There’s hardly anything more exciting than welcoming home a new adorable pup. However, puppies require much more love and care than most first-time pet parents assume.
You’ll need to prepare your home by puppy-proofing, invest in a bed, blankets, and some chew toys, and visit the vet immediately.
To help you keep up with your puppy’s healthcare needs, we’ve rounded up the five fundamental ways you must care for your new puppy.
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Purchase Pet Insurance
Pet insurance is a unique kind of insurance tailored specifically for pet parents. This insurance policy will help you spend less on vet expenses.
But beyond routine vet checkups, it will also help cover the costs of pricey surgeries like neutering. Most policies also cover accidental injury and illness and offer various valuable benefits like emergency pet sitting fees and much more.
Prioritize Essential Vaccines
Puppies need a variety of essential vaccines in their first year of life. Follow-up vaccinations are also crucial. The essential vaccines include core vaccinations and rabies vaccinations, and optional vaccines include bordetella, coronavirus, leptospirosis, and Lyme disease. Your trusted vet will keep you in the loop with a vaccine schedule.
Deworm Your Pup Regularly
Your vet will also recommend that you deworm your puppy at four weeks and again at eight weeks. It’s essential to opt for deworming treatment recommended by your vet; store-bought pet dewormers are not always effective or suitable.
It’s also essential to deworm your pet every six months to ensure they are always worm free. Because worms in puppies can transfer to humans, neglecting the deworming process can see your whole family enduring the symptoms of worms.
Opt For Nutritious Puppy Food
The type of pet food you opt for is also crucial for your puppy’s health and well-being. Unfortunately, all pet foods are not made the same, and some can cause malnutrition and other concerning health issues like bladder infections and more.
Instead of reaching for the first pet food brand that you pass in the grocery store, speak to your vet about suitable pet food for your puppy. Your vet will recommend a nutritious pet food ideal for your dog’s age and breed.
Prioritize Play And Exercise
Lastly, it’s also vital to ensure your puppy gets enough love through play and routine exercise. Play with your puppy outside and offer a few toys to keep them stimulated and out of trouble. If you decide to neglect play, you’ll end up frustrated with an overactive puppy that’s causing destruction at every opportunity.
Daily walks are typically enough exercise for a young pup, but as your pet ages, you might need to consider two to three walks per day, depending on your dog’s breed and energy levels.
It’s also crucial to groom your puppy regularly. Routine grooming will help keep their skin and coat healthy while also giving you the opportunity to look for staph skin infections, fleas, and other health concerns.
That said, if you’re battling to train your new puppy, it’s wise to opt for professional dog training sessions. During these sessions, a trainer will teach you how to manage your pet during their curious puppy phase.