It is important that you know how to care for your dog. To help you, we have gathered a wealth of information, from hair and leg care to tips on your dental health.
The care of your puppy’s legs
The legs of a puppy have to travel a lot on a normal day: asphalt, cement, grass, mud, gravel and possibly broken glass. The pads of the dogs are designed to be resistant, but those of the puppies will not have hardened yet, so you will have to help your puppy to take care of them.
Inspect the hooves on walks
When you go for a walk, see if your puppy licks or lifts its hooves. Lifting a leg can mean that your puppy wants to play, but also that it hurts a hoof and wants you to look at it.
After going for a walk, inspect your puppy’s legs for sharp objects or injuries in them. If you find something, you can use tweezers to remove it or consult the veterinarian if you notice irritation or infection in a hoof.
Grooming and care of nails
Long hair can hide dirt, so make sure that the hair between your fingers and the puppy’s nails does not grow too much. If your puppy does not spend a lot of time on hard surfaces like pavements, you may have to cut your nails from time to time, as it can be painful to walk with too long nails.
Nail cutting is not difficult, but you should ask your veterinarian or professional dog groomer to explain how to do it since a mistake can make you meet the puppy’s resistance the next time you want to cut.
Care of the hooves in winter
Salt and gravel from roads can burn the pads of a puppy, as well as the tongue and stomach if they lick them. Consequently, you should dry them with a towel when you get home, and check that there is no salt or gravel between your fingers. A daily application of Vaseline is a great soothing if your puppy has dry or cracked pads.
In the days of very windy and subzero temperatures, there is a real risk that your dog’s legs, muzzle, and ears will freeze due to cold. A coat of the right size is perfect in most cases, but if you spend a lot of time walking through the snow, you might try to find some boots.
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