Nutrition

How much?

Puppies are separated from their mothers at 6 to 8 weeks of age, at the earliest. Switching from milk to solid food should be gradual, not sudden. If the puppy has already consumed solid food before weaning time, the intestinal system will easily adapt. After separation, cow milk is no longer advisable because it can easily cause fermentation, bloating, diarrhea, and, in rare cases, milk allergies.

Puppies up to 3 months old can eat up to 5 times per day. When they are 6 months old it should be decreased to 3 times a day and to twice a day when they reach one year. After one year, it can be possible to decrease meals further, to once per day. When full maturity is reached, fasting can be done once a week, which is mainly recommended in dogs susceptible to obesity.

Food should not be available to the dog at all times and any that is not eaten within 15 minutes should be taken away. It is important that feeding occurs after any big movements, long walks, or play. Intense movement on a gastrointestinal disorder can easily occur. The amount of food is always given for the dog's condition and actual needs.

Room temperature water should always be available to the dog. In the case of illness, hot bitter tea can also be given. Soups and vegetable juices are also suitable for supplementing the fluid.

What?

A compilation of homemade food can be given, but we can also feed canned food to our dogs. Homemade food always contains protein and a garnish (fruits or vegetables). Young, pregnant, or diseased animals may need up to 30-40% protein in their diets whereas 20-30% of protein is enough for healthy adults.

With some diseases, the patient can only have a small amount of protein. Animal-derived proteins, which are mainly heat-treated, often come into consideration, although proteins of vegetable origin (e.g. soy) may be added. Do not feed raw protein. As a source of animal protein, all types of cooked meat (poultry, beef, pork, horse, rabbit, lamb, game), dairy products (yoghurt, kefir, cheese, curd cheese) and boiled eggs can be added. Garnish with cooked rice, noodles, cooked vegetables, muesli, puffed rice, baked goods, household biscuits, dry bread, fruit, or potatoes. Homemade food should never be made spicy.

What not?

It is not beneficial to give pure bone but, if they are given, after feeding is best. It is more advantageous to add bony meat to the garnish, but not in large quantities. Bone meat can be given from 3-4 months old at the earliest, but it is recommended for them to chew large cylindrical bones (e.g. beef leg) in order to facilitate the changing of teeth.

Do not add splintering, sharp (e.g. chicken wing) or bones which can be swallowed (e.g. swine vertebrae). Older dog should be given bones in small quantities, with caution, since their intestinal functions are weaker and often the teeth are flawed. Large amounts of bone can cause constipation in younger animals, so this should be avoided by all means. Puppies love to take a variety of foreign objects into their mouths, which can be dangerous when swallowed. Yarn, thread, string from a chewed blanket, fabric, swallowed small toys, pebbles, chestnuts, walnuts and peach seeds can all easily cause a bowel obstruction.

Walks

How many?

Puppies should not be allowed to walk in the streets or other places where they can meet other dogs until they have adequate protection against major dog diseases. In order to achieve the proper immune status, puppies should be vaccinated according to a well-defined vaccine program.

Optimally, a series vaccinations would begin at 6-8 weeks of age, and the puppy can be taken for its first walk at 12-14 weeks of age. Dogs can be walked any number of times per day, however, it is advisable to have at least three walks daily so they can relieve themselves. A dog with access to or kept in the garden should still be walked.

When?

Walks can be had any time of the day but keep in mind that dogs should be let out to relieve themselves every 8 hours at least.

Where?

It is best to walk in nature however, if it is difficult to reach, then you can visit the natural green areas, or dog trails and parks. From an epidemiological point of view, it is important to clean up the droppings. Dogs should not be able to eat droppings of another dog or animal, pick up strange objects, or drink from puddles. In busy places, it is important to use a leash and it is mandatory to use a muzzle on vehicles. For smaller dogs, the use of the harness is more favorable, where the collar is ideal for larger dogs.

A collar is good if you have a tag with a phone number and name as well as a tag for the rabies vaccine. In the vicinity of the waterside, more attention should be paid to the epidemiological aspects, and the appropriate vaccinations should be given. Swimming in natural waters is not without risk, it is only gradually and cautiously advisable. It is best for the first swim to be in shallow standing water on a warm summer day. For long-eared breeds, it is best to use ear plugs when swimming.

In addition, the risk of ticks at the waterfronts and in the forests is higher, so proper prevention is indispensable. The vaccine for tick-mediated Lyme disease is also recommended. In addition, strict adherence to a regular, broad-spectrum de-worming should be applied.

Bathing?

It is not necessary to bathe puppies until they can go outside. If they get very dirty, because they were soaked in something, wash them with clean, lukewarm tap water up to the dog's chest in a washbasin or bathtub. If only a small area is dirty it can be cleaned with a warm, wet towel. Adult dogs should only be bathed if they are dirty. Usually it is enough to wash the legs, feet, and underbelly. However, if a dog is regularly bathed, it is most often done monthly because more frequent bathing dries out the skin. For bathing, baby shampoo is best. It is not advised to use various expensive shampoos, many of which can have a detrimental effect on sensitive skin.

However, in the case of various skin disorders, excellent therapeutic shampoos are available. The shampoo is always diluted in the bath water and placed on the dog's fur, after which it should be thoroughly rinsed off with lukewarm tap water. Do not dip the dog's head under the water or get shampoo in the eyes and ears. After bathing, dry the dog with a soft dry towel and let it shake itself off. Then, the fur should be brushed. In colder weather, it is advisable for the dog to stay inside for one hour or until fully dry.

If the fur is not shiny or healthy after bathing and brushing, you may want to give skin nourishing vitamins. It is a good idea to bathe before applying flea treatments so that the active ingredient can better penetrate the skin. After using these products, however, it is certainly not advisable to get the fur wet for several days.

Grooming?

Regular grooming is necessary for some dog breeds. For health reasons, it is advisable to emphasize the care of the eyes, mouth, ear, toes, and rectum, for which it is preferable to ask a veterinarian. Hair around the eyes does not damage the cornea, however tears collecting in the hair of the inner corners and underneath the eyes can be unhealthy. Hairs hanging around the mouth may also get food stuck in them. Dogs with longer ears tend to be prone to inflammation and infection, so they need to be taken care of.

The fur between the toes and in the ears should be trimmed to prevent awns (grass seeds) getting stuck. For long haired dogs, it is also a good idea to trim fur in their armpits to prevent mats. Overgrown nails should be trimmed regularly. In some individuals, emptying of the anal glands is not done with the excretion of feces, which causes difficult defecation, bottom dragging, or scooting. In this case, it is essential to have your veterinarian express the glands.