Grooming Your Puppy​

​The most important thing about grooming your puppy when you first bring him home is to get him used to the process!

We bathe our puppies quite often in the beginning (once a week) , even if they are not dirty. We teach them to sit in the wash tub without hanging their heads over the edge – which develops into a large puddle of water around our feet and they learn to hold still and tolerate the bath. After being towel-dried we finish the job with the blow dryer. Young pups may be quite frightened of the intimidating sound and the rush of warm air – so we hold them in our laps to dry them until they are reassured about the whole process.

You should always use a puppy shampoo as people products have a different PH level and will dry out their skin. Take special care to thoroughly rinse the shampoo from the coat. Following up with a conditioner is recommended in order to prevent dry ithcy or flakey skin.

If your puppy is going to have long hair as an adult you should also get him used to being brushed and combed. A good time to start this is when he is exhausted from playing hard. As he is laying on the floor – sleeping, sit down next to him and gently begin brushing him. You should do this several times a week. Be sure to brush each area of his body. Pay close attention to those areas that are more likely to become matted – like under the front legs and behind the ears.

Another good hint is to get him used to his feet being handled. Keep in mind that your puppy will need regular nail trimmings. It is very difficult to clip a dogs nails if he does not want it done or if he is frightened. If you are sitting with your pup, take one paw at a time and firmly massage each toe. Continue rubbing while holding it as if he were being clipped. This should be done every day until he does not fight or pull away at all. This can be done even while you are watching TV.

Ear care is important. Some breeds are more likely to get ear infections than others. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian about the best way to clean ears. Most pet shops carry ear cleaning liquids that will explain how to use them in their instructions. It is advisable to clean your dogs ears at least once a month.

Some people do brush their dogs teeth, but this is not always realistic for all families. It is a very good idea to handle your puppies lips by gently pulling them open, feeling his teeth and just generally handling his mouth. This will help if you ever need to have his teeth cleaned. If his teeth get very bad he will need anesthesia for the cleaning. We routinely scale our own dog’s teeth if necessary. If you have your vet check his teeth at his yearly 
appointment, he will advise you on what cleaning may be necessary for the next year.

What Wormings will my puppy have when we take him home?​

​Even when using the very best parasite prevention techniques there are no guarantees of having a completely parasite-free puppy.

The following paragraph was taken from the “Dog Owner’s Home 
Veterinary Handbook” written by Delbert G. Carlson, D.V.M. and 
James M. Giffin, M.D. 

• “Deworming the dam before pregnancy does not prevent 
  roundworm infestation of unborn puppies; medications do not 
  work on encysted larvae. Accordingly, many puppies are born 
  with roundworms.”

The most common worms or protozoans found in puppies are:

• Roundworms
  Hookworms
  Coccidia
  Giardia

We do provide our puppies with a well-rounded parasite control program. You will be provided with records of what medications have been used on your puppy so that your vet will know exactly what has been done so far.

Even though your puppy has been treated properly it is always a good idea to assume he or she still has worms. You should take a small stool sample with you to your first and second vet appointment so they can check it to for you. A negative stool sample does NOT mean that your puppy is parasite free. It only means that the vet did not find any eggs in that particular sample, if the parasite were not shedding eggs or cysts at that time they will not be spotted during the exam. If after two stool checks your vet has found nothing, then you can feel confident that the puppy worms are no longer a concern.

Signs of parasite problems in a young puppy can include diarrhea, bloody stool, mucous in the stool, weight loss and poor coat condition. It would not be uncommon for a puppy to show no signs of parasites while in our care – and then all of the sudden begin to have loose stool when they arrive in their new home. Stress can bring this on. Your new puppy can also have loose stool for the first few days because of stress only – even in the absence of parasites. If after your puppy has adjusted to his new environment and his stool has been firm for several days – and he all of the sudden begins showing any loose stool or having blood in the stool, etc… you should take another stool sample to the vet for examination. When dealing with parasites loose stool can be intermittent or in other cases, it could be all the time. Your pup could also have loose stool if you are feeding him different food or with the addition of treats or food scraps that he is not used to.

After your vet is sure that the “Puppy Parasites” are officially eradicated you can help him to avoid getting worms in the future by keeping him on one of the monthly heartworm preventatives that also help deter other common worms.