Image: Lydia Torrey from Unsplash
When getting a new puppy, it is important to know how to look after them. This includes when to wean them onto puppy food, how to ensure their teeth grow correctly, and when they need to be vaccinated.
Here are some interesting and important facts to help you learn more about your new puppy and how to give them the best start in life.
Puppies are born deaf and blind, and without teeth.
They can stand up at around 15 days old and walk at around 21 days old.
They will feed off their mother until they are around 4-6 weeks, and then can start being weaned onto puppy food.
Puppies can be twins!
Puppies will start to lose their baby teeth around 3-5 months old.
Some puppies do not lose their baby teeth, known as ‘deciduous teeth’, and their adult teeth have already started to grow alongside their baby teeth. Unfortunately, we see this all the time in practice; their mouths are not designed for two sets of teeth, so we need to remove the baby teeth to make sure their adult teeth grow correctly and not at the wrong angles.
Puppies leave their mothers at about 8-9 weeks to start their lives with their new owners.
Puppies should be vaccinated at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age to cover them against leptospirosis, distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, and kennel cough.
Puppies must be legally microchipped by 8 weeks of age. This should be done by the person that bred the dog.
Puppies are very inquisitive; they will chew and eat anything they can get hold of, and they also love to play.
All puppies are adorable, but they are a lifetime commitment. They need a lot of training and socialising, and they also cost a lot of money. Buying a puppy is not an easy task, so you must think of everything to make sure the puppy is right for you. Remember that every breed is different, so always do your research on the puppy that is best for you.
If this article has raised any concerns, or you require any advice on vaccinations or microchipping, please call us at Coquet Vets on 01665 252250.
