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Setting your puppy
up for success
Very few things in the world are as nice as a warm, soft puppy
curled up and sleeping on your lap, making those wonderful little
grunts and groans as he chases butterflies in his dreams. What
we don’t see is the amount of change happening inside
their bodies when they are so young.
Puppies are born with immature brains, skeletons, and digestive
tracts and with naïve immune systems. During the first
ten to 18 months of life they will grow to between 20 and 100
times their birth weight, their digestive systems will learn
to cope with solid food (not to mention everything out of the
bin), their immune systems will be exposed to at least 6 deadly
diseases and a host of less serious germs and their brains will
grow while they learn everything they need to know to cope as
a dog in the modern world. That’s no mean feat! Fortunately,
there are some things that you can do to help your growing pup
cope with these demands.
The most important part of keeping a pup healthy through growth
is to form an ongoing relationship with your veterinary team.
Vets and vet nurses can do health checks throughout growth and
advise you on correct feeding, disease prevention and parasite
control.
 Vaccinating
your puppy will protect him from the six most dangerous viral
diseases of dogs: Canine Distemper, Canine Adenovirus 1 and
2, Parvo, Parainfluenza and Rabies. Vaccinations should happen
at 6, 9 and 12 weeks, with a rabies booster between 1 and 9
months after the first rabies vaccine. During vaccination visits,
the healthcare team will also check that your pup is developing
properly and that he was not born with any congenital problems.
Worm and flea treatment can also be given at vaccination visits.
Using the right treatment for your pups is vital, since such
young animals can be sensitive to over the counter treatments
that are safe for older pets. Parasites must be combated though,
since worms can cause anaemia, seizures and death and fleas
and ticks can cause anaemia and biliary, both of which may be
fatal.
Using a high quality puppy food with easily digestible protein
can help protect pups against the most serious effects of worms
and fleas and can help them bounce back more quickly after deworming
or flea treatment. In addition to this, adding antioxidants
and immune boosters such as Vitamin C, E, Lutein and Taurine
to the diet has been shown to increase the level of immunity
that pups develop after vaccination, a good start to life! |
Socialisation
is another essential part of growth in a puppy, particularly
brain growth. During socialisation classes a puppy learns how
to respond to new people, animals, sounds and experiences and
while learning, your pup’s brain is literally growing
and forming new connections. At Valley Farm Animal Hospital
we hold puppy classes that allow your puppy to socialise with
other puppies and people. The course is five weeks and covers
basic training and information in a fun, informal atmosphere.
