Congratulations on your new(ish) puppy! Your little bundle of fur has a lot to do during her first year. She has to get bigger, stronger and more coordinated. Her puppy teeth will fall out to be replaced by big, white adult teeth. There are many rules to learn and people to meet. No wonder she seems so busy.

Nutrition

The first step is to start your puppy with good nutrition. Puppy diets are formulated to help your pup grow to his full potential more easily than adult formulas allow. A wide variety of diets are available. The best is a good quality diet that you can offer consistently and that your puppy grows well on.

Examinations and Vaccinations

Think of your puppy as growing from a newborn to an eighteen or twenty year old adult during her first year. That is very rapid development! It’s important to examine her frequently during her rapid growth phase from two to four months to detect if any problems are occurring.

Vaccinations help protect our pets from several infectious diseases. They need to be administered to an immune system that is ready to respond. This can vary from puppy to puppy. Frequent immunization during the rapid growth phase ensures proper introduction of vaccine to the immune system.

Parasites

There are many creatures that act as parasites for our pets. Young puppies frequently have a more difficult time resisting them and can suffer dramatically from their effects. It is important to start parasite control early and continue for the life of your dog

Intestinal worms are often passed from the dam to the pups while nursing. They can become feeding adults in the intestine in as little as four weeks. In addition to causing blood loss, they can make your puppy more susceptible to intestinal viruses. Round worms and hookworms can even infest people in some circumstances.

Heartworms are devastating parasites that is transmitted by mosquitoes. All dogs of all ages are susceptible. Monthly heartworm prevention started early can protect your puppy.

Fleas and ticks are more than just nuisances. A very severe case of fleas can cause life threatening anemia. Ticks can carry very severe diseases. We think of these parasites as a warm weather problem but our increasingly mild winters have allowed even ticks to feed in January and February.

Dental Care

Right now your puppy has some of the sharpest teeth in the universe. Why? They just do. Although sharp they are not very strong. Puppy canine teeth or fangs can be broken by aggressive games of tug of war. Be gentle. If a tooth is broken it should be examined as soon as possible. It may require extraction to prevent infection that might damage the permanent tooth bud.

Now is a great time to teach you puppy to allow handling of his mouth and toothbrushing. Some pups take to it right away but many require patience and a gradual build up to brushing.

Behavior

Puppies learn a lot as they grow. Some of what they learn we like and some we don’t. Start as you mean to continue with the house rules and reward every desired behavior. Remember that your puppy will grow and what is cute now may not be so cute later. Puppy obedience classes and proper socialization can get your litttle guy off to a good start and ensure a happy relationship.

Spaying and Neutering

There are millions of unwanted pets in the U.S. and many of them are destroyed every year. Make sure your pet doesn’t contribute to the problem. Keep in mind that many pets are surrendered to shelters and animal control facilities for behavioral problems. Early training can help minimize those surrenders.

Neutering males assures they can’t sire unwanted litters. It also reduces the tendency for aggression with other dogs (and with other dogs toward yours!) and can protect against testicular cancer and benign prostatic enlargement.

Spaying females prevents unwanted pregnancies and the changes in behavior and bleeding that come with heat cycles. Early spaying can dramatically reduce the risk of mammary cancer. It also eliminates uterine tumors and infections.

It is true that neutered males and females can gain weight more easily. They aren’t actively pursuing the opposite sex! Paying attention to exercise, body weight and feeding can keep them at a lean, healthy weight