Introducing new family members into the home is an incredible experience; however, taking care of the newest additions to the family, newborn puppies, requires special attention and knowledge. Every dog owner should understand the specific peculiarities of puppy care in order to raise healthy dogs. In addition, owners need to know how to choose high-quality food, maintain hygiene, vaccinate puppies, socialize them, ensure safety, and attend to their health issues.
Diet and Nutrition
First of all, one should note the necessity to feed newborn puppies properly. While the puppies do not get separated from their mother yet, it is necessary to introduce new food and help them get used to eating something else than milk. The puppies’ diet should consist mostly of protein and moderate fats and little carbohydrates. Moreover, it must contain calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D to facilitate the puppies’ development.
Thus, when searching for a new puppy food, it is recommended to pay attention to high-quality products consisting of whole food ingredients and having the right balance of vitamins and minerals. It is important to avoid foods containing fillers such as corn and wheat. The owner is also expected to be attentive and carefully introduce each new food type to the puppy’s diet.
Health Care and Prevention
Since newborn puppies are especially vulnerable, their owners should pay particular attention to hygiene. To minimize risks associated with infections, the living area should be regularly washed and disinfected, and the puppies’ toys cleaned. What is more, it is vital to wash one’s hands before and after touching the puppies since they can become infected otherwise.
Puppies require routine vaccination in order to develop immunity to several dangerous infectious diseases. Therefore, the owner should plan a schedule for vaccination and follow it in order to prevent these diseases from developing. Parvovirus, distemper, hepatitis, and other serious conditions can be easily avoided with a proper vaccination.
Apart from this, it is important to consider some preventative measures. For instance, it is crucial to provide puppies with adequate protection against heartworm and fleas. If an owner does not manage to do so, it may lead to the puppies’ death.
Behavior and Training
One of the most important aspects of puppy development is socialization because the period in question can shape the puppies’ future behavior. It is vital to socialize them in order to facilitate the development of their good behavior, prevent them from anxiety, and establish good relationships with other dogs and people. Socialization must begin at an early stage, usually between eight and twelve weeks of age.
Thus, it is important to expose the puppies to different environments and situations and take them out on walks in order to help them get used to being outside. Also, it would be useful to teach puppies some simple commands. Positive reinforcement training is highly recommended.
Environment and Safety
Newborn puppies tend to be extremely active and exploratory. They often climb somewhere and can even get hurt accidentally while playing with other puppies or exploring the house. Therefore, owners should puppy proof the environment to prevent any mishaps. Apart from it, owners can use the environment to make puppies’ development easier and better. It is necessary to provide a variety of toys for the puppies.
Vet Services and Emergencies
Routine vet visits play a key role in maintaining puppies’ health as well. Therefore, it is important to find a reliable local vet who will be able to guide and assist during puppy’s upbringing. When a problem occurs and puppies show some unusual signs, one should go to a vet clinic without hesitation. However, the owner should always have a pet first aid kit and know what to do in case of an accident or illness.
Health Issues
As it was mentioned, newborn puppies are prone to various diseases. They may suffer from hypoglycemia, respiratory infections, worm infestation, and fleas. All these conditions require special attention, and their presence can cause serious problems. Moreover, owners should remember that the puppies can become ill because of various infectious agents. Parvovirus and distemper are among those that can pose a threat to puppies. To prevent them from getting ill, owners are expected to avoid any contacts with strange dogs.
Conclusion
Raising healthy puppies is an interesting challenge; however, it requires special efforts. Following this guideline, one will be able to take good care of his/her family’s newest additions successfully. In order to facilitate the process, one should think about attending puppy classes or consulting a professional dog trainer.
It might be beneficial as well because these specialists will be able to provide additional recommendations and share their experience with other puppies and their owners.
