Puppy at home! Care and first questions

The puppy should be with its mother for at least two months. This is important not only because the mother passes immunity through breastfeeding but also plays a very important role in educating the puppy.

How is the adaptation?

Upon arriving home, the environment should be as calm as possible. However, we must pay attention because it is a helpless animal seeking help, which will demand our presence through crying. Nevertheless, they should gradually get used to solitude, and for this, we can help by placing a stuffed toy in their bed so they think it’s their siblings or leave on a sound source so they don’t feel alone. Ideally, the dog should adapt to the house for about 5 days before taking it to the vet. You should not rush to take your puppy outside; it should be at least 10 days after the second vaccine, and you should have your veterinarian’s approval. Just like walks, baths usually come after the second vaccine. And it’s important, at all stages of the animal’s life, to use specific products for dogs.

What are the most common problems?

The most frequent problems we may encounter are gastroenteritis (diarrhea and/or vomiting). Whenever your puppy goes through this process, it’s important to consult the veterinarian and provide a sample in a sterile container. Similarly, respiratory issues are common, especially in winter. However, we should be vigilant and consult the veterinarian for any changes or problems we notice, as it’s better to prevent problems than to seek help when the animal is already unwell.

What items are necessary?

Bed – it should be suitable for their size and adjustable as they grow. It’s also important that it’s easily accessible and easy to clean.

Water and food bowls – they should be appropriate for their size, and if they are made of stainless steel, it’s better to prevent the accumulation of bacteria and make cleaning easier.

Leash and collar – they should be suitable for their size and needs.

Puppy pads – they are necessary for the puppy to relieve themselves indoors until they have the necessary vaccines to do so outside.

Toys – they are important for the proper development of teeth and gums and for training them not to chew on inappropriate objects like furniture. It’s important that these toys are suitable for the dog’s size and not easily breakable to prevent the dog from swallowing them, either in whole or in part.

Food – it’s extremely important that it is tailored for puppies, as they need it to meet all their nutritional needs. When choosing dog food, the size of the breed is important to ensure that the kibble size is appropriate for the size of the mouth. At Erapetfood, we offer a wide variety of functional ingredient-based dog foods that adapt to your puppy’s needs.

You can also watch our video on the CyP Mascotas YouTube channel.