|
|
Health, Vet care,
Nutrition and Training
for your puppy
|
We feel the following information to be
important to anyone purchasing a puppy.
If you desire, you may print the
following information for reference.
We hope puppyhood for you and your
puppy is full of all that's magical
about puppies!
The length of your dog's life
will be influenced by these
FIVE factors:
Genetics, the breeder,
Nutrition, Veterinary Care
and You.
|
You have a great deal of influence on
the length and quality of your new puppy's
life in many ways.
Provide your puppy excellent nutrition,
veterinary care, training, and lots of
love combined with gentle, firm, consistent
commands and praise.
Your puppy will grow up to be a healthy,
happy, loving and faithful companion.
Knowing a few basic facts about puppy
behavior, training and care will help
you establish a great relationship.
INTRODUCING PUPPY TO HOME AND FAMILY
Your puppy will look to you for direction,
comfort and protection.
BE PATIENT.
TALK CALMLY and OFTEN to your puppy.
Puppies may not know our vocabulary
but they do repond to our voice.
EVERYTHING IS NEW TO YOUR PUPPY.
Introduce your puppy to it's area.
Place puppy crate close to family.
Place toys in crate, both those from
puppy's first home and new ones from
you.
We recommend at night placing crate
where you sleep to help keep puppy
from feeling abandoned.
Some people will say not to move the
crate once you have it set up,
GoldRocks does not agree.
You do not live in one room and
your puppy should be able to have
access to family during the day and
evening without feeling abandoned at
night.
YOUR PUPPY MAY BE "HOMESICK" AND MISS MOM, LITTERMATES
AND EVERYONE PUPPY HAS KNOWN.
Puppies love human companionship,
your puppy needs reassurance and
love when it feels homesick which
will quickly reduce the number of
times this happens.
Be SURE to show all family members the
proper way to pick up and hold your puppy.
Place one hand under the puppy's hindquarters
and the other under it's chest.
NEVER pick up a puppy by the legs or by
the scruff of the neck.
Introduce your puppy to your children
in a quiet loving manner.
Make sure children know not to pull ears,
or tail, tease puppy, poke, squeeze or jump
at the puppy.
Explain to your children, that to your puppy,
they are very big.
Teach them to play with puppy by getting
down on the floor at puppy's level.
NEVER give the responsibility of training
to a child.
Training should be supervised to be sure that your
responsibilities to your puppy are met.
After taking puppy outside and knowing
puppy has relieved itself, is a good time to let puppy explore
everyone and say hello. Let the puppy
initiate play!
USE ONE DOOR ONLY TO TAKE PUPPY OUTSIDE
UNTIL PUPPY IS OLDER.
WALK PUPPY TO ONE SPOT TO RELIEVE ITSELF.
CONSISTANCY SHOULD PRODUCE GOOD RESULTS.
INTRODUCING PUPPY TO BABY
To a puppy, a baby is different
than a child or an adult.
A baby does not smell the same, move the
same way or sound the same way.
Let the puppy sniff near the baby,
while talking calmly to your puppy.
PROPER NUTRITION
GOLDROCKS feeds Flint River Ranch,
Royal Canin, Canidae, Natural Balance,
and Premium Edge.
Puppies have four brands of higher
quality foods mixed together which has
worked well when transitioning them to
their new homes.
We provide food with each puppy and recommend
for the first week, their diet remain the
same. You may purchase your
choice of food and mix the remaining food
the puppy has been on with the new food.
Our Dogs And Puppies Also Get Vitamins.
Our Dogs Receive The Following :
GLUCOSAMINE & CHONDROITIN, for Healthy joint function. MSM AND CALCIUM for strong bones
and teeth.
VITAMIN E , FISH OIL , FOLIC ACID ,
AND A MULTI-VITAMIN .
Our Puppies receive puppy formula,
puppy cereal and puppy food
with multi vitamins when being
weaned from their mom. They are given
soup bones , carrots , apples and bully
sticks to chew on which provide natural nutrients.
We also reward them with natural
freeze dried treats.
They are then gradually transitioned to
puppy food and go to their new homes on
the dry mixture of puppy food and vitamins.
Read Ingredients carefully
treats high in salt and additives are not
healthy and should be avoided.
Puppies grow quickly. Proper nutrition
and health care are both crucial during
the first year and a half.
During this time, your puppy needs the
best possible nutrition to provide strong
bones & teeth, proper development of body
functions, clear eyes and a lustrous haircoat.
At certain times during this period of growth
and development, a puppy requires up to twice
the amount of most nutrients per pound of
body weight than an adult dog. As a young
puppy under one year they require up to
three times the calories of an adult.
Puppies also need the correct balance
of essential nutrients such as amino acids,
which make up protein, as well as calcium
and phosphorous.
THE FAMILY HEALTH HISTORY
Genetics are determined at conception
which is why it is so important for the
parents and family to have genetic health
testing such as hips, elbows, eyes, heart
and thyroid.
It is equally important that the breeder provide a complete health guarantee which should allow
ample time for their offspring to receive
these health clearances.
It is important to have
as little incidence of cancer in the lines.
As there is no certification for a cancer
free dog, ask to speak to the Veterinarian who
knows these dogs and provides their care.
Temperament is also genetic which is why
it is important to ask their veterinarian
about the temperaments of both puppies and
their parents.
Only the best representatives of the
breed based on the criteria above should
be bred.
Choosing a puppy whose family has health
clearances, wonderful temperament along with a guarantee from a committed breeder is
your best defense against genetic problems.
We provide a hereditary health
guarantee which gives you the proper length
of time to recieve clearances as hips and
elbows require the dog be two years of age
at time of radiographs and can take a month
to receive results.
We pay for the clearances and puppies go to
their new homes with eye clearance
performed by certified ophthamologist.
The examination report is sent to CERF
Canine Eye Registration
Foundation for certification.
Puppies have their cardiac preliminary
by board certified cardiologists.
|
SIGNS OF NORMAL HEALTH
& SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS
The most responsible and loving thing you can do for your puppy is to see that the puppy receives health care from a veterinarian.
It is important to establish a relationship with a veterinarian so that the veterinarian can be a trusted partner in your puppy's upbringing.
The routine veterinary examination;
A good plan for veterinary care should include
regular examinations.
Puppies require a series of vaccinations.
Vaccinations should be included for the following;
1. Distemper a highly contagious, often fatal
virus that affects a dog's respiratory,
gastrointesinal and nervous systems.
The distemper virus generally spreads as air-
borne infection, so vaccination is the only effective control.
2. Hepatitis a viral disease that effects the
liver and cells lining the blood vessels, causing
high fever, edema and hemmorage. This disease is very serious in puppies and aged dogs.
3. Leptospirosis an extremely contagious disease
that spreads through contact with nasal secretions, urine or saliva of infected animals.
Symptoms include fever, vomiting and diarrhea.
This disease can cause permanent kidney damage.
4. Parvovirus a highly contagious viral infection spread by contact with virus infected body secretions. This disease strikes quickly,
causing damage to the lining of the gastrointestinal tract and can cause death in some cases.
5. Parainfluenza a highly contagious disease that spreads via contact or air-borne transmission. This disease attacks the respiratory system.
6. Rabies a fatal viral infection of the central nervous system. It affects mammals
including humans. Though it is usually transmitted through the bite of an infected
animal, it can be spread when the saliva of the infected animal comes in contact with broken skin. Rabies vaccinations are required in most
states.
7. Coronavirus a highly contagious viral
infection of the gastron\intestinal tract. Symtoms include vomiting, diarrhea, high fever
and dehydration.
8. Bortetella a bacterial infection involved in infectious tracheobronchitis (KENNEL COUGH).
Bortetella is spread by airborne bacteria.
A dog may catch this disease through contact with other dogs at places like kennels and dog shows.
During the examinations your veterinarian
will give your puppy/dog a rountine overall
health examination. The veterinarian will listen to heart, lungs, feel the abdoman, inspect the
coat, eyes, ears and mouth.
Remember to tell your veterinarian about anything
unusual about the puppy or dog.
You should always bring a stool sample with you
to these rountine visits to check for parasites.
A dental checkup by your veterinarian should
also be included with routine veterinary care.
If left unchecked, plaque and calculus build-up on your puppy/dogs teeth can cause inflamation
of both gums and the membrane lining of the tooth
socket. Without treatment, the teeth may become infected and fall out. The infection can also spread to other parts of the body such as kidneys or valves of the heart.
The best cared-for puppy may become ill or injured. Being aware of the signs of good health and those of illness can greatly increase the
chance of finding problems fast and getting
early veterinary care for your puppy when needed.
The easy and very important way to care
for your puppy is to watch for changes
in appearance or behavior that may
indicate your puppy is sick.
To do this, you need to become familiar
with the signs of normal health.
Knowing your puppy's usual behavior will
also help you detect signs of illness or
injury.
* SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS *
* LOSS OF APPETITE FOR MORE THAN ONE DAY
* DIARRHEA, CONSTIPATION OR DIFFICULTY WITH
URINATION. Take your puppy to the veterinarian
immediately if he is unable to urinate,
continues to try, or if there is blood in
the urine or stool.
* HEAD SHAKING *
This could indicate an accumulation of ear wax,
or an infection or object in the ear.
* LIMPING, LISTLESSNESS, OR HIDING *
Be suspicious of sudden lameness without
apparent cause.
* CONSULT YOUR VETERINARIAN.
Remember, prevenative care is always best.
* VOMITING Take your puppy to the veterinarian
immediately if vomit contains blood or unusual
contents, or if vomiting persists.
*FEVER Fever is indicated by a dry, hot nose,
dull eyes, and a noticeable rise in body heat.
* COUGHING Coughing with saliva or without
should be checked by your veterinarian immediately. Coughing with saliva but not
able to vomit could indicate a stomach problem.
Coughing without profuse saliva could indicate
other problems. DO NOT let this condition
persist without speaking with your veterinarian.
* EXCESSIVE PANTING OR DIFFICULTY BREATHING
Immediate veterinary care is required if there
is noisy respiration, blue tongue or gasping for breath.CHOKING Push the puppy's lower jaw open and tilt his head up.If an object is lodged,
using extreme caution try to remove the object
with your fingers.
If unsuccessful, kneel behind him, holding
his body just below the ribs.
Squeeze rapid and hard a few times, pressing up.
If the object does not pop out, RUSH PUPPY TO
VETERINARIAN WHILE CONTINUEING TO TRY AND DISLODGE.
* PAIN * For severe or continuous pain,
IMMEDIATE VETERINARY ATTENTION IS REQUIRED.
* BROKEN BONES *
Restrict movement while en route to the
veterinarian. Control any serious bleeding.
If you are far from medical help, wrap the limb with cotton; splint front legs or upper back legs
with a stick, rolled newspaper or similar object;
and wrap loosely with gauze or strips of material.
* BURNS *
For first-degree burns (reddened skin and
singed hair), apply cold water or ice.
For second- or third- degree burns (skin may
be swollen, loose or discolored), cover the
burn with a cool, damp cloth (DO NOT USE COTTON)
RUSH YOUR PUPPY TO YOUR VETERINARIAN FOR TREATMENT. BECAUSE THE RISK OF INFECTION IS HIGH.
*DO*NOT* APPLY ANY OINTMENTS TO THE BURNS.
* BLEEDING *
Bandage the wound. Immediate medical care is
essential if bleeding is excessive or does not stop after you have bandaged the wound.
* ALLLERGIC REACTION
Symptoms vary from tearing & itching eyes,
face can swell, sneezing to difficulty in
breathing, collapse and unconsciousness.
If you suspect your puppy is having an allergic
reaction our advice is to take your puppy to
the veterinarian immediately.
Waiting until the reaction seems severe is
risky.
* ELECTRIC SHOCK *
Playful puppies have been known to chew on electrical cords, which can lead to electric shock.
NEVER TOUCH AN ANIMAL that is touching an
exposed electrical wire. Turn off power.
Get veterinary help IMMEDIATELY.
Electric shock may produce burns on the tongue and mouth.
The dog may salavate profusely and have problems
breathing.
Severe electric shock can result in unconsciousness or death.
* POISONING *
Symptoms vary with the type of poison.
They include lack of coordination, severe
vomiting, diarrhea, delirium, collapse and
convulsions.
CALL THE POISON CONTROL HOTLINE OR YOUR
VETERINARIAN FOR ADVICE.
They will need to know what your puppy/dog has
swallowed before prescribing treatment.
DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING UNLESS VETERINARIAN
RECOMMENDS IT.
IF VOMITED, SOME POISONS CAN BE MORE HARMFUL.
* SWOLLOWED OBJECTS *
If your puppy has swallowed an object take
him to the veterinarian.
Do not induce vomiting because the object can
cause more damage.
Strings, A PIECE OF SOCK WITH STRINGS can be
deadly. Take to the veterinarian immediately.
* HEAT STROKE *
Symptoms include excessive panting, high fever,
and collapse. Get immediate veterinarian attention.
* SKUNK ENCOUNTER *
If necessary, restrain and flush eyes with
fresh water. Once flushed, you can use eye
drops for irritation.
Rinse puppy/dog, bathe with soap and water.
Satureate with tomato juice and scrub.
Bathe again.
Skunks are a major carrier of rabies,
make sure vaccinations are up to date
and your veterinarian knows if your puppy
has been sprayed.
Check for wounds on your dog.
* SHOCK *
Shock, the body's reaction to any serious
injury, can be life threatening in itself
because it greatly reduces the blood supply
to the brain and other vital organs.
Symptoms can include palle gums, cold paws, a fast heart beat ( over 150 beats per minute )
and rapid breathing.
Elevate the hindquarters, wrap warmly and go
to veterinarian immediately without taking time
to treat minor injuries.
* Emergency help for your puppy/dog *
Caring for an injured animal;
Be Cautious, the most trusted, lovable dog
can bite when in great pain.
If your puppy/dog is in great pain you can use
a scarf, sock or other soft cloth as a muzzle.
Loop the fabric over top of nose and tie a single
knotunder chin. Bring the ends of fabric or cloth
behind his ears and tie the ends.
MOVING an injured puppy/dog;
carefully slide onto a board, blanket, jacket ot other form of stretcher.
If a puppy has minor injuries carry him.
* GIVING MEDICATION *
To give your puppy/dog a pill, wrap one hand
over his nose and lift his head up with thumb and forefinger on either side of the upper lips.
With your other hand, gently and firmly hold mouth open and place the pill as far back as
possible. Close mouth and hold shut. Firmly
stroke downward along his front chest until
the pill is swallowed.
To give liquid medication to your puppy/dog;
gently tilt head back. Put liquid in mouth and
hold shut until swallowed. Encourage swallowing
by again stroking his throat/front chest.
DO NOT try to mix it with his food unless directed by your veterinarian.
Most puppys/dogs can smell when something has
been added to their food and will not touch it.
* EYES *
Should be clear and bright.
The whites of the eyes should have no
red or yellow discoloration.
If there is any discoloration, tearing,
cloudiness, heavy discharge or other
abnormal conditions, take your puppy
to your veterinarian immediately.
A slight discharge in the corners of
the eyes is not unusual.
This discharge can be cleared away
with a cotton ball moistened with
warm water.
* EYE INJURY *
Do Not attempt to remove an object from the eye.
Restrain the dog to prevent self injury and take to the veterinarian emmediately.
* EARS *
Should be clean and free of discharge & odor.
Check your puppy's ears at least once a week.
Trim away excess hair which might prevent air
from getting into ears.
If the ear canal is red, inflamed, hot, or has
a foul odor or is sensitive to your touch,
consult your veterinarian.
Your veterinarian may recommend weekly cleanings.
Have your veterinarian show you how to clean
your puppy's ears.
A cleansing solution, available at your
veterinarians greatly helps.
* MOUTH *
Should have pink, healthy gums.
No redness or swelling should be evident.
The lips should be free of sores or growths.
Teeth should be free of tarter buildup and
there should not be bad breath.
* NOSE *
Should be clean and wet.
There should be no discharge or sores.
* Body and Haircoat *
Should be free of tumors, lumps, fleas and ticks.
Check your puppy by running your hands over puppy's coat.
A normal coat is without greasiness, dandruff,
or bare patches.
EXTERNAL PARASITES
External parasites live on a puppy's body.
They are diagnosed by physical examination and skin tests.
* FLEAS *
Puppies may acquire fleas. Examine your puppy for fleas during routine grooming. If you think your puppy has fleas, consult your veterinarian for a safe and effective treatment. A puppy infested with fleas scratches or bites itself frequently. Small red spots may show up on the skin. Black specks (flea dirt) may cling to the fur on the neck or rump of the puppy. Allergic
dermatitis is also caused by fleas and can show up as encrusted lesions on the puppy's skin.
There are several ways to control flea infestation. A flea bath or dip is the most efficient treatment for serious problems.
Never buy flea products at random. Certain combinations of insecticides can be harmful to your puppy. Ask your veterinarian for safe and effective flea-control.
* TICKS *
Bites from different ticks can transmit many
diseases including Rocky Mountain spotted fever,
Lyme disease and others.
A dog is most likely to pick up ticks in wooded
areas during spring and summer.
If you live in a region that has a large tick
population you should have your puppy vaccinated
for Lyme disease and aquire a safe, effective
tick control product from your veterinarian.
If you find a tick on your dog's skin you can
reduce the chance of infection by removing it promtly and carefully.
Wear protective gloves, using tweezers to grasp the tick near its head and pull the tick out.
MAKE SURE THE HEAD IS REMOVED.
Dab the spot with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide to prevent infection.
Always check with your veterinarian to determine
if further treatment is necessary.
* LICE *
Lice can be controlled through most flea sprays.
Use only those that are safe for puppies.
A bath using shampoo for the treatment of lice is reccomended.
* MANGE MITES *
The most common types of mange mites are
sarcoptic and demodectic.
The mites live on the dog's skin or in hair follicles and are not visible to the naked eye.
SARCOPTIC Mites lay their eggs in tunnel-like
formations under the skin.
The dog scratches and rubs; the skin becomes dry, thickened, and wrinkled; hair falls out;
and crusts form. Itching is very severe.
Sarcoptic mange is highly contagious to both animals and humans. It must be treated by a veterinarian promptly.
DEMODECTIC Mites live in the hair follicles.
They cause skin lesions with either bare spots or pustular areas.
Either variety of mange mites can spread quuickly and may be difficult to cure.
Follow your veterinarian's advice for treatment.
* LEGS *
--
Should be checked for swollen joints.
Be sure to inspect feet between the toes for
excess hair or something lodged between toes.
Keep an eye on puppy's nails.
Your puppy's nails should be clipped weekly.
Your veterinarian can show you where to trim,
and this is also a great way to get your puppy
used to paw handling.
* YOUR PUPPY'S BEHIND *
Parasites are organisms that can live in or on another living thing.
Parasite checks must be conducted EARLY and
OFTEN.
A fecal test performed by your veterinarian
is inexpensive and easy.
Drop off a stool sample and you should have
same day results. There is not a need to bring
your dog in for this fecal test.
If left unchecked, parasites can make life miserable for you and your puppy.
As with most health problems, prevention of parasites is easier and less expensive than treatment. Be alert for early signs and symptoms.
* ROUNDWORM *
This parasite can be transmitted from the mother to her pups before birth or during nursing.
The thin, spaghetti-like parasite, about five
inches long, can cause a potbellied appearance.
The larve migrate through a puppy's body and
can be seen in the feces.
Stunted growth, vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration,
and sometimes pneumonia can result from round
worm infection. Sometimes no symptoms may be
visible.
* HOOKWORM *
This is one of the most dangerous of all intestinal parasites. The hookworm can be
transmitted from mothers to pups before birth
and during nursing. This worm fastens itself
onto the walls of the dog's small intestine.
Hookworm infection may produce lethargy, anemia, poor appetite and black tarry stools containing blood.
* WHIPWORM *
This parasite settles into the lower end of a
dog's digestive tract, causing chronic bowel
inflammation, mucus in the stool, weight loss
and diarrhea.
* TAPEWORM *
In larve form, this parasite usually enters
a dog's body when he swollows a flea.
Rodents can also be a source of tapeworm.
It seldom causes obvious symptoms, but small
rice like segments can be found around the anus and in the feces of an infected animal.
Adult tapeworms feed from the intestines of the dog, causing the dog to eat more than normal
without weight gain. Because of the chance of
reinfestation, your dog should be treated for
fleas when he is treated for tapeworm.
* COCCIDIA *
To avoid these organisms, which can live in a puppy's intestines, make sure your puppy does not eat raw or undercooked meat.
Symptoms can include diarrhea, fever, weight loss and loss of appetite. Sometimes infected puppies show no symptoms.
**HEARTWORM**
Transmitted by the bite of a mosquito, this very dangerous parasite lives in a dog's heart or near
it in major blood vessels.
Heartworm disease can be FATAL.
It causes heart or lung damage, coughing, lethargy and fatigue.
Heartworms can be detected by a blood test.
Heartworm is difficult to cure but easy to
prevent with medication from your veterinarian.
A blood test is taken to ensure that heartworm is not already present before administering a heartworm preventative.
The medicine is administered in monthly doses
during the mosquito season or year round.
Never treat a dog for heartworm prevention
except under the supervision of your veterinarian.
|
ANY PUPPY will benefit from POSITIVE TRAINING!
Positive training is different from traditional
training methods.
|
