Wellness Tips for Puppy Parents

There are roughly 69 million American households with a dog, according to a recent survey by the Human Society. In celebration of National Puppy Day on March 23, we’re covering a few basic puppy wellness tips to consider for your new or recently adopted puppies.

Is it Puffy-Proof?

Many pet owners have heard the term “puppy-proof” before but what does it mean? Much like the process of “baby-proofing”, creating a puppy-safe space starts with taking a hard look at the easily accessible areas in your home and making small changes to prevent possible mishaps.

Remember, puppies are like babies–they’ll put anything in their mouth. Make sure cupboards and cabinets that contain potential toxins are secured.
Use baby gates to keep pets out of potentially harmful rooms, or to restrict their access to stairs. Keeping your puppy’s world “small” during their training phase is okay. This ensures you can keep an eye on them while they are being housebroken–then they can have more freedom.
Keep valuables, clothes, medications, batteries, cleaning supplies, cleaning supplies, purses, etc. far out of reach of your puppy.
Don’t leave electronics or cords around, puppies chew!
Secure your trash and keep it out of sight to prevent any messy adventures.
Puppy proofing includes your yard. Make sure you’ve got anything potentially dangerous or toxic put away.
Cover floors with washable area rugs, this will mitigate any frustrations with accidents–they do happen!

Create a special space for your new puppy so they’ve got an area where they can learn how to live in your home. Special beds, blankets, and toys can help your new pet feel welcome and comfortable.

Enrichment–Done Two Ways

What’s one of the best parts of adopting a puppy? You get an exercise partner! Puppies need plenty of physical activity, but did you know they need mental stimulation too? Keep your pet happy and healthy by setting aside an hour for daily walks and play time.

Keeping your pet engaged early-on can also help with their long-term mental and emotional wellbeing! House training and basic socialization with other dogs and people are valuable skills every pet should learn. Not sure where to start? Ask us if puppy school could be right for your new addition.

Starting off with a Health Diet

Did you know there’s a feeding timeline for your puppy’s first year? That’s right, just like babies there’s a feeding transition that takes place during your pet’s first year of life. In their first few weeks of life, puppies require a special diet to meet their nutritional needs. The type of formula, number of feedings and portion size will vary based upon the breed and size of your pet.

When selecting puppy food it’s important to look for food that is made with hight quality ingredients to ensure your new pet maintains a balanced diet full of healthy meats and vegetables. For recommendations or puppy feeding advice, reach out to the Advanced Veterinary Care of Olathe team for a diet plan, wellness exam, and health recommendation!

Time to book a wellness check for your puppy?

Need more pet care advice for your new furry addition to the family? Our team at Advanced Veterinary Care of Olathe is ready to help. Book an appointment and we’ll answer all your new puppy questions. Schedule your appointment today.

Sources

https://www.cityvet.com/the-ultimate-dog-and-puppy-wellness-guide/

https://www.thesprucepets.com/how-to-care-for-puppies-1117475

https://wildearth.com/blogs/news/guide-to-pet-health-and-wellness

https://worldanimalfoundation.org/advocate/dog-statistics/

https://humanepro.org/page/pets-by-the-numbers

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/puppy-feeding-fundamentals/