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Here you will find important information to help you decide if a puppy is right for you. After you've added a pet to your family you can read helpful tips on Dealing with Puppy Stress Before you buy a pet, and especially a puppy, ask yourself: Why do I want this puppy? A puppy is not a status symbol, it is not an educational tool to teach children the facts of life, it is not a stuffed animal that can be tossed aside on those days the family is too busy. How much time do I have for this puppy? Puppies need lots of training to make them responsible household members. Compare them to the two year old child who does not know good manners, needs potty training, cannot prepare his own food and water and may not always sleep through the night. Puppies should not be left alone for long hours and then be expected to learn all these things in a timely fashion. If you work all day, look for that gold fish – and then be sure you remember to feed him. How old are my children? If you have a child younger than four, you already have your hands full! It is difficult to potty train a puppy and a child at the same time. Besides, little kids adore stuffed animals and the puppy looks the same to them. So if they poke his eyes and pull his tail, they cannot perceive his pain. However he WILL feel pain and may retaliate by biting. This is not aggressive behavior, it is his defense mechanism to say "I did not like what you did". Is my yard fenced? A puppy can be incredibly fast when he sees a ball in the street, another animal to play with or when he is being chased by a child. It is heartbreaking for a family to lose a pet to a speeding car. An electric fence is not the answer for small breeds. The electric fence cannot keep larger animals out because it only works for the dog wearing the collar. Larger dogs that roam free often attack smaller dogs. There are also "dognappers" that capture cute dogs for resale and other purposes. A yard does not have to be completely fenced. A small area nearest the exit that will serve to take the puppy outside to do his business works well. If you have a secure deck (meaning with a gate and no large escape holes), this may work well for you. This is essential to successful housetraining. It must be close and the puppy must be promptly carried to the area as soon as he awakens and/or as soon as you return home from running errands. Having an area nearby is definitely a human need on those rainy days when you prefer to put the pup outside while you remain inside and dry! Tying a dog out with a stake is inhumane, unsafe and may create an aggressive dog! Am I committed to lifelong care? Having a pet is a commitment to his care for his entire life. For a puppy, this can mean as long as 16-18 years! This means through sickness, old age and any infirmities that may come with age. A living creature cannot just be tossed aside when it is inconvenient to provide the care. Veterinary treatment can be quite expensive and the annual exam, shots and teeth cleaning has cost to it. If you are looking for a pet for your child, who will provide pet care when your child grows up and leaves for college? Who will maintain the coat and feed him? Who will soothe aches and take him to the vet on a regular schedule? These have to be considered. Questions the breeder/seller should ask you before you buy a puppy: A responsible breeder wants information from you before selling you a puppy. Those questions will reflect the questions you should have already asked yourself about your reasons for wanting a puppy. Other questions will concern the members of your household, ages of children, who will be responsible for training and care, who is home during the day. This breeder has put time, effort and money into this breeding and will be unlikely to place a puppy in a home that is not prepared to provide adequate time and attention to raising it. A breeder who asks NO questions and only is interested in selling has probably not spent a lot of time in planning for a genetically healthy litter, has no concern as to how the puppy will be cared for and may not even know much about the breed except that a Puppy is cute and desirable and can bring in a large sale price.
You are the proud owner of a new pet baby which means constant tender loving care of any new baby. TLC does not mean constant handling, petting and playing with. PLEASE READ THIS GUIDE. STRESS IS THE MAIN CAUSE OF ILLNESS AND DEATH TO NEWLY ACQUIRED PUPPIES. There are many sources of stress. Simply moving a puppy to a new home, holding him too much, contending with another pet, or being allowed to much playtime are just a few of the many sources of stress. A new puppy is nervous and excited because they are unfamiliar with their surroundings and their new family and this causes a lot of stress. They are like babies who need regular scheduled time for eating, sleeping, drinking, going to potty and playing. A CRATE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEM TO HAVE FOR A NEW PUPPY. It can be a cage, a playpen, or a small enclosed area in a quite room of your home. The crate serves two purposes. It will house train your pet and it protects its health and well being while it grows. The crate provides a secure, comfortable place where he/she can rest, eat, drink, and play at his own pace. The crate should be placed in an area where the temperature stays about the same all the time. Avoid areas that are drafty, (cooling vets). Provide a comfortable bed in the crate since puppies sleep approximately 90% of the time until they are older. They will need food and water available to them in the crate at all times. This allows them to eat, rest, and drink as they need to so they can grow properly. AVOID EXCESSIVE HANDLING. Too much of this can add stress and overtire the puppy. A tired puppy will not eat. He only wants to sleep. Missing a meal can be a life threatening thing with a young, small puppy. It can lead to a condition called hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). This can become dangerous if not noticed and tended to immediately. There is more information about this condition in the following literature. Please take time to read it! A puppy can be played with for about 30 minutes at a time at first. Taking him out for a potty break should begin the playtime. This schedule for playing can be increased gradually, week by week, as the puppy grows and becomes stronger. The rest time should remain the same. He needs at least 2 hours or more at a time in his crate, undisturbed, for rest. GIVING HIM THE QUITE TIME FOR REST IS A MUST!!! The stress of moving a puppy can sometimes bring on illness. If you notice any sighs of illness before or at the well puppy check, contact us immediately and if possible return the puppy to us immediately. We do not pay any vet bills not authorized by us. We will, however, take the puppy back, treat it at our own expense and return it to you in a healthy condition as our guarantee states. You must check with us before treatment is started and medicine is purchased. *****PLEASE READ ALL THE FOLLOWING SHEETS OF INFORMATION****** BATHING AND FLEA PRODUCTS. The first bath should be after a week or so when the puppy has become adjusted so as not to add stress. Use warm water and shampoo made for puppies that do not have a flea product in it. Towel dry him and then use a blow dryer on low heat to completely dry him. Keep him warm for a while to prevent chilling. If you need to use something for fleas, get FROUNTLINE SPRAY from your vet. It is easier to apply the correct dosage for your small pet. NO FLEA COLLARS ON PUPPIES! NO CHEMICAL DIPS, ONLY SAFE ORGANIC PRODUCTS MADE FOR PUPPIES. (I like the groomer’s edge shampoos made by Double-K and the Citrusil shampoo made by Esprree. You will probably have to get these from a grooming shop or order on-line. Also the Citrusil deodorizing spray. It is safe for the puppy and his surroundings. NO FABREESE ON PUPPY OR HIS BEDDING>
No advantage, Revolution, Heartguard or other tropical or oral poisons till 6 months old or 5 lbs. Give the albon once a day till all is gone. Dosage up to 5 lb -1cc; 5 to 10 lbs 2cc.
Make the transition easy for your new puppy with these helpful hints:
This is the most important training efforts you’ll ever make-but it doesn’t have to be difficult. Purina behaviorist recommends a four-step approach: 1. Establish a rountine and stick to it. Take your puppy out first thing in the morning, the last thing at night and within 15 minutes after he/she eats. 2. Until your puppy is trained, keep a constant eye on him or her and prevent accidents before they happen. 3. Designate a potty area. Train your puppy to use this designated space by consistently taking him/her there and using a command like “Go potty” 4. Correct your puppy’s mistake only when you catch him/her in the act. With a firm “NO” pick up the puppy and take him/her to the designated potty area. Accidents will happen, so remember to be patient.
HYPOGLYCEMIA This is a central nervous system disorder caused by low blood sugar levels. It occurs mainly in toy breeds between 6 and 16 weeks of age. Stress is the leading cause. The first signs of listlessness and depression. They are followed by muscular weakness, vomiting and/or diarrhea, tremors (especially in the facial muscles), and later convulsions, coma, and probably death. The entire sequence of symptoms is not always seen. The dog may simply appear to be depressed or he may be weak, wobbly and jerky, or he may be found stiff, unable to coordinate or in a coma. Hypoglycemia can occur without warning when is placed in a new home or while being shipped. It might appear after a puppy misses a meal, chills, becomes exhausted from too much playing, or has a digestive problem. These problems cause an added strain on the energy reserves of the liver and bring on the symptoms. TREATMENT; Begin at once! Treatment is directed at restoring blood levels of glucose. Give the puppy a mouthful of Nutri-Stat. If he cannot swallow it all at once, it will begin to absorb under the tongue to begin bringing him back to conscious state so that he will be able to swallow the rest. When he can swallow, give him water (about 1 cc at a time so he doesn’t choke). Continue to give him Nuti-Stat and water about every 10 minutes. Until he is conscious and moving about. CALL US IMMEDIATELY! If we cannot be reached, call your Vet immediately. If the puppy does not respond, call your emergency Animal Vet Clinic. The puppy will need sub-q injections of lactated ringer’s solution every 4 hours for about 2 days to restore it to a normal state. He may also need some antibiotics to combat secondary infections that can arise from the lowered immune system that results from the hypoglycemia. If you do not have Nuti-Stat, honey or syrup can be used until you get some Nuti-Stat. The dose is 1 cc every 10 minutes till recovered. You will also need to begin some pepto bismol to help keep him from getting bad diarrhea. The large dose of Nuti-Stat or syrup will probably cause some diarrhea to occur, but it is usually self limiting. Prevent recurrent attacks by making sure the puppy eats at regular intervals. He should have dry food available at all times and should be fed canned food at least 2 times a day. A daily vitamin should be given, (Nuti-Stat 1 cc 2 or 3 times a day) also cottage cheese or yogurt can be added to the diet. Owners of toy puppies should not allow them to become overtired or chilled. Play time should be limited and controlled to prevent undue stress and tiring. Hypoglycemia must be offset by frequent feedings. A puppy, who does not eat frequently, for whatever reason, is heading for trouble.
WE DO NOT GUARANTEE AGAINST THIS CONDITION!
Care and Feeding of Your Puppy Your puppy should have access to clean fresh water at all times. 6 to 8 weeks old, feed four times a day 8 to 12 weeks old, feed three times a day 12 to 24 weeks old, feed trice a day 6 months or older, feed once a day, unless puppy is extremely small. Keep your puppy on a puppy food until he/she is one year old. I am feeding Science Diet right now. If you switch to another puppy food, add it gradually to the Science Diet so his/her stomach doesn’t get upset. ***If you have any problems, don’t hesitate to call me at 408-533-3167 or Mary at 408-930.6599. You can free feed (leave food out at all times), or feed several times a day. For the first few weeks this should be at least four times a day. Dry food as well as moist food should be offered. Moist food means the dry food has been moistened with warm water, to about the consistency of oatmeal. As soon as you are sure the puppy is eating enough dry food, you can discontinue the moist. Moisten with water only…..Never milk. If your puppy is not interested in eating the first few days, you can mix in a small amount of meat baby food or canned puppy food – but not too much. This is only to tempt and should not become a habit. YOUR PUPPY MUST EAT!!! Do not let him go over 6 hours without food, even if it means force feeding him. Table food should not be started; this can cause digestive upset in puppies and cause weight gain and picky eating in adults. Greasy, spicy foods are not digested well by dogs. A good quality dog food is all your pup needs to stay healthy. The exception is the very tiny; sometimes you have to give them whatever it takes to get them to eat. Scrambled eggs, boiled chicken & rice, and cottage cheese are all good choices. Any sign of vomiting or diarrhea must be taken care of immediately. It does not take much for these little ones to dehydrate, if the pup seems to feel good and is eating, but has a loose stool; you can give Ľ to ˝ baby dose of Pepto Bismol or Kaopetate. Any sign of depression or listlessness, give sugar first, them….TAKE THE PUP TO THE VET NOW!!!!! If your pup develops loose or bloody stools, and/or diarrhea, please get him medical attention. Small puppies can get several stomach disorders due to stress and change of water. A puppy can be lost quickly due to this. Have your Veterinarian check stool for Coccidia and Giardia. Do not take your puppy to parks, Petco, Petsmart, or other areas where other dogs have been until his full shot schedule is complete (usually around 16 weeks of age). His immune system is immature and he is not totally immune to puppy diseases, until he has fully completed his shot schedule. Puppies, like human babies, need a lot of rest. Never wake up your pup to play. It knows how much sleep it needs. Wait until it is ready to play. Here’s too many years of love and companionship with Your New Best Friend.
Giardia and Zoonotic Disease The incidence of Infection in Humans and Cats and Dogs:
Transmission of Giardia between Animals and Humans Occure Easily:
Clinical Symptoms and Diagnosis of Giardiasis:
Treatment and Control of Giardia:
An Open Letter to New Puppy Owners: PLEASE READ!!!
Congratulation! You just made a big decision to add to your family. It’s a little along the lines of adoption. It’s also a major commitment to care for and be concerned about the welfare of a little bitty critter that can’t do a whole lot for itself. Unfortunately, since I frequently sell puppies to people who have just lost their pet tragically, I hear a lot of stories about accidents or carelessness that cost them their friend. I will mention some of them, in hopes that maybe I’ll mention something that you haven’t heard of, and maybe we’ll save your new friend from a similar fate. Toy breed puppies are very fragile, their leg bones are tiny, and their skulls are thin. They seldom survive being dropped, and should not be allowed to jump from beds, couches, or other furniture. Since it takes awhile for them to learn to judge perception, they may think that they can fly – from second story balconies, from car hoods, from the sides of open staircases, etc. Some have been lost darting out the door of second story apartments, and sailing right off the balcony. Some dart out the door and run away when someone they don’t know opens the door. Fences, gates and meter readers work the same way. Swimming pools are a big hazard because once in, they can’t get back out. They can usually swim, if the don’t get tangled up in their own hair, but they tire quickly, and can’t swim for very long. When boating, get a life jacket for your puppy, too. Do not expose them to too much sun or heatstroke can occur. I’m sure you already know better than to leave your pet in a car. Large breed dogs seem to view very small dogs as some kind of “fair game”, along the lines of squirrels or rabbits. There is nothing more horrible than seeing your little friend in the jaws of your next door neighbor’s big dog. Sometimes big dogs will attack little dogs, even when you have your pup on a leash, or while you are jogging. This is easily remedied if you will carry a bottle of Pepper Spray or big stick with you. Could save you from an aggressive big dog as well. Young puppies have teeth like needles, and can easily pierce an electric cord, electrocute themselves, or even burn their mouth and tongue horribly. It’s best and safest to confine your puppy safely while you are away. Then they can do no damage, to themselfes or to your best shoes, and you won’t come home to any unpleasant surprises. I recommend playpens. They’re well worth the money, and a travel cage is too small for all day. If they begin climbing up the sides, try keeping their toenails very short. If all else fails, invert a covered top for the playpen. If that is not an option, then use a travel crate, but not too small a crate. And please don’t expect them to “hold it” all day long. I doubt that you can. Keep up your vaccination on schedule. Don’t handle puppies at pet shops or at SPCA’s until your puppy is finished with its shots, at least 16 weeks of age. Don’t put him on the floor or the grass at the veterinarian’s office. Parvovirus is especially deadly. Lastly, watch out with patio doors, car doors, swinging bar doors, and big footed friends. Teach them to walk with the “Puppy Shuffle” while they are in your house. Good Luck!!!!!
What on Earth are Coccidia? Coccidia are single celled organisms that infect the intestine. They are microscopic parasites detectable on routine fecal test in the same way that worms are but Coccidia are worms and they are not visible to the naked eye. Coccidia infection causes a water diarrhea which is sometimes bloody and can even be a life threatening problem to an especially young or small pet. Cocysts are passed in stool. In the outside world, cocysts begins to mature or “sporlate”. After they have adequately matured, they become infective to a host (dog or cat) that accidentally swallows them. They are swallowed when a pet grooms/licks the dirt off itself. In some cases, sporulated occysts are swallowed my mice and the host is infected when it eats the mouse. Coccidia infection is especially common in young animals hosted in groups (shelters, rescue areas, kennels, etc.) This is a common parasite and is not necessarily a sign of poor husbandry, dirty living conditions, or neglect, especially in kennel; situations. The sporulated cost breaks open and releases eight sporozoites. These sporozites each finds an intestinal cell and begin to reproduce inside it. Ultimately, the cell is so full of what are called”merozites” that it burst releasing the merozites which seek out their own intestinal cells and the process begins again. It is important to note how thousands of intestinal cells can become infected and destroyed as a result of accidentally swallowing a single occyst. As the intestinal cells are destroyed in larger and larger numbers, intestinal function is disrupted and a bloody, water diarrhea results. The fluid loss can be dangerously dehydrating to a very young or small pet. A routine fecal test is a good idea for any new puppy or kitten whether there are signs of diarrhea or not as youngsters are commonly parasitized. This sort of test is also a good idea for any patient with diarrhea. Coccidia are microscopic and a fecal test is necessary to rule them out. It should be noted that small numbers of coccidian can be hard to detect so just because a fecal sample test negative, this does not mean that the pet is not infected. Also, small numbers of coccidian in the stool are not a problem unless there are other symptoms such as diarrhea that are present. Sometimes several fecal tests are performed, especially in a young pet with a refractory diarrhea, and parasites may not be evident until later in the course of the condition. Stress is a large factor in coccidian. The stress of being moved to a new home, being allowed to play too much and become overtired, a mild cold, or just being held too much can weaken the young, immature immune system and allow the coccidian to begin to multiply in numbers that would be dangerous to a very small pet. We do not have any medicine that will kill coccidian; only the patient’s immune system can do that. But we can give medicine called “coccidiostats” which can inhibit the coccidian reproduction. Once the numbers stop expanding, it is easier for the patient’s immune system to “catch up” and wipe the infection out. This also means though, that the time it takes to clear the infection depends on how many coccidia organisms there are to start with and how strong the patient’s immune system is. A typical treatment course last about a week or two, but it is important to realize that the medications should be given until the diarrhea resolves plus an extra couple of days. Medicine should be given for at least five days total, sometimes courses as long as a month is needed. Albon (sulfa drug) or Amprollium is the most common coccidiostats used to treat coccidian infections. The use of sulfa drugs in pregnancy can cause birth defects. The over use of Sulfa Drugs can also lead to false positive test results for urine glucose level. While there are species of coccidian that can infect people (Toxoplasma and Cryptosporidium for example). The Isospora species of dogs and cats are not infective to people. Other pets may become infected from exposure to infected fecal matter but it is important to note that this is usually an infection of the young (i.e. the immature immune system tends to let the coccidian infection reach large numbers where the mature immune system probably will not). In most cases, the infected new puppy or kitten does not infect the resident adult animal. |
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