TAKING CARE OF YOUR PUPPY

 Are You Prepared to Give First Aid to Your Dog?

Are You Prepared to Give Your Dog First Aid If Needed?

As a dog owner, you may find yourself needing to give your dog first aid. Whether a car accident has occurred or your dog has collapsed from health-related problems, there are some things you could prepare yourself for. Dogs are curious creatures and sometimes get into dangerous situations. When they get into trouble, it will be your job to help.

Nobody expects you to know everything a veterinarian knows. But, don't sell yourself short. Many of the problems a dog faces are similar to those of our own. Until you can get your dog to a vet, he or she will depend on you. And, sometimes the care you provide along the way will make the difference when you get to your vet. Having the supplies you need on hand will really help you to be effective.

Having the supplies you need on hand will really help you to be effective. Rolls of gauze and tape are handy to slow or stop bleeding. You can also find some great blood-clotting topical products too. Hydrogen peroxide is an effective disinfectant. An old clean blanket is essential for wrapping a dog in shock. We frequently give a product called Nutrical to dogs when they appear to have low blood sugar. A first aid kit should also include ammonia water, antibiotic treatment, hydrocortisone ointment, eyewash, and antihistamine. Also, absorbent cotton, gauze rolls or pads, scissors (preferably with rounded tips), tweezers, a rectal thermometer; syringes (without the needle) for giving oral medications, elastic bandages, an enema bag, soap, and a plastic bowl for preparing dilutions.

Take some time to read those books you have in your doggie library. They will help you get familiar with first aid procedures for your dog. But, don't delay taking your dog to the vet when needed. Keep your vet's phone number handy in case you need him. If you think your dog may need professional care in the middle of the night or on a weekend, consider calling your vet and advising him. He may have some good advice or instructions to help you reach him.

How to Care For Young Puppies?

Raising a puppy into a dog can be a very rewarding experience. It is like seeing a family member grow up but in fast motion. Of course, I am talking about dogs, not people. My wife, Barbara, and I raise Yorkies and Maltese and tend to think of them sometimes as family members. Except, these guys never need to borrow the car keys or stay out too late.

This morning, we had a litter of six Yorkies born. Both of us were on hand to help the mother. Most of the time, a mother dog doesn't really need any help, but sometimes there are problems. I cut the umbilical cords and tie them with dental floss. The mother dog would ordinarily chew the umbilical cords into by herself. With some breeds, such as Yorkies, sometimes the mother has too much trouble turning around to reach the cord, so I am there to help.

After the puppies are born, we put them in a warm room in our house. They get a dry, clean, warm bed consisting of a wooden frame about 24 inches square made of 1 by 12 boards. There is no bottom. This square just sets upon a cloth pallet on the floor. For the first week, we insert a small heating pad beneath the pallet. If you buy the disposable bed pads made for human use, they are great for the mama and her babies to lay on.

We keep a close eye on the little family every day. Make sure the puppies are warm and dry. You can tell when the puppies are warm...they will tend to spread out on their bedding. Cold puppies tend to bunch uptight to conserve body heat. Make sure the mother dog is clean and that all the puppies are nursing. The mother's udder should be checked every day for milk production and infection. She will not go far from her puppies during the first few days, so bring her food and water very near to her.

For a mother dog to do well, she needs a quiet, secure place to be with her puppies. Stress can have a negative effect on the mother dog and her puppies. Keep other dogs away from her. Strange people can cause undue stress. Don't bring in all your friends and their children for the first several weeks.

A lactating mother dog uses a lot of calcium and should be given calcium pills each day. If she suddenly goes into shock, she may be too low on calcium and will need immediate attention from your vet.

For about a month, the mother will take care of most things. After a few weeks, the puppies will open their eyes and start trying to stand up and walk. Playing comes soon after. In about 4 to 5 weeks, the puppies will be ready to start eating solid food. A mixture of canned and dry food with a little water to soften it is good first food. Then, slowly reduce the moisture content until the puppies and eating canned or dry food only.

Puppy Care Tips

Puppies try to jump at anything and everything during their first year of life. It is worth knowing that this behavior will remain the same when the puppy grows into an adult dog. If you want your dog to keep on jumping on guests, then it is fine to let the puppy jump at you on every occasion. A better way is to reward the puppy and punish for desired behavior. When the puppy is jumping at you, neglect this behavior. Make the puppy sit on the floor and offer a reward. Over a period of time, puppy will realize the benefit of sitting in front of you and therefore will forget the tendency of jumping at people. This will be to your great advantage when the puppy grows and becomes a sort of serious dog.

Punishment to the puppy should not be treated as punishment, but the correction in behavior. It is important to correct the puppy's behavior at the time of any offense committed by the puppy. Never correct him after a time gap. For example, if you don't want your puppy to start barking the moment doorbell rings, correct him immediately. If you try to correct him after the guests are gone, he may get confused. Once this unwanted behavior is corrected, never forget to reward the puppy for the correct behavior. This reward may not necessarily in the form of food only. You may show your happiness over the behavior and your dog is intelligent enough to know your good mood.

Get a good number of toys for your puppy to chew. Never allow him to bite or chew your hand. If the puppy bites your hand, make a huge noise to make puppy understand his mistake. Don't try to punish the puppy for this behavior. Walk away from the place and don't let him near you for some time. Puppy will understand this clearly and never try to repeat that mistake. A handful of chewable toys will do this trick easily.

Try not to leave the puppies unattended in a room. Puppies because of their natural tendency of chewing will mess up with valuable articles in the room. If you scold him for this, he may not understand the reasons for your behavior. Leave it there itself, and then never ever leave him unattended.

Puppies may feel sick when taken on a long drive. Start training your puppy in the car for shorter distances first and then keep on increasing the trip time and miles. Puppy will get adjusted to long hours in the car.