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Your puppy’s first veterinary visit
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Your puppy's first visit to the vet will probably be more than just a quick hello. Get all the details from Veterinarian Dr. Katy Nelson as she talks about important details like how to properly bring your puppy into the vet's office and vaccinations he needs.
Your puppy's first veterinary checkup is about much more than simply greeting your dog's new vet, weighing in, and getting him his standard immunizations. Believe it or not, your first visit is just as much about educating yourself and answering your questions as it is about checking the health of your newest family member. Your first vet visit requires organization, preparation, and sometimes even some light note taking. Hi, I'm Dr. Katy Nelson with IAMS, and today we're talking about how to take your new puppy to his first veterinary appointment. Let's begin with what you'll need to bring to your first visit. First, you should find out what the breeder or shelter has already done for your puppy. They've probably given them some vaccinations. He probably has also been placed on a deworming schedule, and may even be on a heartworm preventative. And depending upon his breed, the tail may have been docked and the dewclaws removed. Your veterinarian will need all of this information, along with the puppy's approximate birth date. So it's important to bring all of your paperwork with you to your first veterinarian visit, so they can help you determine a schedule for completing immunizations, and determine when it's best to schedule spaying and neutering. Next you should bring a fresh stool sample to your first visit, so the veterinarian can check for parasites. Lastly, prepare a list of questions. After having your puppy home for a few days, there's no better time to ask questions than at your first visit with a medical professional. Ask other family members, too, if they have any questions that they'd like added to your list. Once you're prepared, bring your puppy's crate to the car, and do your best to secure it with available seat belts. Depending on the size and weight of the crate and the puppy, it's usually easier to secure the crate first, and then put your puppy inside. If you cannot fit a crate in your car, try purchasing a dog seat belt that is specifically designed to restrain and protect your puppy in case of an accident. This next piece of information is critical. Carry your puppy into the doctor's office. Do not let him interact with any other animals in the office. Though the other animals may be perfectly healthy themselves, your puppy can still get very sick from even just rubbing noses with another dog until his vaccinations and immunity against disease is further developed. After greeting you and your new pup, your vet will likely begin examining your pup as she continues to converse and answer your questions. She'll check your puppy's weight, temperature, heart, lungs, ears, genitals, eyes, nose, skin, anal region, mouth, and gums for both basic and breed abnormalities. Your puppy needs to learn to be comfortable being handled by others. Remaining calm and peaceful in the new environment with the vet or any other stranger will allow your puppy to do the same. Depending on the status of your puppy's records and stool exam, your puppy will also begin the deworming process, receive the following initial vaccines: rabies, distemper, and Bordatella. If your puppy's exposed to other dogs in boarding, public dog parks, training, and other situations, then based on geography and lifestyle, ask your veterinarian which vaccines they recommend for your puppy. Also, ask your vet about microchipping, and when it is safe to begin socializing and training your pup. Following the initial visit, your veterinarian will ask that you return to booster the vaccines until your puppy reaches a certain age. The time between boosters typically ranges between two and four weeks. Here are some signs that your puppy needs immediate medical care: allergic reactions or swelling around the face, hives-- this is most easily seen on the belly or face-- any eye injuries, any respiratory problems, any signs of pain-- panting, labored breathing, increased body temperature, lethargy, restlessness, or loss of appetite-- any suspected poisoning, any open wound, a seizure, fainting, or collapse, snake bites, thermal stress-- either too hot or too cold-- trauma, like if he's hit by a car, even if he seems fine, vomiting or diarrhea more than two or three times within an hour. I'm Dr. Katy Nelson with IAMS, and I hope that you found this helpful as you welcome your new addition to the family.
- adp_description_block121What Do Dogs Eat? Tips On Feeding Your Dog
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Feeding your dog the right nutrients and a complete, balanced diet doesn’t have to be a head-scratcher. Find out what can a dog eat, how much food to feed your dog, how many times to feed a dog, how to handle treats and supplements, and much more.
- How Do I Decide What To Feed My Dog?
When deciding which dog food is right for your pet, consider these three factors:
- Your dog’s life stage (Whether your dog is a puppy, an adult, or a senior)
- Lifestyle (How active your dog is)
- Condition (Overall health and bodyweight of your dog)
- How Many Times Should I Feed My Dog?
Puppies should be fed three times a day from weaning (3 to 6 weeks) to 4 months of age. After 4 months, they should be fed twice a day. Most dogs should continue to be fed twice a day throughout their life, although some pets do well with one feeding.
- How Much Food Should I Feed My Dog?
The amount to feed your dog depends on its age, size, and activity level. Feeding guidelines, which list the daily-recommended portion, are included on all IAMS™ packages. Start feeding your dog with this amount and adjust according to its needs. Remember to divide the portion accordingly if you feed more than once a day.
- How Much Should I Feed My Puppy?
The amount you need to feed your puppy depends on 3 main factors — breed, weight, and age. However, you can look at this general guideline that we recommend for puppies:
Puppy
Adult Target Weight (KG)
Recommended Daily Feeding (g/day)
<3 months 3-6 months 6-9 months 9-12 months 12-18 months
Toy breed
1-3
15-72
32-83
37-83
3-5
33-106
72-121
83-121
Small breed (25-50)
5-8
48-151
106-172
111-172
111-170
Transition to IAMSTM PROACTIVE HEALTHTM ADULT DOG
8-10
69-178
151-204
170-204
170-201
Medium breed
10-20
82-299
178-343
201-343
201-339
20-25
137-346
339-404
339-404
339-404
Large breed
25-40
136-492
346-575
404-575
396-575
396-563
40-50
191-509
493-675
575-681
563-681
553-676
This diet contains 390 kilocalories of metabolizable energy (ME) per 100 gms. Remember to have clean, fresh water available for your dog always.
- When Should I Switch My Puppy To An Adult Dog Food Diet?
You should not change your puppy’s food to adult abruptly. Giving your pet time to acclimatize to the new taste of adult food is very important. Also, if you suddenly switch your pup’s food, it can cause digestive problems. Go through this schedule that will help you understand how much to feed your dog and transition your dog’s diet from puppy food to adult food:
- Day 1 – Add 75% puppy food and mix 25% adult food on your dog’s plate.
- Day 2 – Add both foods in equal quantities i.e. 50% puppy food and 50% adult food.
- Day 3 – Increase the quantity of adult food to 75% and bring down the quantity of puppy food to 25%.
- Day 4 – Fully transition to adult dog food.
Here is the weight and age-wise breakdown on when to transition your puppy’s diet to adult food
Weight Range
Age to Begin Transition
Small breeds that weigh < 20 lbs
9 and 12 months of age
Medium breeds that weigh between 20 and 50 lbs
12 to 14months of age
Large breeds that weigh more than 50 lbs
12 to 24 months of age
- When Should I Switch My Dog To Senior Food?
While transitioning from adult dog food to senior dog food, it is important to factor in your dog’s weight. Take a look at this weight table to know when to transition your dog’s food from adult to senior –
Weight Range
Age to Begin Transition
More than 90 lbs
5 years
51 to 90 lbs
6 years
21 to 50 lbs
7 years
Up to 20 lbs
7 years
- What Is The Best Way To Introduce A New Diet To My Dog?
When changing your dog’s food diet, it’s important to slowly introduce new food. Start by offering your dog’s daily portion in a ratio of 25% new food to 75% current food. During the next three days, gradually increase the amount of new food and decrease the amount of the old food.
- What Food Can A Dog Eat If It Is Overweight?
If your dog has gained unhealthy weight, make sure to cut down on fats along with increasing regular exercise. We recommend IAMS Adult Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food, which is low on fats and offers a nutritious blend of fibers and natural prebiotics that support healthy digestion and L-carnitine for a healthy metabolism. How much food to feed your dog if they’re overweight is another major concern. You need to make sure you do not decrease the quantity of the food your dog eats as it will prove detrimental to its health — your dog needs its daily intake of proteins and required fatty acids.
- What Should I Feed My Pregnant Or Nursing Dog?
It’s important to understand that your dog’s nutritional needs change during pregnancy and ensure you feed her nutrition-rich food. For pregnant dogs, we recommend IAMS™ Puppy food as it’s full of proteins that can help your pregnant dog during the gestation period and also improve the quality of milk to nourish her puppies post-delivery.
- Is It Necessary To Feed Both Wet And Dry Food?
Wet food is an excellent treat that can be fed alone or mixed with dry food. Although IAMS wet dog foods are nutritionally complete and balanced, it is not necessary to offer wet food at every feeding. Our dry foods are formulated with high-quality protein sources such as chicken, lamb, or fish, and contain all the essential nutrients pets need. The crunchy texture of dry food also promotes healthy teeth and gums and aids in overall good oral hygiene. In addition, some of our dry dog foods contain a dental enhancement to help block tartar buildup on teeth during and after meals.
- Will My Dog Be Bored Eating The Same Food All The Time?
No. Boredom with food is a human trait. Dogs are creatures of habit and usually are happy with just one food. Dogs generally eat to meet their energy or nutritional needs. They have very short digestive systems, and if their diet is abruptly or constantly changed, digestive disturbances can occur. Also, constant changes can make a pet a finicky eater.
- Is It All Right To Moisten Dry Food?
Adding water will not change the nutritional value of dry pet food. However, once moisture is added, the food should be eaten relatively soon — and any uneaten portion should be discarded to avoid spoilage. We recommend feeding your dog dry food from IAMS because it is beneficial to your dog’s dental health.
- Will It Hurt My Dog If They Eat My Cat’s Food?
Cats and dogs have different nutritional requirements and should not eat each other’s food. For example, cats require a much higher level of taurine in their diet. An occasional venture into each other’s bowls will not be harmful, but it is not recommended to feed your dog cat food regularly.
- How Many Biscuits Can I Feed My Dog Each Day?
We recommend feeding your dog approximately two to four small biscuits per cup of food. Keep in mind that when you add biscuits to your dog’s daily diet, this increases its daily calorie intake, so you should reduce the amount of food you feed. Check the calorie content of the biscuit since biscuits vary in size and formulation.
- Can I Supplement Your Dog Foods With Vitamins, Minerals, Oils, Etc.?
Our foods are nutritionally complete and balanced. Adding vitamins, minerals or oils can offset the balance the food provides. One of the benefits of feeding your dog a high-quality product is that it has been carefully balanced in proper ratios to provide optimal nutrition — nothing needs to be added.
- Why Does My Dog Need To Eat Protein?
Protein is one of the essential elements that should be a part of your dog’s diet. Including protein in your dog’s diet will strengthen its muscles, ligaments, and cartilages. A protein-rich food also brings about a healthy shine to your dog’s coat!
- Why Should One Maintain A Feeding Schedule For Dogs?
It is important to maintain a feeding schedule for dogs so that they are conditioned to expect food at that time and also avoid irregular snacking in between.
- What Are Things Not To Feed A Dog?
You should never feed your dog home-baked goods, candy, gum, chocolate, limes, onion, and grapes. They can harm your dog’s digestive tract and cause infections as well.
- Why Should You Feed Iams Dog Food Over Homecooked Food?
IAMS dog food is full of key nutrients that your dog needs for its healthy growth. The basic ingredients in our food include chicken, fish oil, beet pulp, wholesome grains, and natural prebiotics.
- How Can I Learn More About Pet Nutrition?
To learn more about pet nutrition and dog food diet, feel free to contact us here.
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