HOW TO CARE FOR YOUR NEW PUPPY INSTRUCTION MANUAL

puppy careWhen you get your new puppy home, he/she should be at least 12 weeks old. Your puppy may be even older – depending of the size and the general health of the puppy. Once in your home, you will need to give them access to food at all time. A new puppy should always have dry food available to them (I feed  Bil Jac puppy and Royal Canin , or Iams Holistic puppy formula). I prefer the Bil Jac puppy at first because it is very easy to make a nice ‘wet mixture” with quickly. The Bil Jac pellets will crumble in your hand easily and the puppies love them. I will also feed them a wet mixture at least once a day.  If the puppy is very tiny, I will feed two wet mixtures a day. I have also found the Little Caeser Puppy can food has become a favorite of my puppies and my adults who are either nursing or pregnant. This is very easy to find, you can locate Little Caesar’s at your local grocery store or Walmart. Little Ceasar’s can also be mixed in with your puppy’s dry food to get them to eat. Mix ½ can to ¼ cup of dry kibble. The puppy will scarf this right up.

If you can not find any of these kibble, just make sure that the kibble you get will provide a fully nutritious and well balanced diet for your new puppy. The kibble size should be small  enough for the puppy to eat. Also make sure that the brand you plan on feeding has not been included in the widespread pet food recall. The most current list of foods that have been recalled can be found here.Typically, the affected food typically is no longer available on the pet store shelves, but it never hurts to double check.

Just remember that leaving dry food down at all times will help keep your dog from overeating. If you change your puppy’s brand of food, you will need to do so slowly. Continue to use the same kibble and gradually make the change by mixing the new kibble with the old kibble. This will prevent any digestive issues that may arise (loose stool). Do not give your puppy large chunks of food as this can cause choking. No table scraps, this could make your puppy a picky eater. Do not give them milk, this can cause diarrhea. Do not feed raw egg whites, grapes or chocolate.

HYPOGLYCEMIA

Small breed puppies are very active and they need to be monitored closely to insure that they are getting enough to drink and eat and plenty of rest.

Young toy breed puppies can develop a low blood sugar condition due to overexcitement, overexertion, and/or injury and can very, very quickly become unconscious and even die without immediate treatment. If your young puppy misses a meal, offer a tasty meal
quickly. If the puppy does not eat because he/she is stressed by too much excitement, handling, or new experiences, it may result in a hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) attack. Prevention and treatment is the key.

TREATMENT: IMMEDIATELY give the puppy a small amount of honey, jam, or corn syrup and place this on the roof the of the puppy’s mouth. A high calorie supplement such as nutra-Cal or Nutra Stat can also be given in as a preventative or in the early stages of hypoglycemia. In addition, you can give some Pedialite into the side of the puppy’s mouth by syringe very slowly. Once they seem to be recovering in response to the treatment of honey or syrup, you can then give them a mixture of soft food 2tbs Gerber Baby Rice Cereal, 2tsp Gerber Strained Chicken Meat, 1 tsp of corn syrup, add water to make it pudding consistency. Fill a large syringe or medicine dropper with the mixture and give it to the puppy by squeezing the mixture either on the tongue or between the cheek and gum. Give the puppy a chance to swallow and then give them more. Give approximately 12 cc and repeat every 4 hours. This will need to be done until they feel better and start to eat on their own.

If the puppy has reached advanced stages of Hypoglycemia and has gone into the staggering state, it is ABSOLUTELY necessary to take the puppy to the veterinarian, even after it has been given sugar and has recovered. The reason for this is that once a puppy has had a serious drop in blood sugar, it can occur again with even less stress and the veterinarian can help prevent this. Be very vigilant while the puppy is still young (up to 6 months of age, depending upon their size)!!!!

EARLY SIGNS OF HYPOGLYCEMIA

The early signs of hypoglycemia: Lethargy, sleepiness, and/or a dazed look. Then, as it progresses, a staggering or “drunken” gait, drooling, collapse and convulsions. If it is not treated, it continues into coma and ultimately death.

· You must regulate the amount of activity your puppy gets. Young, small breed puppies tire very easily and quickly, especially if they are allowed to romp freely about the house or are handled excessively. They need their rest just like an infant.

· A healthy puppy’s temperature is normally 100-102 degrees. Should a puppy exhibit signs of illness such as vomiting, diarrhea, runny eyes or nose, excessive panting or whining, dizziness, lethargy, etc. take them to the veterinarian. DO NOT WAIT!!!! It does not take long for a puppy to become dehydrated.

· Check daily for stuck stools as this can cause blockage making the puppy unable to eliminate. Keep the hair trimmed around the rectum to help this situation. This can cause serious problems and be very painful for the puppy.

· Take them to the veterinarian until they have received the complete series of puppy shots. Do not let the veterinarian give more than one shot per visit. These toy dogs are given the same amount of serum as the large breeds and too much at once can cause problems. It is important for their health that they have the proper protection. DO NOT put your puppy on the ground in public areas until they have received their full series of puppy shots

The four (4) most important factors in raising your puppy are:

· IT MUST EAT

· IT MUST REST

· IT MUST BE KEPT WARM & DRY

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