Puppies need food that is higher in protein, fat, and calcium to support their growth and prevent bone, joint, and eye problems as they age. Puppies are more active than adult dogs and require a higher caloric intake.
Wellness is a lifestyle that promotes well-being. It involves actively pursuing activities, making choices, and controlling risk factors that can harm a person.
Preparation is Key
When choosing a puppy, choose the right one for your family and lifestyle. Pomsky puppies for sale near me come in all sizes, and each breed has different personalities and needs. Consider their age and ability to handle a young puppy if you have children. Also, if you have other pets, be sure your current pets are happy to meet the new addition.
Before you bring the pup home, as much as possible, puppy-proof your home, this includes hiding electrical cords, locking cabinets that contain food or medication, and keeping poisonous houseplants high up out of reach (Puppies are notorious for chewing).
Check the puppy’s ear flaps to ensure they don’t have any odor or visible drainage, and look for a soft area at the top of the head called open fontanelles. These are normal, but they may cause problems in the future if they close too soon.
Also, ask the breeder or shelter for the puppy’s past vet records and vaccination history. If they can’t provide these, rethink getting the dog, as it is a red flag that something could be wrong with the puppy’s health.
Lastly, a puppy should be comfortable with being handled and groomed. Puppy grooming sessions should be short and paired with food treats to create positive associations.
Vet Care
Vaccinations and regular checkups are an essential part of keeping your puppy healthy. Getting your pet used to visiting a veterinarian early in life is also necessary. Hence, they are comfortable with the experience when they are older and need care more regularly.
Many families struggle to pay for veterinary care. While some may have pet insurance, this can be expensive with deductibles and co-pays, making it unaffordable for those who do not have substantial savings. A handful of organizations offer help, including a network of local pet support spaces and private vets that agree to reduce their rates for low-income pet owners. Another option is AlignCare, a national effort that acts like Medicaid for pets and is modeled on a program developed by Michael Blackwell of the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Animal Welfare and Public Policy.
Other options include crowdfunding campaigns (like Live Like Roo or Waggle) that raise money for families whose pets are facing biopsies, amputations, growth removals, and other medically necessary procedures. Peer-to-peer lenders such as Scratchpay and CareCredit offer instant approval lines of credit for pet parents to cover costs. Finally, pet loans are available from GE Credit and Wells Fargo Health Advantage Veterinary Client Financing, which offer low monthly payment options with no pre-payment penalties, so you can afford to keep your pet happy and healthy.
Training
When it comes to wellness, many different areas can be worked on. This includes physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and spiritual well-being. While health and wellness are often used interchangeably, they are two very distinct concepts. Health is a state of being, while fitness encompasses an active process of growth and change that leads to optimal health and well-being.
Many people think of wellness when they hear the word, and it invokes thoughts of exercise, diet, weight management, and overall health. Seven dimensions of wellness are commonly viewed, and they all interact with one another and overlap at times. Neglect of any size for an extended period can harm your quality of life.
Puppies are no exception, and it is essential to make training a priority in their lives. Whether it is basic obedience training or socializing them with other dogs, humans, and even strangers, exercise will help you build stronger bonds with your new pup and teach them how to be healthy family members.
This is a great time to start working on some of the other dimensions of wellness as well. For example, ensuring your puppy has a balanced diet with fresh foods and snacks is critical to their physical well-being. Additionally, ensuring they get plenty of exercise every day (ideally 30 minutes daily) is essential to their mental well-being.
Socialization
Early socialization helps puppies be confident in new environments and people, decreasing the likelihood of fear-based behavior and phobias. Puppies socialized as puppies are more likely to accept husbandry procedures like crate training, bathing, and grooming. This makes it easier for new owners to train their dogs and provides a more stable foundation for their lives.
Puppy mills are large-scale commercial dog breeding operations that put profit before the welfare of their puppies. Puppy mill puppies are confined in small cages, deprived of adequate food, water, and medical care, and subjected to high levels of stress throughout their life. This stress impacts the puppy’s mental functioning, affecting their desire to interact with people and other dogs and their ability to learn.
Puppy mill dogs need to leave their comfort zone to heal and progress. This is a similar process to what humans go through when they are trying to overcome shyness. The recovery can be fast, slow, or in-between, with steps forward interspersed with setbacks. But with the proper support, a rescued puppy can recover and become a healthy, well-adjusted pet. If you plan to adopt a puppy, consider introducing them to your current pets early to reduce the risk of conflicts and aggression. Let the dogs meet each other through a barrier, such as a baby gate, while you supervise their interactions to ensure safety.
