Bringing up puppies is a challenging period in the life of pet owners. A right scientific approach in terms of feeding, routine care, management coupled with love and affection can certainly
help in successful raising of healthy pets. Pet care begins right when the young one is in the mother’s womb. Pups born to healthy mothers will have optimum birth weight and resistance against infections. Hence, ensure from the breeder that the mother was properly vaccinated, dewormed prior to breeding and was well fed during pregnancy. This aspect becomes a little more important when one is planning to buy pups of exotic breeds. However those planning to adopt our mongrels/stray puppies need not worry. The disease management costs are negligible and mongrel pups are very hardy and thriftier than exotic breeds. Even the weakest ones will make it under proper care!
Bringing home: Pups should be ideally weaned and brought home at the age of 2 months. By the time they are fully capable of staying away from the mother. Also they have optimum resistance to fight infections, having acquired it from the mother’s milk during this period.
Vaccination: Always confirm from the breeder whether the pups have received the multiple diseases vaccine against diseases like Parvo Virus infection and Canine Distemper. This vaccine is given at the age of 6-8 weeks. Also the pups should be vaccinated at the age of three months against rabies. Both multiple and anti rabies vaccines require a booster after one month. Proper veterinary guidance can be sought for planning of a vaccination schedule and it is always better to maintain a vaccination card. The vaccination needs to be repeated annually and a ‘better late than never’ approach is in the best interest of pet and the family.
Deworming: It is essential to give broad spectrum medicines against worms every month up to three months age to save the pets from parasitic burden and achieve optimum growth rate. Later on, they should be dewormed every three months. Dosage is based on body weight and deworming should be carried out only after a veterinary prescription.
Diet: Pups need to be fed a well balanced diet in small amounts at short intervals. They should be fed at least five times a day up to 6 months of age. Either a vegetarian or non vegetarian diet regimen can be followed. Diet can include boneless meat, eggs, finely chopped cooked and raw vegetables like carrots, green peas, potatoes, chappatis, slightly over boiled soft rice, oatmeal, boiled soya flakes and chunks. Fatty portions of meat and spices are best avoided. If the diet regimen happens to be vegetarian, additional calcium and vitamin supplements can be started to prevent rickets and stunted growth.
Housebreaking: This habit can be gradually inculcated by initially taking out the pets at least four times in a day after meals. They learn in a month to alert you whenever they want to go out. Even if the pet is taking time to learn and relieves at home, he should never be punished, scolded or yelled at. Instead, a firm voice will suffice in making him get accustomed to this norm.
Grooming: Lustrous hair coat and skin are the signs of good health. Hair coat should be regularly combed. This helps in maintaining proper blood circulation to the skin and prevents infestation with lice and ticks. Many people have the misconception that the pets should be given bath everyday. It is however recommended that the pets should be bathed with pet shampoos once in a month in warm climate areas. Bathing everyday can lead to washing off of natural skin oils and predisposes the pets to dermatitis. Needless to say, one need not stick to this rule if the pet comes home dirty as in rainy season or starts smelling bad. Detergents and human soaps should never be used. If at all, the pet’s superficial hair coat gets slightly dirty, give a sponge bath. Avoid direct water showers on the head and eyes because it can make the pet phobic about undergoing baths in future. Also, care should be taken that the water should not get into the ears. After the bath, the pet should be dried completely. In winters, they can be exposed to sun for quick drying of the hair coat.
Pica: It is the chewing of furniture, clothes, shoes and other inanimate objects. It is an important sign of worm load, mineral deficiency and anxiety. If anxiety is the case, the pets should be socialized, given pet toys to play with along with a proper exercise schedule. Pet psychologists can be consulted in problem cases. Also it is recommended not to leash the pets. Freedom and space definitely helps in evading anxiety and reduce aggression. Other commands can be taught using the reward approach.
It is indeed a good idea to follow all these simple guidelines and the puppy will eventually grow up as a healthy, happy and wonderful companion!
