sure your new family member is free of internal parasites as well. Treating for internal parasite is easy and it will be nice to know if there is a worm problem so it is not spread to your other dogs.

Of course while you are with your vet he will inspect your dog's eyes and ears to make sure everything looks clear.

I'm sure your vet will mention it, however if he doesn't be sure and ask when you should start giving your dog heartworm medication. Heartworms can be a very serious problem however with a very simple monthly treatment you can avoid the pain and expense of heartworms later on.

If you have any shot records that came with your pup make sure you leave a copy with the vet. He will be able to recommend a vaccination schedule for your new dog and it is very important to follow his recommendation and keep your dog healthy and safe.

This is the time to ask questions. Vets are always happy to giving good useful pointers for raising that new dog so that it stays healthy.

Discussing which dog food is the best for your dog is a common question with new puppy owners. Your vet will have some good information to guide you in the right direction.

Now that you know your puppy is healthy it's time to start looking for a dog trainer that can give you advice on all things relating to raising a puppy to be a confident well behaved adult dog and member of your family.

Most trainers have a short puppy lesson program for puppies that will help with puppy problems and socialization. Later when your dog is 4 months old the trainer will be able to help you with the formal obedience training that will give you the dog you have always wanted.

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Tips On How To Pick A Healthy Puppy

Are you considering getting a puppy? If you are, then you will want to pick a healthy one. With that said, here is some advice on how to pick a healthy puppy.

The first thing you will want to do is inspect the puppy's head. Take a look at the nose, as it should be moist and cool and if the puppy is sneezing frequently or there is nasal discharge, then this may be a sign of poor health. It's also worth mentioning that some breeds, such as pugs, will sometimes have nostrils that collapse when they inhale air.

You want to choose a puppy that has healthy looking gums. Gums should be the color pink. If the gums are pale, then the puppy could have anemia, which may be caused by parasites in the intestines.

When inspecting a puppy you're considering getting, take the time to check its eyes out. Their eyes should be bright and clear, and pay attention to eyelids that may roll out, as well as in. A puppy's pupils should be dark, and no white spots or visible lines should be present, as if they are, then this could be a sight that the puppy has congenital cataracts.

A strong and proportioned body is another sign that a puppy is healthy, but some breeds don't exactly have strong looking bodies, but generally speaking, you can tell how strong a dog is. Healthy puppies are properly taken care of, fed well and exercised properly. If you want a healthy puppy, then you will want to pay attention to its body and whether or not they are proportioned.

The final piece of advice to keep in mind is the puppy's attitude. If the puppy is ignoring you and others in its litter and it looks weak and tired, and it looks like that often, then this may be a sign that something is wrong with it. A puppy may be shy, but usually still pay you some sort of attention and not ignore you altogether. Pay close attention to a puppy's demeanor.

Picking a healthy puppy may seem like a daunting task and it can be when you don't know what you are doing. This is why you should keep the above tips and advice in mind. Doing so should make it easier for you to choose a healthy puppy.

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