Tips on Caring for Puppies and Keeping Them Healthy

Around the age of four weeks puppies learn to walk. Once a puppy learns to walk they begin to roam from their nest. The nest is the place in which the mother dog keeps her babes, or it may be the place the owner keeps the pups. Once puppies begin to leave this safe place there is no stopping them.

Just as a baby does, a puppy learn to walk and then to run. Once they're mobile they go, go, go. Puppies love to explore. They are also at the age of getting in their teeth. On top of that they are learning to play. When you add all three of these things up you have a running, exploring, playful puppy who chews on everything.

Normal household items can be dangerous to puppies once they hit these stages. Little scraps of things on the floors can cause a choking risk to a puppy. They can also bind up their intestines, causing a blockage. Other things can be poisonous when consumed. Anything at a puppies level is likely to be either chewed on or consumed by the puppy.

To keep puppies safe from little items on the floors like paper, plastic, small toys, etc. the thing to do is to keep your floors clean. Always be on the lookout for any new items that may appear, especially if you have kids. Children often use items like scissors to cut paper with, and they also teen to drop crayons. Puppies will chew on and eat crayons. Vacuum often and pay close attention to what is in your puppy's reach.

Puppies are little tiny dogs. Dogs will get into cat little. Puppies will too if they can reach it. Although it's disgusting, it generally won't hurt a big dog to eat littler. However, it can kill a puppy. If you catch your puppy in the litter a scolding will not do. The litter must be moved to a place where the puppy cannot get to it.

Puppies also will get into the garbage. Many of the things we throw away can be harmful to a puppy when they chew on it or consume it. Can lids that we remove with the can opener, for example, can cut a puppy as they chew on it unknowingly. Soaps and chemical containers will poison a puppy when the are chewed on. Use tall garbage cans that a puppy cannot climb into or tip over. Plastic bags will likely be chewed through at the bottoms if a can is not used.

Adult dog food can also pose a threat to young puppies. At six weeks old a puppy wants to eat their parents' food. However, a puppy can not digest adult dog food and will become sick from it. Puppies should only be eating puppy food. When it comes time to feed the other adult dogs in your home do it away from the puppies to prevent them from swarming around the dish and eating the food. There is no other way to stop them. Puppies should never be allowed to eat adult dog food. When they are ready to begin eating solid food offer them puppy food three times daily.

Stairs and puppies do not mix well. Puppies seem to have no fear of heights or falling. Block off stairs that puppies wander to. Use a baby gate to prevent them from falling down the stairs. Puppies often will try to jump from stair to stair only to fall and roll down the stairs. They also think it's okay to jump off of the staircase to get to the floor they see below. A good fall can break or kill a puppy. The puppies just don't seem to realize that but if you do then you can keep them safe by blocking like areas off.

Puppies are adorable. Once they get up and running they are unstoppable! Puppies are a lot like kids. We have to watch them, make sure their areas to play in are safe, and otherwise childproof the house for them. Accidents can be prevented. If your puppy cannot get to anything that will be harmful then they will not be harmed. Thanks for reading and take care!