A New Puppy!

Are you thinking of getting a puppy or have you just welcomed one into your home? To help you provide the best care and guide your puppy into a healthy adult dog, we have compiled some important information for you.

Getting a puppy

Buying a puppy is a big decision, and before making this choice, it is important to consider the following:

• Do you have enough time to raise a puppy?
• Do you have enough time to give the dog sufficient attention and take it for regular walks?
• Are you aware of the costs associated with owning a dog?
• If you go on vacation and the dog stays at home, is there someone to take care of it, or will you take it to a kennel?
• Is your living situation suitable for having a dog?
• Are you aware that a pedigree dog typically lives between 10 and 12 years?

Once you have decided to get a puppy, you can start thinking about what type of dog you want and where to get it. For example: Do you want a pedigree dog, or would you prefer a puppy from a shelter? Do you want a puppy from the Netherlands, or would you consider one from abroad? What type of dog suits your lifestyle? Would you like a male or female? And what temperament are you looking for in a dog?

To help you make the right choice, you can read more about selecting the right breed for your lifestyle here: Which Dog Breed is Right for Me?

In addition to these questions, it is very important to carefully consider where the puppy comes from. Ideally, you want to buy a healthy and well-socialized puppy. The LICG has an extensive Puppy Checklist that outlines what to look for when buying a puppy. View the Puppy Checklist here!

Microchipping

Since 2013, it has been mandatory in the Netherlands for all puppies to be microchipped before the age of 7 weeks. How does this work? Most puppies leave their mother at around 8 weeks, so your puppy has likely already been microchipped. If you are breeding puppies yourself, you will need to ensure this is done.

The microchip is placed under the skin and contains a unique number that identifies your dog. It is important that the puppy is registered in your name. You can check this at www.chipnummer.nl. If your puppy is not yet registered, you can do so via the NDG (Nederlandse Databank Gezelschapsdieren).

Puppy deworming schedule

The most common worm in puppies is called Toxocara canis. This worm can cause problems such as weight loss, vomiting, and diarrhea. All puppies can be infected with these worms via the womb and through their mother’s milk. Even after leaving their mother, puppies can still pick up worms by licking their fur or by eating feces and other items found outside. These worms are contagious to humans, especially children, so it is important to properly deworm your puppy.

Recommended deworming schedule for puppies:

• 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks old
• 3, 4, 5, and 6 months old
• Then, lifelong every three months

For effective deworming, we recommend Milbemax® or Milpro® chewable tablets.

From 6 months of age, it is also possible to check whether deworming is necessary based on a fecal examination. We can perform this test at our clinic, and results are often available the same day.

For more information about worms and the health risks for both humans and pets, please visit the ESCCAP website.

Vaccinating your puppy

Newborn puppies are initially protected against certain diseases by antibodies received from their mother through the womb and mother’s milk. These antibodies are gradually used up during the first weeks of life. Vaccinating at the correct time ensures that the puppy develops its own protection as the maternal antibodies decrease.

During the first year of life, puppies receive three vaccinations, typically at 6, 9, and 12 weeks of age. These vaccinations safely expose your puppy to different pathogens, allowing the immune system to develop specific antibodies and immune cells that protect against these diseases.

In the Netherlands, puppies are routinely vaccinated against the following diseases:

• Leptospirosis (Weil’s disease)
• Parvovirus
• Canine Hepatitis (Infectious Canine Hepatitis)
• Kennel cough
• Canine distemper

After this initial series, annual vaccinations are sufficient to maintain lifelong protection.

If you plan to travel abroad with your dog, an additional rabies vaccination is required. For most countries, this must be administered at least three weeks before departure. (For country-specific requirements, see the LICG website.) Rabies vaccination can be given to puppies from 3 months of age.

Flea prevention for your puppy

Fleas can cause significant discomfort for both you and your pet. They lead to intense itching and can even trigger allergic reactions. Since dogs go outside year-round and come into contact with other animals, we recommend monthly treatment with an effective flea product. There are various options available, such as spot-on treatments, tablets, or collars. For advice on which product is suitable and safe for your puppy, our assistants are always happy to help.

Do not wait until your puppy already has fleas to start treatment. Adult fleas can lay up to 100 eggs per day, which can develop into new fleas within three months. This makes it difficult to get rid of an infestation once it occurs. Prevention is therefore much better than cure. For more information, visit the ESCCAP website.

Contact with other dogs

Between 3 and 12 weeks of age, puppies go through their first socialization phase. During this period, they are naturally curious and eager to explore. It is very important that they are introduced to a variety of experiences—such as cars, trams, cats, people, and other stimuli—so they learn that these things are not frightening.

After the second vaccination at around 9 weeks of age, it becomes important for your puppy to gradually interact with other dogs. Taking your puppy to a puppy training class at an early age is highly recommended. Here, your puppy will learn to interact with different breeds that they may not have encountered in the litter, helping them develop good social skills.

Nutrition for your puppy

During the first six months, your puppy goes through a significant growth spurt. To ensure healthy development, a well-balanced puppy food is very important. We recommend Hill’s Vet Essentials puppy food, which has been scientifically proven to contain the right amounts of minerals, vitamins, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants to support the development of the immune system, bones and joints, skin, and proper digestion. This food, along with tailored advice, is available at our clinics.

For dogs that will weigh more than 25 kg as adults, there is special puppy food for large breeds. This contains less energy and calcium to prevent too rapid growth, which helps reduce the risk of bone and joint problems during development. Small breed dogs should remain on puppy food until 12 months of age, while large breeds should continue until 18 months.

When changing your puppy’s food, it is important to do so gradually to avoid gastrointestinal issues, as a puppy’s digestive system is still very sensitive during the first year of life.

Feeding frequency guidelines:

• Up to 3 months: four meals per day
• 3 to 6 months: three meals per day
• From 6 months: two meals per day

Walking your puppy

Walking your new puppy is both fun and very important. Start with short walks and avoid long periods of walking at once. As a guideline, the maximum number of minutes per walk can correspond to your puppy’s age in weeks (for example, a 9-week-old puppy should walk no longer than 9 minutes at a time).

You can, however, go outside as often as you like—just keep each walk short in the beginning.

Teething

Your puppy’s milk teeth consist of 28 teeth (12 incisors, 4 canines, and 12 premolars). From around 3–4 months of age, the milk teeth gradually start to be replaced by the adult teeth, which total 42 (12 incisors, 4 canines, 16 premolars, and 10 molars). During this teething period, puppies often have an increased need to chew. As the adult teeth grow, the roots of the milk teeth are resorbed, causing the milk teeth to eventually fall out.

Sometimes, milk teeth do not fall out properly, resulting in both the milk tooth and adult tooth being present in the mouth at the same time. When a milk tooth remains, the adult tooth may not come in correctly, often leading to misalignment. This condition is called persistent milk teeth. In many cases, it is necessary to have the milk tooth removed by a veterinarian—do not wait too long. Persistent milk teeth are most commonly seen in the incisors and canines, especially in smaller breeds. We recommend having your puppy’s teeth checked at 6 months of age during our adolescent consultation.

To maintain your puppy’s dental health, it is advisable to get them used to tooth brushing at a young age. If you are interested, our assistants will be happy to show you how.

In Heat and Spaying

The first time a female dog goes in heat usually occurs between 6 and 12 months of age. Smaller breeds often experience it earlier, while larger breeds may go in heat later. If you do not plan to breed your dog, we recommend having her spayed about three months after her first heat.

There are several health reasons to spay female dogs:

• Prevention of mammary tumors later in life. Research clearly shows that the risk of developing mammary tumors increases with each heat cycle.
• Prevention of uterine infections (pyometra) later in life. About 1 in 3 unspayed females eventually develop pyometra, which can make your dog very ill and often requires urgent surgery.
• In rare cases, females may develop diabetes due to hormonal changes during the heat cycle.

Other benefits of spaying include no more heat cycles, prevention of unwanted mating, and prevention of false pregnancies (pseudopregnancy).

One potential downside of spaying is the risk of incontinence. This occurs occasionally in larger breeds (such as Boxers, Dobermans, Bouvier des Flandres, Irish Setters, Old English Sheepdogs, Weimaraners, and Rottweilers) and rarely or almost never in smaller breeds. The risk of incontinence is lower if the female is spayed after only one heat.

Neutering male dogs

Male dogs can be neutered from around 6 months of age. Unlike in the past, neutering is no longer done routinely. For most males, neutering is not necessary. In fact, your dog may stay leaner and more muscular later in life without being neutered.

There are, however, situations where neutering may be desirable, such as:

• Behavioral issues: examples include dominance over other dogs, difficult behavior around females in heat, or mounting people or objects.
• Medical reasons: such as inflammation of the foreskin (balanoposthitis) or prostate problems.

It is important to understand that neutering is not 100% effective in reducing unwanted behavior. Some behaviors may be learned rather than hormonally driven. However, neutering does often make male dogs calmer.

If you would like to temporarily see the effect of neutering, it is also possible to use chemical castration first. This involves giving your dog an implant that works for 6 or 12 months, preventing the testicles from producing testosterone. This has almost the same effect as surgical neutering.

Weight gain after spaying/neutering

After spaying or neutering, your dog’s metabolism changes, which can cause them to gain weight more easily. This can be prevented by putting your dog on a low-calorie diet or by reducing their food intake by about ¼.

We have several nutrition experts on our team who can provide personalized dietary advice to help manage your dog’s weight.

Coat care for puppies

Dogs require regular coat care, and it is important to introduce this gradually so your puppy can get used to it. The schedule below shows the type of grooming needed for each coat type.

Adolescent consultation

Puppies go through adolescence too! From around 5–6 months of age, your dog’s behavior and obedience may change due to hormonal fluctuations. This is often the time when some dogs start testing their position in the pack hierarchy and may occasionally ignore commands. It is very important to remain consistent and clear during this period and not allow your dog to push boundaries.

To support you during this stage, we offer an adolescent puppy check-up at 6 months of age with one of our veterinary assistants. During this consultation, we will examine your dog, review growth, teeth, weight, and overall development, and give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. This is also a great way for your puppy to learn that visits to the veterinary clinic are not frightening.

If you have any further questions, please let us know. You are also always welcome to drop by without an appointment to have your puppy weighed and help them get used to visiting the clinic.