Owning a puppy is a big responsibility! As a pet owner, it's your job to ensure that your pet is getting the food and care that he or she needs in order to be healthy and happy. At Jane Animal Hospital in Toronto, we help puppy owners keep their pets safe and healthy. The following tips tell you what you need to know about first year puppy care in Toronto.
Wellness Exams
To raise a healthy first year puppy, you'll need to bring your puppy in for wellness exams. During your puppy's wellness exams, we'll check your puppy's coat, skin, eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, feces, breathing and heart rate. This examination helps us to catch illnesses and medical conditions in their early ages, which helps us keep your pet healthy.
Your puppy's first wellness exam should happen when he or she is about 6 weeks old. During that appointment, we'll answer any questions you might have about caring for your pet and make suggestions that might help you take better care of your new puppy. We will also show you how to brush your puppy's teeth, talk to you about puppy dental care, and have a talk about vaccines and spaying and neutering.
Nutrition Basics
Puppies need to eat puppy food, not adult dog food. Puppy food is rich in the nutrients and calories that puppies need to grow and stay energetic throughout the day. When they're very young, puppies eat small portions several times per day. As your puppy gets older, you'll feed your dog in larger portions fewer times per day. By the time your dog is an adult, he or she will only eat about two portions of food in a day.
Spaying and Neutering
Bring your puppy before the 6-month mark so we can evaluate your pet’s health. Spaying and neutering prevents unwanted pet pregnancies and helps keep animals out of shelters. However, there are many other reasons to spay or neuter your puppy. Spaying or neutering your puppy can help control your puppy's behavior and prevent your puppy from wandering away from home. Spaying or neutering can also put your puppy at lower risk for certain diseases and chronic conditions. All in all, spaying or neutering your puppy can help him or her live a longer, healthier life.
Vaccines
Puppy vaccines are divided into two different categories: core and non-core. Core vaccines are designed for all puppies, while non-core vaccines are only administered to puppies who are at high risk for certain diseases. At Jane Animal Hospital, we help you determine whether or not your puppy needs any non-core vaccines. We'll also help you track when your puppy's booster shots are due, so you can be sure to keep your puppy's shots up to date. In the first year, puppies require a lot of care and attention. A full exam is also performed by the doctor to ensure your puppy is growing and developing properly.
Below is the recommended Puppy Vaccination Schedule:
- 8 wk - Full Examination + distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza & parvovirus
- 12 wk - Full Examination + distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus, bordetella & leptosporsis for high risk pets
- 16 wk - Full Examination + distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus & rabies (1yr vaccine) & leptosporsis for high risk pets
- 1 yr - Full Examination + distemper, adenovirus, parainfluenza, parvovirus & rabies (3yr vaccine) & leptosporsis for high risk pets
Dental Health
Your puppy will need his or her teeth brushed in order to maintain good oral hygiene. You can brush your puppy's teeth at home using a specialized toothbrush and toothpaste formulated for animals. Puppies need to be trained to accept regular tooth brushings. To make this routine easier for the both of you, we'll show you how to brush your puppy's teeth and check your puppy for good oral hygiene. Being able to recognize the signs of dental disease will help you care for your pet's teeth.
Exercise
Your puppy will need regular exercise. We recommend taking your puppy for a walk at least once per day. We also recommend setting aside time to play with your puppy. This will help keep your pet healthy, and will also help you bond with your puppy.
Contact Jane Animal Hospital In Toronto
Jane Animal Hospital is your Toronto source for puppy shots in the first year, spaying and neutering, and general puppy care. To maintain good puppy health in Toronto, contact Jane Animal Hospital for an appointment. Call us at 647-490-9060.
