This is part 2 of ‘tips on caring for a new puppy’. Here we will quickly summarise a few of the most important aspects of owning a puppy.

Worming

It is recommended that puppies are regularly wormed from around three weeks of age. Again always check with your breeder for the details of your puppies worming history. If you have any questions it is best to contact your vet, who can supply advice.

Vaccinations

It is recommended that as soon as you bring your puppy home, you should register him with a vet. A vet will then proceed to give your puppy a comprehensive full body check-up. They will also recommend a set of vaccinations unless your puppy has already had them. It is always prudent to double check this with the breeder whom you purchased the puppy from. It is vitally important that your puppy has been fully vaccinated, as common disease can be very serious for puppies, as their immune systems haven’t fully developed. Furthermore kennels will only accept dog which have valid vaccination certificates.

Pet Insurance

Taking our pet insurance is a decision every dog owner has to make. There are many companies on the market which offer pet insurance and the costs involved vary greatly. If this is a route which you are going to take, then it is a good idea to do some comprehensive research, as some policies offer a much greater amount of cover than others. It is important to note that sometimes routine vaccinations are not covered by pet insurance policies, and some policies require an excess to be paid. However it has been said that people are more likely to claim on pet insurance than their car insurance.

Neutering

You will need to discuss this with your vet, who will be able to give you some expert advice. Neutering is usually carried out before a puppy matures.

Microchipping

There are companies out there who offer this service. Microchipping basically involves a permanent microchip being inserted under the skin of your dog. This means that if your dog is lost or stolen then it is possible to return him to his rightful owner. It is estimated that half of dogs who are lost or stolen never get returned to their owners. Every week in the UK, there are around 7,500 pets which get microchipped. Again this is a decision each and every pet owner has to make.

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