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!