How will proper puppy care impact the life of my dog?
That is a very good question. The first year of your puppy's life is most important in establishing a good immune system against infectious diseases. It's also a time where we work heavily on training and socialization for your puppy to make sure that he is a great addition to your home.
Lori Mathews, DVM
Green Valley Veterinary Care
How soon should I bring my puppy in to see a veterinarian for their first exam?
If you're planning on adopting or purchasing a dog or puppy, you can let us know a couple of weeks in advance so we can get you scheduled appropriately. If you are purchasing or adopting a puppy, we would want to see that dog within your first week of ownership just so we can do a physical exam and make sure that your new puppy is healthy.
What are the most common health problems in puppies?
Most common health problems in puppies include intestinal parasites, which we routinely deworm for at the first couple of puppy visits to get ahead of it in case it is a problem. Infectious diseases are also common, especially if they do not have the appropriate shots.
What are some of the signs and symptoms of illness in your puppy?
Lack of energy is a significant sign. Puppies are either running at 20 miles an hour or sleeping. If they are just sleeping all the time, not wanting to interact, not wanting to go outside, or not wanting to play, it could be a red flag. Other signs of illness include vomiting, diarrhea, nasal discharge, or nose boogers. These would all be reasons to give us a call.
When should I start training my puppy?
Day one. During your puppy visits, we spend a half hour with you each time to talk about training at home. We want our patients to be the best-behaved patients for their owners so everyone has a good life together. A good book resource is "A Perfect Puppy in Seven Days" by Dr. Sophia Yin.
If you have any other questions, please give us a call at (937) 358-8142. You can also email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as we are able. Don't forget to follow us on social media: Facebook and Instagram