Often well-meaning parents underestimate puppy challenges

New puppies are a joy in every household. Just like new human babies, they require special consideration in care, feeding and medical attention.

While it is an idyllic thought to get a new puppy for a small toddler so that they may “grow up together,” it is often hard on one or both. Small toddlers have no concept of the pain that they may inflict on a puppy while playing. This may cause permanent injury to the puppy. Or, injury to the child may occur should the puppy bite back in defense.

Puppies do require a diet different than that of adult dogs. Since puppies need more protein, calcium and other nutrients than adult dogs, a commercial diet designed for the young growing dog is the best answer. Table scraps only encourage a puppy to neglect his dog food and can often bring on gastric upsets. The weaned puppy should not be given milk (even mixed with dog food) since it can cause real problems. Puppies should be fed at least twice a day because they burn up food quickly.

Puppies are very susceptible to both internal and external parasites. A large number of puppies are infested with roundworms.  These intestinal worms will rob the puppy of nutrition and may frequently be a cause of diarrhea, weight loss and ill health. Thus, all puppies need to be checked or treated for roundworms and other intestinal worms as well as the micro-parasites coccidia.  

Since all of these may cause signs in the animal that are similar to the signs in many infectious diseases, puppies should be given periodic medical check-ups.

Check-ups are frequently done as the puppies are given their series of vaccinations to prevent common canine diseases.  These are usually started at about six to nine weeks of age and are continued at three- to four-week intervals until the puppies are 13- to 16- weeks-old.  

Since puppies are born with very limited immunity to disease, vaccinations can be truly lifesaving. Check-ups at vaccination times may also reveal external parasites such as fleas or ticks.

Nutrition, parasite control and disease prevention are all-important considerations in the rearing of a puppy.

(Dr. Fred Conkel is veterinarian of Westgate Animal Clinic.)