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Puppy Health Care
All puppies need great deal of care and attention during their puppyhood. To avoid potential health problems, take your puppy to a vet for a complete examination.
Puppies need be immunized against illnesses such as parvovirus, rabies, and checked for heartworms and other ailments.
Vaccination schedule:
Vaccination schedules are designed on the basis of your puppy's age, breed, and environmental exposures. Vaccinations are usually given at 3 week intervals from 6 to 16 weeks of age. At 15 to 16 weeks of age, the puppy receives its first rabies vaccination.
In fact, taking your puppy to "get its shots" on a regular basis is one of the easiest way to protect your pet's health, because it also ensures that your veterinarian has the chance to examine and detect any problem before it becomes serious.
Various harmful diseases:-
- Puppies should be checked for intestinal parasites (parvovirus), fleas, distemper (canine plague) and heartworms and appropriate treatment or preventatives administered. Vaccines are available against all these diseases.
- Ticks attached to your pup’s body may transmit diseases causing serious health problems like Lyme disease. This can lead to joint damage, heart complications, and kidney problems.
Puppy skin disorder:
- Juvenile cellulitis:- Pups begin to have noticeable skin trouble at about five weeks of age. The lymph nodes under the jaw become extremely swollen and painful and may actually drain to the skin surface. Almost all pups recover but permanent scarring, lack of hair production and pigment changes will persist.
- Scabies mites:- This patchy and contagious dermatitis is usually noted along the belly, at elbows and around the face. Symptoms include patches of thin hair coat, dry scabs, sores from self-inflicted scratching, and crusts. Other than medication, give your pup a high protein meat based diet.
- Dental care:- Removing plaque regularly from your pup’s teeth is important. Ask your veterinarian about the procedure for brushing your pooh’s teeth. You may also may feed specially formulated dietary foods that help reduce the accumulation of plaque and tartar on teeth when your pet eats. Regular dental check-ups are essential to prevent gum disease.
Here are some aspects that you, the puppy's owner should check out-.
Puppy's nose: As long as the nose is soft, wet and appears normal, nothing to worry. However if it’s nose is dry, flaky or it has a reddish appearance then take it for an examination.
Puppy’s foot: Check well in between the puppy's toes to make sure there are not any cuts or open wounds or swollen areas. If you find painful lesions, it is important that you go to the vet.
If your puppy has a prolonged cold / flu:- A puppy's persistent cold can develop into complications like pneumonia, bronchitis or asthma. If it is continuously licking and cleaning its nose with its tongue, be alarmed. Other symptoms include fast breathing, high body temperature; lose of appetite and excessive nasal secretion. Consult your puppy's vet immediately.