09/03/2016
Tips For Choosing A Healthy Puppy
The importance of picking a healthy puppy just can't be overstated.... but do you know how to recognize a pup who isstrong and healthy? Get the info you need here.In all the excitement of picking out your new family member it can be oh so easy to immediately scoop up the first little furball who melts your heart..........without stopping to be sure that he (or she)is healthy and strong and ready for her new home!But it's important to pay attention to the condition of any pup you're considering.Because if you don't take the time to look a little bit more closely you could be setting yourself (and your family) up for a lot of heartache, and quite possibly a lot of expense as well.On this page you'll find everything you need to help you pick a robust, healthy pup to add to your family - and avoid the costs of making a costly mistake....Making The Right ChoiceAccording to recent ASPCA research figures, the cost of keeping a dog is somewhere between $700 and $900 per year.For a medium-size dog who lives around 15 years that works out at a total cost of approximately $12,000 over his/her lifetime (give or take$1500 or so!).Now, that's a lot of money in anyone's books,but if you get a sickly pup who needs an above average amount of veterinary care those figures could end up being significantly higher.A puppy who isn't well bred and properly taken care of may cost less to begin with, buthe (or she) will end up costing you a lot MORE in the long run!And there's more to consider than just the financial cost. If the pup you choose isn't strong and healthy, the heartache of watching him suffer (or even die) is a high price to pay, especially when children are involved.SO... to help you avoid these problems, I've put together a printable checklist that will help you evaluate any puppy quickly, so that you stand the best chance of bringing home a pup who will spend many happy, HEALTHYyears with you and your family.Your 'Healthy Puppy Checklist' (Printable)Although there's no way that I can guarantee that you will be choosing a healthy puppy, there are some basic things you can look for that will give you the best possible chance ofpicking a pup who is fit and well.......*.A sturdy bodyA healthy puppy should have a strong, sturdy, compact little body. Obviously small breed puppies will be more dainty, but he shouldn't look thin/bony and his belly shouldn't look distended and out-of-proportion with the rest of him (this can mean he has a worm problem)*.Clean, shiny coatA puppys' coat should be clean, and shiny. With nobare spotsorred irritated areas. These indicate skin problems/allergies/mangeetc. If he's been outside playing and has a little mud on him, that'sokay, but a dirty, matted or coarse coat can mean worms - or improper care.*.Clear eyes and noseA healthy puppy has clear, bright eyes and there shouldn't be any discharge from his nose. A healthy puppy shouldn't cough either.*.Clean earsYour puppy's ears should be clean inside, with no sign of redness , irritation or discharge. A bad smell from his ears, or constant scratching at them or head-shaking are a red flag for ear mites, infection and so on.*.Firm stoolsHealthy puppies should pass firm, regularstools.Diarrheacan be an indication of one of several very serious puppy illnesses. When you're choosing a healthypuppy, be sure your puppy's little 'bottom area' is clean, with no signs of loose stools. Also you want to avoid a puppy who constantly licks at his ge***al area, this could mean a urinary tract infection*.Lively, energetic behaviorObviously all puppies are different in this area, but you don't want a puppy who seems lethargic or listless. A pup who just seems a little more shy than his litter-mates is probably perfectly healthy, but one who is disinterested in you and his surroundings could be sick.These are the simplest and most basic things to look for and will help you notice some of the most common health problems that puppies are prone to.BUT it's also important to look at the parents of the puppies, and the environment that theyare kept in.If the home/kennel areacis clean and sanitary, the puppies are obviously used to being handled and played with, and the owner/breeder is knowledgeable, competent and has the best interests of the puppies at heart, for example:*.Isn't selling them before they're 8 weeks old with an excuse that the 'momma isn't feeding them anymore' or something similar*.Asks YOU questions and wants to be surethe pups are going to good homes*.Has given the pups their first shots/deworming treatment and has vet papers to prove it*.Is more interested in your home/family than your wallet (and so on)... then chances are your pup has had a goodstart in life.And finally - puppy paperwork:Choosing a healthy puppy doesn't end here. Before you jump in the car and head home with your precious bundle of joy, be sure you have all the necessary paperwork in your hand.All puppies should come with a record of the veterinary care they've received, this should show the type and date of their vaccinations and when they were wormed.If you're buying a purebred puppy 'with papers', you should be given your puppy's Registration Application at the time of sale. Don't accept promises of 'papers in the mail', there's no reason for a responsible breeder not to have the necessary forms at hand
