new dog or puppy

CARING FOR YOUR NEW DOG OR PUPPY

Congratulations on the addition of your new dog or puppy!

SUPPLIES

  • Premium quality dog food and treats for the right breed and size
  • Food and water bowls – ceramic and metal bowls clean up better
  • Safe toys – make sure there’s no lead paint or breakable parts
  • Dog brush and comb
  • Dog shampoo
  • Pooper scooper and biodegradable poop bags
  • Collar with license and ID tag
  • Leash
  • Dog nail clippers
  • Carrier or crate
  • Dog bed
  • Dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste
  • Outdoor dog house
  • Make sure you have shaded areas outdoors

HEALTH

  • When you get your dog, take it to a veterinarian for a preventive care exam
  • Your dog should see a veterinarian at least once a year and when you think it might be sick
  • Ask your veterinarian for a dog food recommendation of what you should be feeding given your dog’s lifestyle and life stage
  • Ask your veterinarian for a regular heartworm preventive medication
  • Ask your veterinarian to microchip your dog so that your dog has a better chance of making back home if it gets lost
  • If your dog seems to be acting strangely, call your veterinarian right away
  • Never give your dog medicine unless it’s recommended by a veterinarian. Keep all poisons, like rat poison, away from your pet. If you think your pet has been poisoned, call your veterinarian.
  • To prevent health problems, females should be spayed and males should be neutered 6 months of age – dogs that are spayed/neutered don’t run away or fight as much

WHAT TO FEED YOUR PUPPY OR DOG

  • Adult dogs should eat premium-quality dry food. If you want, you can mix the dry food with water, low-salt broth, or canned food
  • Dogs can eat fruits and vegetables but never more than 10% of their daily diet. See below for a list of foods that shouldn’t be given to dogs.
  • Puppies need a high-quality puppy food
  • Avoid “people food” for all dogs and puppies
  • Dogs and puppies need clean, fresh water available at all times

WHEN TO FEED

  • Puppies 8 to 12 weeks old: 3 meals a day
  • Puppies 3 to 6 months old: 2 meals a day
  • Puppies 6 months to 1 year: 2 meals a day
  • Dogs, 1 year or older: 2 meals a day
  • Large dogs: may need 3 meals a day

DANGERS! NEVER GIVE YOUR DOG...

  • Anything harder than your pet”s teeth. This includes cow bones, nylon bones, and real bones. These can break a dog’s teeth.
  • House plants
  • T-shirts or knotted socks. If accidentally chewed apart and ingested, they can become “foreign bodies,” causing your pet to become very ill.
  • Alcohol
  • Chocolate
  • Coffee
  • Grapes and raisins
  • Moldy or spoiled food
  • Onions, garlic, or chives
  • Poultry bones
  • Salty foods or salt
  • Tomato leaves or stems
  • Unripe fruit
  • Yeast dough
  • Nuts

EXERCISE

  • Different dogs need different amounts of exercise. Some dogs need a lot. Some dogs get hurt if they exercise too much. Ask one of our Doctors what’s best for your pet.
  • When walking your pet, be careful of ice or snow, deicer salt, or hot pavement
  • A trained dog is a happy dog! Contact your local humane society or veterinarian to find a training class, which is a good way to exercise and socialize your dog while also providing mental stimulation!