How To Take Care Of A Puppy: 5 Things You Should Know

How To Take Care Of A Puppy: 5 Things You Should Know

by Gigi Eisensmith

You are getting a dog for the first time and you are excited. There's just one thing. You don't know how to take care of a puppy. What do you do with a puppy? What are its needs?

She will need some sort of protection since she is so small, but how do you do that?

And then there are health concerns. How do you make sure she stays healthy? What things do you have to worry about? Can you take precautions?

You probably never thought of these issues when you fell in love with that bundle of joy.

The first step is to understand what dangers lurk and what you can do to ensure she stays protected and well.

Here are 5 tips to get you started.

1. Make her comfortable. Make a special place for her to sleep. Gather up some safe toys designed for puppies. Soft toys will help to provide the comfort that her littermates would have given her. She also will need tough toys to ease her when she is teething. Yes, puppies teethe, just like babies do.

2. Watch out for potentially hazardous situations throughout your home where she is allowed to go. Puppies are adventurous. They want to check things out. They instinctively test things they don't understand.

Put all wiring, chemicals, cleaning fluids and the like out of her way. Thoroughly inspect the yard to make sure there are no holes and broken fence parts where she can escape. Get rid of all plants in and around your home that present a danger to dogs. You'll have to ask your vet or dog expert for a list of what those plants are. One is poinsettias, but there are others that seem innocent but are not.

3. Take time to visit the vet regularly. As a puppy, she will need vaccinations against major diseases like rabies and distemper. Ask your vet what she needs and when. She must remain isolated from other animals until she has completed her series of shots. As well as keeping her vaccinations up to date, the vet can check your puppy to make sure there are no developmental problems as she grows into an adult.

4. Your puppy will need puppy formula. Her body needs more nutrients than she will get from adult dog food. This is vitally important. If she does not get the right food, she can have growth problems, such as deformed joints, and other health issues that can affect her entire future. Speak to your vet to find out what he would suggest you feed your puppy at different stages of development.

5. Always use the right tools, gear and products for your puppy. For example, a rope collar is no guarantee that she can't be harmed. Choose a proper collar from your local pet store, one that fits properly without choking or slipping off. You will need to upgrade the collar as she grows and becomes stronger. Keep her bed in a warm location, free of drafts. Prolonged exposure to cold can leave her with arthritis as an adult.

We've only had time to cover 5 tips on how to take care of a puppy, but there is so much more to know. You will soon discover that your learning will be an ongoing process, especially during her puppy years. What you do now can have a significant impact on your puppy's life.

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