RESPONSIBLE PET CARE

Transcription

1 RESPONSIBLE PET CARE HOW TO CHOOSE AND LOOK AFTER YOUR PUPPY It is easy to find and adopt a puppy; Perhaps too Easy. Far too many puppies are abandoned, or ignored, when they grow into dogs. So before you adopt a puppy think about what a puppy needs, and remember that very soon your cute puppy will grow into a dog who will live for 10 years or more, and who will need your love and attention for the whole of its life. A young puppy needs many small feeds a safe and comfortable place to sleep a fenced yard and a weatherproof shelter your time for play and training regular washing and grooming veterinary attention When you look after your puppy and give him all the care and attention he needs he will become a loving and faithful friend who will also protect you and your family. choosing the right dog After you have decided you can give a puppy all he needs, you have to choose what sort of dog you want. Do you want a big dog? Big dogs need more food, exercise and training than most little dogs. Big dogs cost more. Do you want a purebred dog? Or are you happy to have a PNG special? Many pure bred dogs have special needs, and will cost you more time as well as money. Do you want a dog with a long coat? These dogs can look beautiful, but they need a lot of grooming. Do you want a dog (male) or a bitch (female)? A bitch will make a more loving family pet, but she will produce puppies twice a year unless she is de sexed. The RSPCA of PNG recommends that all dogs kept as pets or companions should be desexed. De sexed dogs make better pets that will still protect you and your family, they

2 live longer and have fewer disease problems, and they are less likely to fight with other dogs, AND they don t add more strays and unwanted dogs to our streets. which puppy to pick Look at the puppy s mother (and father if possible). If the adults are friendly; look healthy; clean and well fed, then the puppies are also likely to be healthy. Beware of puppies whose parents are related. Your puppy should be at least 8 weeks old and used to eating solid food He should be bright and alert, and, when awake, romping and playing with his littermates He should have a plump look, but not be pot bellied His coat and skin should be soft and clean, free from ticks or fleas or bare patches, and he should not be itchy His eyes should be bright and clear, he should not have weepy eyes He should be friendly and interested in you. It is not a good idea to choose a shy puppy, nor a bossy puppy, as these two will need more training to become wellbehaved pets. No breed of dog has to have its tail docked. The RSPCA Veterinary Clinic does not dock puppies tails. taking your puppy home Before taking your puppy home make sure that your yard is fenced, and that you have a soft bed, food and bowls ready for him. As soon as you get home show him his bed and where his water bowl is, then let him explore his new home. Take him to the place you want him to use as a toilet. Talk to him, and pet him to comfort him. Most puppies use the toilet on arrival in a new home. feeding your puppy Your puppy should always have a bowl of clean water. Your puppy will need to be fed four times a day for the first few weeks, until he is three months old, and then he needs three meals a day until he is five months old

3 Puppies need a balanced diet made from cereals, meat or fish, and vegetables, for healthy growth and development. You can buy a commercial puppy feed or you can make your own; to do this make a stew that is one third well cooked rice, one third meat or fish and one third fruit and vegetables. While your puppy is young make sure the food is cut into very small pieces. Puppies and dogs often enjoy human food, and table scraps can be PART of your puppy s diet, but always add the extra cereal, meat or vegetables needed to bring the meal back to the correct balance of one third cereal, one third meat or fish and one third vegetables and fruit. Cows milk can be a good source of vitamins, especially calcium, for puppies, but some puppies cannot digest it. Give your puppy milk, but if he gets a stomachache, or a loose motion, don t give him any more. If your puppy is going to grow into a big dog he may need extra calcium and you can add crushed eggshells to his food occasionally. Your puppy needs to chew on a raw bone, or a piece of hide, or a safe toy; otherwise he will chew on anything he can find. Chewing helps with teething, and keeps his teeth and gums clean and healthy. NEVER give your puppy or dog cooked bones. Cooked bone splinters and can cause serious internal injury. training your puppy After every meal and sleep take your puppy to his toilet area and stay with him until he relieves himself. Pet him and talk to him so he doesn t think he is being punished. Waiting may take some time, but if you stay with him until he has passed both water and a motion he will soon learn to always use his toilet area. Never scold or punish your puppy if he uses the wrong place, simply clean up the mess without speaking to him, then show him the right place and pet him. Training your puppy should start from eight weeks old. Puppies can learn to come, to sit, to walk on a lead, and that no means stop what you are doing. Always reward your

4 puppy when he obeys you. Keep his training sessions short, three minutes at a time is enough. See our leaflet on Training for further information. Health Puppies need to be vaccinated against three serious diseases: Canine Distemper, Canine Hepatitis and Canine Parvo virus. Vaccinations are usually given at 8 and 14 weeks of age, and a booster vaccination will be needed every year all his life. All puppies have intestinal parasites or worms. Dosing to remove these worms should be done every 4 weeks until they are 6 months old, and after then most dogs are dosed every 3 months. Heartworm prevention should begin from about 8 weeks old. A variety of products are available for heartworm prevention, and an annual injection is now an alternative to tablets or syrup. Puppies also need to have all external parasites (fleas, ticks and mange mites) controlled. There are many products available for parasite control, and some have dual purposes. It is a good idea to discuss vaccination and parasite control with the RSPCA Veterinary Clinic, to decide what programme best suits your puppy. We want you to have a long and happy life together. Finally, if you and your family are planning to be away from home for any length of time you must arrange for a responsible person to take care of your dog while you are away. You must make sure that this person knows how to take care of dogs and that your dog will be kept in a secure place and not allowed to stray. This person should also have your authority to seek veterinary advice if necessary. Alternatively the RSPCA Vet Clinic has facilities to board all animals. If you have any queries on the health or care of your pet please visit the RSPCA Vet Clinic during surgery hours: Monday Friday am and pm Saturday am The RSPCA Shop stocks a full range of animal grooming and health care products and staff will be pleased to advise you on the best product for your pet.

5 The RSPCA of PNG believes that all animals have the right to live their lives with: freedom from hunger or thirst freedom from excess heat or cold freedom from disease freedom from pain and suffering freedom to move and behave normally For further details about membership or the work of the RSPCA in Papua New Guinea please fax or RSPCA