by Peter Garant
If the puppy seems warm or sleepy too much of the time, ask one of
your parents to take its temperature. A dog’s temperature normally is
between 38 and 39 degrees Celsius. If its temperature rises above 39
degrees, call your veterinarian.
When you buy your puppy, ask what shots it has received
and when it got them.
If it has not received shots to prevent distemper, infectious hepatitis,
leptospirosis, and rabies. take it immediately to a veterinarian to
have them. Then get yearly boosters.You should also find out whether
your puppy has been wormed. Most puppies have worms at some time.
For the first few days, you should feed your puppy the same diet as
the owners did. If you wish to change the diet, do so gradually. Each
day, feed a little of the new food mixed with the old.
Puppies 6 to 10 weeks old maybe fed 4 times a day. From 10 weeks to
6 months, 3 times a day should be enough. After 6 months, twice daily
will serve. And after 1 year, once a day—plus a biscuit for breakfast—is
ample.
Meat should be the main part of your dog’s diet. Fresh, canned, or frozen
beef or horsemeat are good choices. It is not necessary to cook the
meat, but it should be served at room temperature. With the meet, mix
a dog meal or kibbled biscuit soaked in hot water, soup, or milk. You
can get meal or biscuit in the supermarket, feed store, or pet shop.
Puppies need vitamins and minerals, and your veterinarian can give you
vitamin tablets that your dog will enjoy chewing.
Other foods you may safely give your dog are well-cooked chicken, lamb,
beef hearts, liver, and leafy vegetables. Hard biscuits of the right
size for the dog’s mouth and dog candy will be appreciated, too. A little
cooked rice or dry toast may help the dog in illness or when it is recovering.
A puppy loses its baby teeth when it is between 4 and 5 months. It
will be grateful for beef hide or rawhide strips to chew. You can buy
them at supermarkets and pet shops. These strips are also very helpful
in keeping the puppy from chewing your shoes and the furniture. Pet
shops and markets also carry special hard marrow bones that help in
teething and in keeping the new teeth clean and healthy.
Leave a bowl of water so that your dog can have a drink at any time—but
remove the supply of water at 5 or 6 PM when you housebreaking a puppy.
This will help the puppy go through the night without a mistake.
Peter Garant's pet
medicine site concentrates on pet care and dog
medicine.