Santa Paws is Coming to Town!
The holiday season is coming up… You know what that means? Plenty of little ones will for sure be begging Santa for a new cuddly friend as a reward for their good behavior! And who are we to oppose? We all know how hard it is to say no, but there is one thing in the back of our heads that makes us hesitate: The maintenance. Everybody loves newly born pets; they’re cute, cuddly, and fun-sized! Though every pros must have its cons, and in this case, they’re not at all trained and are very much sensitive to plenty of things that can actually be harmful to their health. Listed below are a few pointers on how to make the transitions easier!
1.) Shop For Quality Food
To ensure a healthy, balanced diet, you must make sure that your pup is being fed properly and accordingly in order to become bigger and stronger!
Feed multiple times a day:
- Age 6-12 weeks – 4 meals per day
- Age 3-6 months – 3 meals per day
- Age 6-12 months – 2 meals per day
2.) Establish A Bathroom Routine
Unless your puppy has already had all of their required vaccinations, it’s crucial to find a safe spot outdoors that are inaccessible to other animals, otherwise they will be easily exposed to several disease and viruses. Positive reinforcement plays a big part in potty training, as well as not punishing them when accidents are involved! Here are some of the best times to take them out to lessen the chances of eliminating indoors:
- When you wake up.
- Before bedtime.
- Immediately after your puppy eats or drinks a lot of water.
- When your pup wakes up from a nap.
- During and after physical activity.
3.) Be Observant With Their Health
The first couple of months can be a bit difficult to your pup since they’re being exposed to different kinds of bacteria. With that being said, be sure to be on a lookout for any of these symptoms and contact a vet immediately to refrain things from worsening.
- Lack of appetite
- Poor weight gain
- Vomiting
- Swelling of abdomen
- Lethargy (tiredness)
- Diarrhea
- Difficulty breathing
- Wheezing or coughing
- Pale gums
- Swollen, red eyes or eye discharge
- Nasal discharge
- Inability to pass urine or stool
4.) Find A Good Vet
Ask for recommendations, advice, and portions that fit best for your pup! Building a good relationship and with your veterinarian will keep you on top of your game when it comes to ensuring a healthy lifestyle for your pet.
- Set up a vaccination plan with your vet.
- Discuss safe options for controlling parasites, both external and internal.
- Learn which signs of illness to watch for during your pup’s first few months.
- When to spay or neuter your dog.
Photo Credit: http://www.petyak.com/w