And They Called it Puppy Love: How to Keep Your Puppy Healthy

From the moment you looked into the melted chocolate brown of those puppy dog eyes, it was love. He whined that first night, and you snuggled him close to your heart, vowing to chase away his doggy fears and to always keep him warm, safe and loved. You meant that vow when you made it, you meant it when you bought that wiggly set of ears and tails. But, what is the best way to keep your puppy healthy?

If you have never owned a pet before, then you must do some preliminary research before you even start looking at dogs and puppies. Once you have all of your facts, and have made an informed decision based on what is best for your family and lifestyle, you will need to know a few more things. Call around and get a feel for local veterinary offices: you checked your pediatrician out before you brought home baby, why not do the same for the furry member of your family? Ask the same basic questions of the doggy doctor that you would of the pediatrician: did office staff seem courteous and helpful, or were they too rushed to answer any of your questions? Were you put on hold for a long time without any explanation? Were charges explained before hand or did you get a runaround when that subject was broached? A good vet will take the time to answer questions before you even make your selection and can generally point you in the right direction breed wise. His staff should be polite and knowledgeable and the basic rates should be explained beforehand.

Once you have narrowed your selection, take a tour of the vet's office. Is it clean and relatively smell free? (Since their patients are, well animals, the smell will not be Roses at Midnight) Did staff actually greet both owner and pet, or did they simply shove forms over the counter without any eye contact at all? Remember, a good vet should also be a fairly good judge of people as well, if he has folks on his staff that are not really pet lovers, what does that say about him?

Allow your new furry baby to settle into a routine and then schedule a visit with the vet for a thorough check up and to get his first set of immunizations. Write down any questions that you think of, and don't be afraid to speak up if you think of others. Your pet's health is a serious responsibility and he relies on you to be his most vocal advocate. If you feel you can handle the task, ask the vet to show you the proper way to trim your puppy's toenails, if not, and then by all means leave it to the professional.

Follow your doctor's recommendations for diet and any training tips that he might give you. Many vets have videos that you can borrow or buy that will cover a wide range of topics from housebreaking to behavior issues. But most importantly to your puppy's continued good health is your undying and unbreakable bond of love. Love your puppy and he will love you back for many, many, happy, healthy years.