10 Tips for Keeping Your Puppy Healthy

1. Regular Vet Visits 

We can't overemphasize the importance of having your puppy properly checked by a reliable veterinarian. You should bring your puppy to the vet within the first week of taking it home, regardless if you've rescued your puppy or purchased it from a breeder. It's important that the vet give the dog a thorough checkup to make sure it doesn't have any outstanding health issues. (PetMD) 

2. Proper Vaccinations 

Your new puppy may not have all of its shots, so during your first vet visit, it's crucial that you see what vaccinations it needs and schedule those vaccinations appropriately. According to the American Animal Hospital Association's vaccine guidelines, there are a handful of vaccinations that are considered "core" for all dogs. They are rabies, canine distemper virus, canine adenovirus-2 (hepatitis) and canine parvovirus. Puppies cannot receive the rabies vaccine until they are 3 months old. They then will receive another dose one year after that. The canine distemper virus, hepatitis and parvovirus vaccine are typically administered to puppies aged 6–16 weeks. These vaccines are then followed by the non-core group, which include Bordetella, lyme disease, leptospirosis, canine coronavirus and parainfluenza. Consult your veterinarian for more information about vaccines and what will work best for your puppy. (Vetstreet) 

3. Deworming

During your puppy's first trip to the vet, the doctor will look for parasites in your pup by taking a fecal sample. Sadly, parasites are one of the biggest problems puppies face. In fact, many of them are already carrying worms when you adopt them. In order to keep your puppy safe from parasites, you must get your puppy checked and properly dewormed. Veterinarians can give you puppy deworming medications if they find that it has an infection. However, if you bought your puppy from a breeder, they should have taken care of the deworming at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks of age. Still, puppies can easily becoming infected with parasites by ingesting contaminated water or fecal matter. Consult your veterinarian for proper deworming methods if you do find that your puppy is infected. (Petside) 

4. Nutritious Food   

Finding the right food for your puppy at the very beginning will build the foundation for its overall well-being. Puppy food differs from dog food in that it is specifically formulated for the nutritional needs of growing puppies. It typically has twice the daily nutritional requirements that adult dogs need. This is due to the fact that puppies grow at a rapid rate. A healthful puppy food is made up of 30 percent protein and includes proper vitamins and minerals. (PetMD)

5. Socialization 

Socializing your puppy is more necessary than most pet owners think. It's just as important to your puppy's health as their vaccinations and food. A well-adjusted puppy is a happy puppy. Between the ages of 8 to 16 weeks, your pup should be introduced to many different sights and sounds. This will ensure that it won't be fearful of them in the future and will decrease the risk of anxiety. Bring your puppy outdoors, introduce it to friends and family, and have some playtime with other dogs and puppies (that are properly vaccinated). Within a two-month period, you should to expose your puppy to all the things that it will normally be exposed to. (PetMD) 

6. Crate Training 

Veterinarians and trainers agree that crate training is the best method for raising and house-training a puppy. Not only does a crate provide a safe haven for your puppy, it also makes it easier for you to transport your pet. Puppies learn very quickly that their crates are their own and because of this, they will not want to soil their own space. Just remember that puppies can't hold it for very long. A good rule of thumb is to add one to your puppy's age (in months) to determine how many hours. If your puppy is 2 months old, they can generally hold it in for 2–3 hours at a time. (Vetstreet) 

7. Grooming 

Grooming your puppy doesn't just mean keeping it pretty and clean, but also keeping it physically healthy. The earlier you start grooming your dog, the easier it will be to have it groomed as an adult. This especially goes for ear cleaning and nail clipping. You may begin grooming your dog as early as 3 weeks old. The more regularly you have your puppy groomed, the more you will be able to check for other abnormalities, such as ticks and fleas, or issues with nails, teeth, ears or eyes. (PetMD) 

8. Exercise

Puppies have a lot of energy, so in order to keep them happy and healthy, it is your responsibility as a puppy owner to help your puppy exert its energy, whether it's a walk or some playtime with puppy friends. It's important not to overexercise your puppy, however. Bringing your dog to the park and allowing it to play with other dogs close to its age is great, but limit interaction with bigger dogs who have more energy. Simple exercises like playing a game of fetch in the yard or going on a morning walk are perfect. They will allow your puppy to get all of its energy out. (PetMD) 

9. Rest

If you have a puppy, then you should know that they love to sleep. It's important to let your puppy rest, but don't let it oversleep! Your puppy will sleep for about 14 hours a day, which is the same amount of sleep an adult dog needs. Provide your puppy with the proper place to nap during the day to ensure that it is getting good sleep. Make sure it has a comfy dog bed and lots of peace and quiet. (Dogster)