How to Take Care of Puppies - Keeping Your Dog Healthy

1. Keep your puppy's environment safe. An unsafe or dirty environment can be harmful to his overall wellbeing and can cost you a lot of money in veterinary bills.
- Wash dirty bedding right away. House-train your puppy, and replace bedding ASAP if you find urine or feces.
- Get rid of harmful plants. There are many common plants that are toxic to puppies who like to chew. Keep Lily Of The Valley, Oleander, Azalea, Yew, Foxglove, Rhododendron, Rhubarb, and Shamrock far away from your puppy.

2. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise. Different breeds need varying amounts of exercise. (This is a factor you should consider when choosing a puppy). Take your puppy into the yard or garden on leash after meals to explore and get a little exercise. Begin taking him on short walks outside the yard when your veterinarian says it is safe. It is normal for puppies to have short bursts of energy followed by long naps.
- While your puppy's body is still developing, avoid rough play and strenuous exercise. Save long (over one mile) runs until he's at least 9 months old.
- Give your puppy about an hour of walk-time a day, broken into 2 to 4 walks. Allow him to interact with other (friendly) dogs he meets. (Do this only once your puppy has finished his vaccination series).

3. Socialize your puppy. The prime socialization period for puppies is from 7-16 weeks of age. You should strongly consider puppy preschool to acclimate him to other dogs before that period runs out.[5] Puppy preschools provide safe, supervised play for puppies still finishing their vaccination series. Most puppies have completed their Distemper/Parvo series of vaccines by the age of 16 weeks.

4. Choose a veterinarian if you don’t already have one.[6] Ask your friends for veterinarian recommendations. Once you have a few options, visit each clinic to see which one you like best. Choose a clinic that is friendly, well managed, and smells clean. Ask questions to the vet and the staff—they should always answer to the best of their ability. Be sure you feel comfortable with whichever vet you choose.

5. Vaccinate your puppy. When he's 6-9 weeks old, take him to the vet to begin his vaccination series. Talk to the vet about distemper, parainfluenza, canine hepatitis, and parvovirus. He or she may have suggestions for other important vaccines as well, depending on the risks of your particular dog and your specific area.
- Make sure to talk about deworming medication during your first vet visit. The veterinarian may recommend deworming for routine parasites like roundworms right away. Or, he or she may want to get a stool sample for fecal analysis to verify parasites before prescribing medication.
- Deworming is a good idea not only for your puppy's health, but also for your own. Many of the parasites that infect your puppy can be passed to humans and cause health problems in your family.

6. Return for a rabies vaccination. After your first visit, return to the vet for a rabies vaccination when your puppy is 12 to 16 weeks old. Ask your veterinarian about the recommended (and legally required) rabies vaccination protocol for your area.

7. Get your puppy spayed or neutered. Talk to your veterinarian for recommendations about the timing of of the surgery. Vets usually recommend waiting until after the vaccines, but there may be other considerations.
- For instance, spay procedures are more complex and expensive for larger breeds. The vet may recommend spaying before she reaches 50 or 60 pounds if your dog is particularly large.
- Spay female dogs before their first heat cycle. This reduces the risk of pyometra, ovarian cancer, and mammary tumors.[7]

8. Make vet trips fun. Bring treats and toys to vet appointments to teach your puppy to enjoy (or at least tolerate) the experience. Before his first checkup, introduce your puppy to having his feet, tail and face touched. That way, it won't be so strange for him when the vet inspects him.

9. Watch for health problems.Keep an eye on your puppy to catch any problems early. The eyes should be bright, and the eyes and nostrils should be free of discharge. The puppy's coat should be clean and shiny; watch out for matting or thinning. Check your pup for bumps, inflammation, or rashes on the skin, as well as signs of diarrhea around the tail.