Diana Myers
Here we give you some tips on avoiding danger and health care for puppies – this is how your little rascal stays healthy!
Before the puppy moves in
When a puppy moves in with its new family at the age of about eight weeks, you can definitely compare it to a toddler. Unaware of the danger, thirsty for knowledge, and clumsy, he toddles from one adventure to the next. Sockets, indoor plants, balls of yarn, power cables – everything can become a danger for him. So, before the pooch arrives, do as parents of toddlers recommend. Get on all fours, crawl every square meter of the apartment and look out for anything that could endanger the four-legged explorer. You will be amazed at how many sources of danger you will find! Despite this precaution, puppies should not be left unattended for the first few weeks.
The first visit to the vet
After a short acclimatization period, you should take your new family member to the vet. He will determine the dog’s state of health and will work with you to create an individual schedule for the necessary vaccinations and deworming. Puppies that come from good husbandry have usually already been vaccinated for the first time against parvovirus (P), distemper (S), infectious liver inflammation (H), and leptospirosis (L). If this is the case, you should be vaccinated again against SHPL and also against rabies (T) in the tenth week. It is recommended to vaccinate again against SHPLT six months later to be sure that the vaccination is effective.
Parasite-free before the basic immunization
Before vaccination, a puppy should be largely free of parasites. This is because parasites, especially worms, can reduce the effectiveness of the vaccination. It must be assumed that every puppy is at least infested with roundworms because the larvae of this type of worm are transmitted with the mother’s milk. Due to the life cycle of these parasites, deworming is not enough. Since the worms are also in different parts of the body and organs in their various stages of development, only the parasites that are actually in the intestine are reached by a vermifuge. This means puppies need to be dewormed at regular intervals to safely kill all generations of worms.
Health education
Many dogs are reluctant to be touched on their muzzle, ears, or paws. Some animals even react aggressively and can only be examined under sedation or with a muzzle. This means stress for dogs, owners, and veterinarians. From the beginning, you should get your puppy used to touching all parts of the body. He should learn that the human touch is pleasant. Check his ears, lift his lips, touch his gums, examine his paws, etc. several times a day. Reward him if he keeps still. It is recommended to get the puppy used to brush his teeth lovingly and gently, but consistently – this will save him from potentially painful dental problems and veterinary costs.