Puppy health is important but doesn’t have to be complicated.
A puppy can be so adorable that you might take one back to your house before you really know how to deal with him.After all, you were looking into those big puppy dog eyes, not reading his owner’s manual that starts off with “Owning a puppy is a big responsibility”…
Even though having a puppy and maintaining that puppy’s health is a big responsibility, that doesn’t mean it has to be difficult. Here are some guidelines in regards to your puppy’s health:
Feed your puppy quality food with a balanced diet. Do some research when you are starting out and get the best food for puppy. There are quality food available on the internet and at pet stores.
Look at the five ingredients that are listed first on the bag of dog food. The ingredients should be ones that you would eat, such as meat and vegetables, and not grain fillers and by-products that make digestion hard for your puppy.
Puppies need a LOT of exercise. This is very important for their health. They need physical exercise, such as running around and playing with other pups and they also need mental exercise like learning to retrieve a ball or play hide and seek. Also keep in mind that a bored puppy is a mischievous puppy who can get himself into trouble.
They need fresh water all the time. Puppies get thirsty and they need fluids to aid in good health and growth. Keep an eye on the water bowl at all times and keep it filled.
I’m sure you’ve figured it out by now that puppies are like two year olds.
They need to have a safe place to be when you’re not around to supervise them. Also, just like a baby or toddler, anything they find laying around will go in their mouth. Make sure to put anything valuable in a place where your puppy can’t reach it until he is older.
Take care of your puppy’s teeth by brushing them and/or giving them safe, hard bones. Allow them to get used to getting their nails clipped, their teeth brushed, and their coats brushed while they are still little.
Your puppy will need to go to the vet for his vaccinations and checkups. Find a good vet upon recommendation and take your puppy in on a pre-determined schedule.
Most vet offices will send you a postcard reminder when the next appointment is due.
Lastly, it probably goes without saying that a puppy needs lots of love for both physical and mental wellbeing. This shouldn’t be so hard to do because you fell in love with him before you even brought him home.
If you’ve looked into ways to maintain puppy health requirements by keeping him safe, taking him in for vaccinations and checkups, and giving him food that is of high quality, you will spend many happy years with your best friend.
