The Key To Raising A Healthy Puppy

Growing puppies must have the right amount of food each day. While packaging labels provide general guidelines, this may not be specific enough to truly meet the needs of your puppy.

Not only does a puppy need an appropriate amount of food each day, he also needs exercise. If you are increasing your puppy’s food intake, be sure to increase their amount of exercise as well so they don’t develop weight problems.

If your puppy is eating too little, start increasing his food intake slowly over a period of two weeks. If at that time he reaches an ideal weight, you can keep the food amount there. Do the opposite for an overfed dog.

An overweight (or underweight) dog is more likely to get sick than a dog at a healthy weight. Starting your puppy out at a healthy weight while he is young will help him now and later.

You should also check your puppy’s temperature two or three times each week. This will alert you if he is getting a fever. A dog’s temperature should be between 99.5 and 102.5 degrees.

If you’ve never taken a dog’s temperature, it is best to ask your vet to show you how to do it the first time. The thermometer will need to be lubricated with petroleum jelly or mineral oil before it can be inserted into the rectum.

The thermometer will only need to stay in the rectum for three minutes. If your puppy’s temperature is higher than it should be, be sure to take him to the vet right away!

Make absolutely certain that you purchase a rectal thermometer for this purpose! An oral thermometer is likely to give you a false reading and make you think your puppy is sick when he is not. Now have fun getting your puppy off to a healthy start!

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