Puppy 101

 


 FEEDING:   We  feed twice daily unless we have puppies or a Mommy expecting..  My routine is early so I feed at 5:00 am  and then again  at 4:00 pm.    We do not recommend feeding a canned food, they get all they need from a quality dry food.  Keep treats and people food to an minimum, you will only have a difficult eater if you over do anything.  Resist changing the puppies diet for at least the first month of transition. We have taken great care selecting a quality food for our puppies. Always have fresh water out at all times.  If your puppy gets stressed add a tsp of white karo into fresh water.

TREATS TRAINING & REINFORCEMENTS:  We recommend Natural Balance Roll Arounds for bait and training also twice a day (late morning and mid afternoon) we give fun treats; honey nut cheerios, raw sweet potato , raw carrots (various fruits and vegetables) vanilla yogurt, once a week or so. We do not give milk bones (too many fillers).  For chewing we offer kong ziggies and toys. We do not offer rawhide chews their system does not digest them and can cause serious intestinal blockage.

BATHING & GROOMING:  Use a good quality shampoo and conditioner. My favorite canine shampoo  and conditioner is is Chirs Christianson Spectrum 10  Wet the young puppy with a washcloth so it will not have a fear of running water.  The conditioner does not have to be rinsed out if coat is dry. It can be dried in with a hair dryer using a mild heat. It protects the coat and helps prevent breakage of the coat.  This is especially useful if a long coat is desired for showing.  We bathe every two weeks for puppies and weekly for adults.  Do not wet tangled coat it will only make it impossible to remove.  Use a small slicker brush or your fingers to seperate the hair.

Biewers do not shed and are single coated.  A Biewers hair is very similar to yours and mine, if you use people shampoo make sure it is a quality one.  Do not use Baby shampoo or Aveno Oatmeal based shampoo.  Over a period of time they will strip the natural oils in the skin and coat.  If your tying the top hair up do not use rubber bands, they will break the hair.  Use latex bands or little girl cloth bands.

TRIMMING THE BUM & UNDER THE PAW:  Removing the hair from around the bum helps with hygiene.  Also remove the excess hair on the paws and between the toes.  Also as your Biewer matures cut around the contour of the paw with curved scissors.   

TRIMMING & CLEANING EARS:  When your Biewer puppy is teething sometimes the ears begin to droop. Just follow the taping instructions provided. They will stand again and it should be permanent.  If you take your puppy to a groomer request they shave the tip of ears front and back from the tip in and inverted V 1/3 down.  Too much hair or teething can cause an unnatural drooping.  The ears should be groomed regularly so the puppy will become used to it.  Clean the ears with an ear cleaner or a solution of 50/50 water and vinegar. This should be followed with wiping dry with clean cotton balls. Use twizzers to remove any unnecessary hair in ears.

CLIPPING NAILS:  Use a standard people nail clipper for puppies. Clip them to the hook if clipped to short use "stop bleed" immediately.  They will become accustomed to the trimmings if you lay on back and massage paws before starting.   Dog nail clippers will be needed as they mature.

POTTY TRAINING:  Use disposable or cloth potty pads. The first comment I have on this subject is to have patience.  Place pads in a place where you and he/she puppy is going to be.  At this young age not give them the run of the entire house, this will only confuse him/her.  Training to go outside just keep moving pad closer to outside door week after week.  Be sure to take the puppy outside in the
morning, after feeding, naps and again at bedtime.   Be sure and give them plenty of praise when they are successful, they want to please you.

TEETH:  Use a toothbrush and a paste made for pets to brush their teeth.  We recommend giving puppies and adults lots of of toys and chew treats to keep their gums healthy.  Be sure and have your vet examine your puppies teeth at 6-8 months (when you spay or neuter your pet and have him remove any problem or extra teeth at this time)
 
 BE PREPARED WHEN YOUR PUPPY COMES :  Choose the proper vet who is familiar with toy breeds
  • Do not use Lepto when vaccinating your puppy or adult Biewer
  • Never have more than one vaccination per visit. (wait a week before adding Rabies or Bordetella)
  • Ask your vet about the potential side effects of Bordetella (Kennel cough)
  • Ask about pre surgery protocol( Pre anesthetic blood work is essential for the health of the puppy)
  • Inquire about Anesthetic Protocl (Isoflurone and Sevoflurone are preferred and safe)





First Aid Care

PUPPY / ADULT FIRST AID
ALWAYS HAVE  YOUR VETS NUMBER: YOUR ER VETS NUMBER: POISON HOTLINES
.(I have mine on my cell and home phone on speed dial)
  • Thermometer - digital is best; normal temp is 100 - 102
  • Scissors - blunt and sharp Tweezers - removing stingers or slivers
  • Penlight Magnifying glass (hand-held)
  • Tongue depressors - act as temporary leg splints or to clear an animal's airway Forceps - to remove foreign objects from the throat
  • Silver nitrate sticks - to stop bleeding
  • Quick stop - stops bleeding nail Assorted bandages and dressings - larger dressings can be used as a pressure bandage to stop bleeding or as a temporary muzzle Adhesive tape - first aid white tape Cotton wool or Cotton balls Q-tips or swabs Turkey baster or bulb syringe - for flushing wounds, force feeding Elastic wrap or Ace bandage
  • Syringes - 1 cc, 3 cc and 6 cc for administering hydrating liquids and medicating adults Eye dropper - for medicating puppies, when hydrating use the 1 or 3 cc syringes
  • Bottled sterile water
  • Alcohol swabs Triple antibiotic ointment - Neosporin for cuts or scrapes Topical cream - Cortizone 10 for insect bites Eye flush solution -
  • (Sterile Saline - Artificial tears) rinse foreign material from the eyes. Baking soda - for packing a bee sting or soothing a burn Epsom salts - for cuts or scrapes prevents staff infections Liquid grease cutting soap -
  • Dawn; for rinsing off any chemicals or pesticides from the skin
  • Cold pack - for swelling - frozen veggies will do in a bind Heat pad - for warming a cold puppy or a puppy in progressive stages of Hypoglycemia
  • Remember although there are many human medicines that are pet friendly Always consult your vet before self-medicating your Biewer adult or puppy
  • Hydrogen peroxide 3% used as an antiseptic or to induce vomiting - 1 1/2 cc per 5 lbs repeat only once if vomiting doesn't occur in 15-20 mins.
  • Charcoal, Blackened Toast, Crackers or Canned Dog Food for binding stomach poisons
  • Mineral oil, Milk of Magnesia -1/4 cc per pound or Pure Canned Pumpkin - 1 tsp for constipation in a Biewer puppy and adult
  • Baby Benadryl - 1/2 cc per pound bee sting - administer immediately stingers can usually be found in the paw, face or muzzle, bee stings are deadly for some dogs, severe swelling can occur causing difficulty breathing cutting off the dogs airways, allergies- excessive sneezing eliminates stress from puppy shots
  • Baby liquid aspirin or tablet - buffered 1/4 cc per pound for fever or pain - anti-inflammatory
  • Pepto Bismol - 1/4 cc per pound for upset belly, relieves vomiting, stomach gas, diarrhea
  • Emitrol - 1/4 cc per pound relieves vomiting
  • Nutracal or Nutri-drops - White Karo Syrup will work in a pinchfor Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar (always see your vet) Pedialyte unflavored - Gatorade will work in a pinch - 50/50 into fresh drinking
  • WARNING: Never use products that contain Tylenol, Ibuprofen or Motrin they're poisonous to dogs


HOTLINE FOR PETS Be patient. The person answering the phone may have to take a few minutes to consult the vet on duty. Call as soon as possible. Immediate attention might save your animal. But waiting to see if there is a reaction could cost your animal their life. Have any product labels available for answers. The vet might need to know milligrams and generic names.