Archive for the ‘Puppy Care’ Category
A natural approach to healthcare is becoming more popular today, both in the arena of human and pet treatment. Many pet lovers are seeking natural alternatives/additions to their pet care regime. Find out how these can benefit your puppy.
Natural supplements and remedies are often a safe, and affordable addition to your puppy care routine, and don’t have the potential side-effects of some conventional medications. Obviously, there needs to be a balance between conventional veterinary care and the use of natural remedies, but when you are able to take the best of both worlds, and use them in a complementary way, you can be sure your puppy is reaping the benefits.
The benefits of natural pet care for your puppy include :
Better Overall Health – many common dog ailments, such as digestive disorders and allergies, can be prevented or significantly reduced.
Longer Lifespan – due to better health and a stronger immune system
Improved Healing – your pup will heal faster after sickness or injury due to a stronger, healthier body.
Better Quality of Life – a natural approach to pet health care includes treating all the factors (environmental, behavioral, nutritional etc) that lead to ill health. By treating the causes and not just the symptoms, your pup will be happier as well as healthier.
Natural Dog Food
Your new puppy is growing at a phenomenal rate, and the nutrition he receives during this critical growth period has a huge impact on his future health and well-being. Good nutrition is the cornerstone of good health.
Natural, holistic or organic dog foods can provide your growing puppy with optimum nutrition. The benefits include human-grade ingredients, and the absence of hormones, chemicals, additives and other undesirables.
Feeding a natural diet (and that could include a raw diet, or BARF), helps to strengthen your puppys’ immune system, reduce the incidence of allergies, and research has shown that it can also help your pup live a longer life.
Some of the most popular names in natural dog food include Innova, Solid Gold and Canidae. Online stores often have a wide selection of natural and organic dog food that you can order from the comfort of your own home.
Natural Remedies for Dogs
Although professional veterinary care is absolutely essential to the health of your new puppy, there are often situations where a natural supplement or remedy can be very effective. This is particularly true in the area of natural preventative care.
Many puppies have digestive issues, and constipation, flatulence and loose stools are common puppy problems. Feeding a natural puppy food is an important part of preventing these sorts of issues, and there’s a good selection of food supplements you can use to prevent/treat specific problems.
Natural laxatives, pro-biotics, digestive tonics and other products can be very helpful for a puppy who has tummy troubles. They help to restore a healthy balance to the digestive system and can counteract some of the factors such stress, pollution and toxins that cause problems.
Another common puppy problem, and one that seems to be increasing, is allergies. Many dogs suffer from allergies of one sort or another, some are sensitive or allergic to ingredients in their food, others to environmental or seasonal triggers or parasites such as fleas. Whether exposure to toxins in the environment, chemicals in food, or immune systems weakened by over-vaccination or medication, the results are the same.
Medications such as anti-histamines can supress allergy symptoms, but natural remedies actually target the imbalances/weaknesses at the root of the problem. Holistic blends of natural vitamins, herbs, and other ingredients can help keep your pups’ immune system functioning at optimum level. Soothing herbal salves and ointments can help relieve constant scratching, and food supplements can help keep your dogs’ coat and skin healthy and supple.
Anxiety, fear and general nervousness are also fairly common puppy behavioral issues. From separation anxiety, to submissive urination and situational stressors such as thunderstorms or car travel, at some time or other your puppy may need something that will help reduce his anxiety levels.
Sedative medications have a place in the treatment of anxiety disorders, but many times a natural remedy is both gentle and effective in reducing fear, stress and anxiety – without the side effects of some medications.
There’s a whole range of products to choose from in this category – Flower Remedy essences, pheremone-based sprays and diffusers, dietary supplements and more.
There’s no reason for your little guy to be cowering in the corner during thunderstorms, or shaking like a leaf on your road trips, when gentle, calming relief is so easy to find.
All dog owners know that there are some pesky critters who can cause your pup to be miserable – they’re called fleas! Fleas aren’t just annoying, they can cause disease, allergies and a whole lot of trouble. There are some very effective flea preventatives, but they do contain harsh chemicals, and often can’t be used on young puppies. Natural, herbal and holistic remedies can provide a gentle alternative, and when used correctly can be very effective. There are products that you can dust/spray on your pet, and others that can be ingested. You can also find homeopathic or herbal products to prevent/treat roundworms, tapeworms and other intestinal parasites.
Both puppies and older dogs can experience muscle or joint problems, especially the large/giant breeds. A natural diet, and the use of a natural supplement which promotes joint/muscle health can improve strength and flexibility and prevent a lot of problems.
All new owners want the very best for their puppies, and prevention is definitely better than cure. By using a combination of natural remedies and health care options, in addition to the routine veterinary care that your puppy needs, you will be giving him the very best chance of a long, happy and health life. Isn’t that good to know?
A beagle pup is a great thing to get for you and your family as they make great family dogs and can be a lot of fun to raise and watch grow up. But beagle puppies require a lot of patience and beagle puppy care is not as easy as it may seem. Take the time to do some research on how to raise your beagle pup the right way so that it stays healthy and grows into a great family dog. Always keep your vet involved with regular appointments and consultations if something should go wrong.
Rule number one, and probably the most important thing to remember that goes right along with patience, is to know what to expect from your beagle pup as it develops and grows. A three-month-old beagle is not going to be able to be taught the same things as a ten-month-old would. Beagles are just like kids in that you have to teach them based on where they are in their physical and mental development.
If you are caging your beagle pup to try and housebreak it and the process is not working then there is another way that may do the trick. Set aside a 48-hour period where you and someone else can take the dog out every hour on the hour and take it to the spot where you want it to do its business. Reinforce to the puppy that this outside spot is where to do these things and that the inside is not a good place. If this alternative does not work contact your vet.
Beating the puppy or chasing it around your house in anger rarely solves behavioral problems in beagle pups. If your puppy barks constantly, pointing at it and giving sharp one word commands such as “No” or “Stop” could be very effective. It is important that you dominate your pet through positive reinforcement and not through fear or physical violence.
Most, if not all, of the behavioral patterns required for beagle pups need to be taught to them while they are still pups. Walking on a leash, for example, may seem like an easy second nature thing to do but beagle pups are not born with the ability to walk on a leash, you need to teach them. It takes patience but you need to make sure that all negative behavioral traits are eliminated when they are still young enough to learn.
A beagle pup is like an empty book waiting to be filled with information. If you wait too long to address behavioral issues then those issues become patterns in adulthood and negative behavioral patterns are much more difficult to stop. So make sure you take the time to train your pup while it is still young so you and your family can enjoy it for years to come.
If you have never owned a puppy before, this article should help to prepare you for the many things that you should know and expect from your puppy and some of your responsibilities as the owner, as far as how you should go about properly training them. Dog training is very important and the earlier that you start with it, the much better off that you will be, no doubt about that one. Puppies come into our homes and you need to keep in mind that even though they are very small usually, they are also very, very inquisitive and will surprisingly catch on to many things very quickly. It is so important for anyone who is considering to get themselves a little puppy to definitely remember that you will just have to make sure that you apply some dog training skills on them right away, the longer that you put it off, the more difficult they will be to train.
Rewarding our little puppies with tons of praise and even some little treats, is the best way to teach them right from wrong. They love to make their owners happy and will go out of their way to every single time, as long as you have constantly given them that praise that they deserve for being such a good puppy and listening to your commands. Everyone wants to be the proud owner of a very well behaved lil puppy but most people do not want to put forth the effort to actually try and get their puppies trained by a professional or train the puppy themselves, which is why so many of us really need to get educated a little bit more about puppy care and the many reasons why it is so very important to properly train our animals, especially our little curious puppies. They are so adorable but can turn out to be very ugly later on if they are not immediately properly trained, so that they will know exactly how they are really supposed to act.
There are just a few things that everyone who owns a puppy should remember, when they are ready to begin applying their dog training skills. Learning just the few basics on dog training will really help to prevent any bad behavior out of your puppy in the near future. It will only take a little bit of your time and a great deal of consistency ofcourse, and then you will have the opportunity to show off your dog training skills to all of your friends and family, they will all be very impressed by your pooches good manners and adorable tricks. There are so many different books available that can teach you even more about dog training and all of the different dog training techniques. You will be so surprised once you begin learning more about this, surprised at how simple things could be for you and your new little friend with the most appropriate dog training skills.
The prospect of a new puppy in the house is an exciting thing. Everyone loves these adorable little creatures. They are cute, cuddly, and even funny. Who could resist? What is not especially appealing is the fact that all new puppies who are brought into the home will, at some point, empty their bladders wherever they see fit. This could be your bed, your beautiful area rug, or your new sofa. Cleaning up these messes is definitely not what you had in mind when you brought your new puppy home. A process every new puppy owner must go through in order to save all of their niceties is housebreaking. This can be a relatively simple process if it is done right, and if you have some help and ideas on how to get it done effectively.
As humans, we have an instinctive nature within ourselves to relieve our bodies of normal functions within the confines of privacy, and we are taught that there is a proper place to do this. Dogs, however, do not come with any built-in mechanisms which teach them when and where to relieve themselves. It is up to the owners of these pups to basically “potty train” them, and this is what we call “housebreaking.”
There are some basic facts that you must keep in mind before you begin this process. First of all, puppies are not able to keep themselves from relieving their bladders until about twelve weeks of age; however, it is wise to begin housebreaking as early as possible. Secondly, most puppies will probably, on average, need to relieve themselves about six to seven times per day. Thirdly, watch for signs that your puppy needs to go out, such as following his tail a bit slowly, or sniffing and circling a particular area. These are sure signs that he is about to do his business. Finally, because food puts pressure on a dog’s bladder and colon, you should always take your puppy out immediately after he eats.
The first housebreaking lesson to be learned is to let your dog know that it is not okay to relieve himself inside the home. If you can catch him in the act, this is the best way to let him know. You do not need to spank or otherwise hit your dog to let him know. Simply use a loud and commanding voice, and a very strong “no” to get your message across. If you do not catch him in the act, you can always bring your dog to the location of the “accident”, show it to him, and then use your forceful “no”.
Another important lesson is to watch your puppy very carefully. If you see any signs that your puppy needs to relieve himself, you should immediately take him outside to a designated area to do his “business”. As soon as he completes his task, make sure you reward him. You can do this several ways ‘ a treat, a pat on the head, a rub behind the ears, and always lots of praise.
Dogs are always eager to please their owners, so when your puppy sees that you are happy with his doing his business in the proper place, and that you are very upset when he relieves himself on the rug, it won’t take him long to catch on. Therefore, you should always make sure your puppy knows you are happy with him when he does the right thing. You still need to do your part. Watch your puppy carefully, and you should be able to pick up on some regularity in his bladder routine. Once you do this, you can take him out accordingly and avoid accidents altogether.
Remember that communication, reward, and praise are the key to housebreaking your new puppy with great results, and very little mess.
Chewing and mouthing are behaviors shown by puppies, and many dogs learn the right behavior with no further problems. However, occasionally problems persist and we must look at what we can do.
Chewing
There are several different causes for this including:
⢠Age. Most chewing occurs when the dog is between 8 and 14 months of age. Be prepared for this and have plenty of safe items around for him.
⢠Attention seeking.
⢠Problems when the dog, is left alone.
⢠Boredom or lack of stimulation.
Prevention:
Ensure your dog has plenty to do. This includes mental and physical exercise with you, as well as things to do without you. Hold an interesting toy in one hand and an item such as the TV remote control in the other, Let your dog sniff them both. If he tries to chew the remote control, say ânoâ and wiggle the toy. As soon as he shows interest in the toy, praise him and play with him. Repeat at different times with different objects.
Then begin to leave different items around, for example, drinks coasters on a low table or the remote control on the seat of the sofa. Watch your puppy carefully. A quick sniff of the object is allowed, but if he begins to put his teeth around it, say ânoâ and gently move him away. Playing with and chewing the right items can help reduce chewing problems.
Mouthing
If this persists past puppyhood, why is your dog doing this?
⢠For your attention?
⢠He wants his own way or to prove a point?
⢠It is his idea of a game? Ensure no one is playing rough games or any that encourage mouthing.
⢠He is excited? Calmly teaching your dog how to control himself will help. Ignore unwanted behavior and calmly reward good behavior.
⢠To avoid something, such as handling?
House-training
If problems are persisting longer than you would expect, try to see the situation from the dogâs point of view. Is he learning the wrong things?
Make a determined effort to work with your dog. Keep a close eye on him at all times. Do not give him the opportunity to make a mistake. As with everything, if problems are severe, persistent or worrying, seek expert help.
I’m a new mother again. My daughter just gave me an early Christmas present, a puppy. So over the course of the next few articles we will touch on puppy care. Christmas, Easter, Valentines, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day usually bring an increase to a few families. No doubt there may be a few other families needing some pointers in the near future.
Owners of newly acquired pets should obtain the medical history of the pet and contact their veterinarian to set up a schedule for worming and vaccinations. Some breeders and pet stores have already started the worming and vaccinations prior to the adoption release and will provide you with the information. All pets adopted from the SPCA have been wormed and given vaccinations. They will also recommend you contact your veterinarian to follow up on worming and vaccinations.
Most reputable breeders initiate worming treatments at 2 weeks, and repeat at 4, 6, and 8 weeks, just prior to releasing the pet for adoption. On a newly acquired pet that has no history of de-worming contact your veterinarian to set up and immediate schedule of de-worming While consulting your veterinarian on basic worming schedules, you should have your pets stool examined for tapeworms, hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and a blood test done for heartworms.
There are several types of tapeworms, the most common is the flea tapeworm. This tapeworm is most common in residential or urban areas. Dogs ingest it during grooming. The other types are usually transmitted to dogs through eating rabbits, rodents or uncooked meats. Tapeworms look like flattened pieces of rice in your pets stool or attached to the fur in the anal area. Dogs may drag their behinds as an indication of infection. Don’t allow your dogs to ingest raw meats or hunt rodents thus eliminating the opportunity for infection.
Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitos. When a mosquito bites an infected dog, it not only sucks up blood but baby heartworms in the blood. This gets passed along to the next dog the infected mosquito bites. An infected dog may show signs of a chronic cough, laboured breathing, listlessness, and is easily tired during exercise. Once your veterinarian has determined your dog is free of heartworm infection he/she will begin a regular preventative medication program.
Roundworms live in the dogs intestines and live by sucking blood. Puppies often are infected through the placenta of the mother. This is why de-worming is usually begun at 2 weeks into the life of the puppy. Pets infected with roundworms usually have bloated bellies and rough looking coats. Your pet may show signs of vomiting, diarrhea, and colic. If left untreated a severe infection could damage the brain, liver, or lungs.
Hookworms attach themselves onto the intestinal lining with hook-like teeth. As this worm feeds on your dog’s blood, it moves around continually leaving bleeding sores. Bloody, mucus-laden diarrhea is an indication your dog may have a hookworm infection. This worm infection can cause anemia, weight loss, skin problems, rough coat, weakness, and impair the growth and physical development in puppies.
To prevent infection of any type of worm it is important that you do not let your dog drink stagnant pond water, ingest other dogs feces, rabbits or rodents, raw meats, garbage, or bones it may find on walks. Also, do not let your pet play in possible areas infected by mosquitos or other dogs. And last, but not least, have your dog examined and put on a regular preventative treatment program by your veterinarian.
Posted in Puppy Care | 
Tags: Article, Basis, Care, health, Importance, Regular, Worming | 
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