| What is the ideal weight for my puppy? When a vet is estimating the nutritional condition of a dog, he or she will often consider the ideal weight for that particular dog. This ideal varies according to a dog's age, developmental stage, individual characteristics, and other factors. Puppies and young dogs should on no account be overweight. The following yardsticks may be used to check your dog's weight: you should be able to feel your pup’s ribs, but they shouldn't be pronounced or visible your puppy's waist, when viewed from above, should be visible but not too pronounced there should be no substantial fatty deposits on your pup’s body Above all, however, the criterion for the good health of a puppy or young dog is the activity and curiosity that characterize dogs of this age. Inappetence - Loss of appetite A dog is suffering from loss of appetite when he doesn't want to eat his food. Absolute non-consumption of food is termed anorexia. Appetite loss can be caused by a variety of things, and if your pup is suffering from loss of appetite you should consult your vet immediately. |
| WHEN SHOULD I GET MY PUPPY SPAYED OR NEUTERED? While there are debates on when a puppy should be neutered, there is not really any debate on the fact that most puppies should be spayed or neutered. I like to see a puppy grow up a little so its body and system have matured before the surgery is done. I usually recommend that the pup should be spayed or neutered by about 6 months of age. However, your veterinarian can provide you with more information, specific to your puppy. |
| WHY DO DOGS EAT GRASS? Dogs do not eat grass because they have worms or because they don’t feel well or because they have a nutritional deficiency or because they're going through a particular developmental stage. Dogs eat grass because they like the taste. There are even containers available at pet stores that allow you to grow your own grain-based grass for both dogs and cats. |
| Grooming your poodle puppy How to bathe your dog and brush his coat. Patience and gentleness are key! Regular bathing and grooming of your dog is important. Grooming keeps the dog's coat clean and healthy looking while allowing you to check the skin for signs of disease or parasites. Puppy bathing and grooming will need to be done with kindness and patience to allow your puppy to get used to each stage. The most important thing about bathing and grooming your puppy is to be patient and gentle with him. If the puppy remembers the bathing as an unpleasant experience, he will become more difficult to bathe as he gets older. You can get the puppy used to being groomed and handled and accustomed to the equipment such as the combs and hair dryer. Bathing It is best to get everything prepared before you start to bathe your puppy because he may try to get away from you during bathing! This includes the area where you will wash the puppy, where you will dry it and the equipment you will need. Before bathing the puppy check his coat for any skin rashes, lumps and also parasites such as fleas and ticks. If any of these are found do not bathe the puppy and see your vet for further advice. A warm place will be important for bathing your puppy. Have a tub or other container half filled with warm water- not too warm - and make sure you have a ready supply of warm water for rinsing. Always use a mild shampoo for your puppy. Read the instructions carefully before you use the shampoo. Have a clean towel available to dry the puppy. This is the best time to get your puppy used to a hair dryer. Never be rough with a puppy as he will not forget and may struggle every time he is bathed. Gently lift the puppy into the container of tepid water. Use a clean bottle or jug to pour the warm water over the dog, from the back of the neck downwards, doing the head last. Start by applying the shampoo to the body and legs. Rub the shampoo well in the coat of the dog to give a good lather and make sure all the coat has been shampooed. The puppy's head should be shampooed last, paying particular care to ensure that no shampoo gets in to its eyes. Rinse away the shampoo by pouring warm water on to its coat. It takes quite a lot of water to rinse the shampoo out of the coat thoroughly. Your puppy may shake himself vigorously and this will remove most of the water from his coat. Use a clean towel to dry off the remaining water. This is a good time to get your puppy used to a hair dryer. You can complete the drying of his coat by using the hair dryer on a low temperature setting. By using a brush with the hair dryer you can speed up the drying process considerably. Grooming Remember the puppy may not be used to grooming so be patient and gentle if he is frightened. Puppies may need to be groomed once a week depending on the condition of the coat. Get everything together before you start grooming you puppy. A comb and a soft-bristled brush will be needed which you should keep specially for your puppy. For small puppies sitting him on your lap may be the best way. Poodles require clipping at least every six to eight weeks. |
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Dear Animal Advocates,
The federal Pet Safety and Protection Act would prohibit Class B Dealers and unlicensed individuals from selling dogs and cats to research
laboratories.
Class B Dealers are people who collect dogs and cats to sell to the research industry. They sometimes obtain their animals through illegal
or unethical means, such as by responding to “free to good home” ads in newspapers, falsifying records to keep the true origins of the
animals unknown and stealing pets kept outside in yards. They also buy animals in bulk from “bunchers,” whose methods are even more
questionable.
Eliminating Class B Dealers will also take away the profit motive of bunchers, providing a much-needed safety net to ensure beloved pets
are not stolen or acquired under false pretenses and sold to facilities that test on animals.
What You Can Do
Visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center Online to email your U.S. senators and representative urging them to support and cosponsor the Pet
Safety and Protection Act. You may use the same link to read about this legislation in greater depth.
The federal Pet Safety and Protection Act would prohibit Class B Dealers and unlicensed individuals from selling dogs and cats to research
laboratories.
Class B Dealers are people who collect dogs and cats to sell to the research industry. They sometimes obtain their animals through illegal
or unethical means, such as by responding to “free to good home” ads in newspapers, falsifying records to keep the true origins of the
animals unknown and stealing pets kept outside in yards. They also buy animals in bulk from “bunchers,” whose methods are even more
questionable.
Eliminating Class B Dealers will also take away the profit motive of bunchers, providing a much-needed safety net to ensure beloved pets
are not stolen or acquired under false pretenses and sold to facilities that test on animals.
What You Can Do
Visit the ASPCA Advocacy Center Online to email your U.S. senators and representative urging them to support and cosponsor the Pet
Safety and Protection Act. You may use the same link to read about this legislation in greater depth.