What to Do When You Get a Puppy

When you bring home a dog you of course know you will have to take care of its basic needs, such as food, water, play and potty. However, you also want to be sure you do everything that you can to keep your pet healthy and happy for as many years as possible. This article will educate you on other steps you want to take to care for your puppy in the best way possible.

Don't take a puppy outside

You want to keep your puppy inside until it has had all of its shots. When you take it in your yard to go to the bathroom, make sure you take it to an area that other wandering dogs don't go to so there won't be a chance of your puppy catching something from a dog that's recently come into your yard. You should also keep your puppy away from your shoes so they don't pick up any germs from the bottoms of the shoes.

Take your puppy in for all their exams and vaccinations

You want to take your puppy in to see the veterinarian as soon as you can get them in. The vet will give them a complete exam to make sure there are no health concerns. They will also worm them and start them on their vaccinations. Generally, puppies need to come in three times until their series of vaccinations are complete. You will also want to wait the recommended amount of time given by the vet before taking the puppy out in public after getting their last set of vaccinations.

You'll also want to follow the vet's recommendations regarding when to bring the puppy back in for its rabies shots. You will be given a tag when they get their rabies shot that you can show to the local animal licensing agency as proof of rabies vac.

Get your dog spayed or neutered

If you have a purebred dog that comes with papers and which you plan on possibly showing or breeding, then you can skip this advice. However, if you have just a regular 'ol puppy that you plan on keeping as a pet only, then you should seriously consider having them fixed. This will help to prevent unwanted litters in the future. It can also help you to keep your dog from running off looking for a mate and it can even help with some behavior issues like marking their territory around the inside of your house or aggressive behavior with other dogs of their same gender.

For more information, contact a business such as Community Animal Hospital.