Blog Jaipals: puppy

Showing posts with label puppy. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Puppy Wallpapers

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Puppy Care – Setting the Right Diet

One of the most frequently asked questions dog owners ask their veterinarians is what to feed to their puppies. Puppies, like human babies, required a more complex diet in order for them to grow well. They are still growing and need more than the usual combination and amount of nutrients to develop normally. Giving them the right diet will also help prevent them from developing any genetic illnesses such as degenerative myelopathy. Below are a few common food choices that dog owners give to their puppies and their pros and cons.

Table Scraps

Many people give their puppy table scraps thinking that they are enough to give them the nutrients they need. It’s also a very cheap way to feet you pets—you basically cook for yourself and your dog. However, table scraps are not enough for a growing puppy. Scraps still lack the nutrients they need to develop strong muscles and bones. If you are planning to give your puppy table scraps, you will need to give it food supplements to make up for the lacking vitamins and minerals.

Meat

Meat is also another common thing that dog owners give to their pets. Some vets have also recommended giving dogs meat because of its high protein content. A down side when it comes to serving meat to puppies everyday is that the protein content of meat can be too much for their kidneys. Also, you have to prepare and cook the meat properly to prevent the puppy from getting food poisoning. It can also be a bit expensive over time if you go with an all-meat diet.

Dog Food

This is the best type of food to give to dogs, no matter how old they are. High quality dog food contains all the right nutrients, vitamins and minerals specifically formulated for growing puppies. There are even dog food brands that offer a specific blend for puppy size and breeds. Dog food becomes very cheap if you buy it in sacks of bulks and its available everywhere. However, care must be taken when switching dog food, since puppies have sensitive stomachs and may react negatively when introduced to a new brand. A good way to stop this is to integrate the new dog food slowly into their diet so that their system can get used to it.

Since puppies are still developing, it is a good idea to give them supplements to make sure they are getting enough nutrients. Another thing to be careful about is their diet. Puppies grow very fast, and you have to make sure you do not over feed them. Over weight dogs are more prone to illnesses like cardio vascular problems, degenerative myelopathy, hip dysplasia and bone disease.

Puppy Care Video

Saturday, June 2, 2012

When a “lost puppy” isn’t really lost

Here’s a story which has drawn a lot of attention recently, mostly questioning how some people can be so lost when faced with a “lost puppy” when camping outdoors.

A veterinary clinic located in Ketchum, Idaho got quite a shock, when out-of-town campers brought a “lost puppy” for them to check out.

As it turns out, the “lost puppy” was not a pup, but a cub – a wolf cub.

Based on reports from LocalNews8, campers in the Ketchum, Idaho area were concerned for the safety of this “adorable lost puppy” which they found while on a camping trip, instinctively bringing the “puppy” to the nearest veterinarian clinic in the town.

After a thorough examination, a worker in the clinic had suspicious over the authenticity of the “lost puppy” as being “lost” and a “puppy”, suggesting that it wasn’t a puppy but a wolf cub. A representative from Defenders of Wildlife also suspected the same thing, and from there, Fish and Game officers handled the “lost puppy” case.

A large portion of a week was dedicated in locating the “lost puppy’s” pack, basing searches on where it was initially found. Given that wolf cubs do require their mother’s milk, emphasis on the importance of reuniting the “lost puppy” with its pack was given its due attention.

No sign of the “lost puppy’s” pack has yet to be found, and as an alternative, the Zoo Boise has taken the responsibility of taking care of the cub, until a more permanent and ideal habitat is found for the cub, or until its pack is identified.

Would you, bring a “lost puppy” in the woods to the vet? Would you really think it was a “lost puppy” considering the outdoors?

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Picking Out a Healthy Puppy

Choosing a puppy is one of the most difficult tasks dog lovers will encounter. Just looking at the puppy may not be enough to tell you how healthy it is. You don’t want to end up choosing a puppy and losing it after a year of two because of illness. Below are some tips that you can use when choosing a good and healthy puppy.

Breed background

You most likely have a specific dog breed in mind. A good way to make sure you get a healthy puppy is to read and research about the breed. Know their weaknesses and strengths and look out for common illnesses. Some early signs and symptoms of illnesses can be spotted in puppies. By doing your homework, you would know what to look for and what to avoid.

Choose one that is active
Actives puppies are usually healthy puppies. Young dogs are like babies, they like to explore the area, move around, and get into things. When at the kennel, ask the dog handler if you can check puppies that are in an open area or if you can let them run around first before picking one out. Observe them and spot one that seems to be very excited and plays around.

Check the puppy’s medical history

When the puppy was born, did it have any abnormalities? Was the vet able to give it a check up? Did the mother have any problems while carrying and giving birth to them? These little details can save you a lot of hassle. It’s better to find out if there is something wrong with the puppy now then becoming worried about it later.

Also check the parent’s medical history

Many common dog illnesses, such as degenerative myelopathy, cancer, and arthritis, are carried in the genes of canines. Illnesses like degenerative myelopathy only manifest after the dog is already a few years older. It’s best to check if the puppy’s blood line has a history of illnesses and disease. This way, you can be prepared if signs and symptoms would be seen on the dog after a few years.

Go to a kennel or registered breeder

As much as possible, go to a kennel or a registered breeder when getting a puppy. The dogs here are well taken care of and usually come complete with vaccinations and anti-rabies shots. You are also assured about the dog breed and bloodline.