Baby Care Information & Advice

Sharon Price asked:

When you make the decision to get a new household member of the small fluffy furry kind there are several things you should know about taking care of a new puppy before you go and look at them.

You first of all need to decide what breed of dog you want although taking care of a new puppy of any breed requires the same attention when they are young but they do grow very quickly and you do not want to get a breed that will grow into a big dog if you feel that you will not be able to take care of it as you did when it was young.

When you bring a puppy home, he or she will usually be around 8 weeks old. Most good breeders will not allow them to leave their mother much before this date. Taking care of a new puppy at this young age requires a warm room and a warm place to sleep. You will also need to have several supplies for taking care of your new puppy. At that time, you will find that you need to make sure that you have several supplies ready. You should have a place that the puppy can be during the day, where he can play, eat, and piddle, without a problem.

Young Puppies:

If you are taking care of a new puppy that has just been born and is still with the mother you need to have an environment where you can have the puppies where you can easily control the temperature, and you have to be sure that the puppies are warm. You also should provide a place that is safe for them so that they don’t get hurt by accident. You will also need to make sure that the mother is comfortable with fresh drinking water at all times. Taking care of a new puppy at this stage must be carefully monitored to ensure that the mother does not accidentally trample on or suffocate her new puppies.

One of the best general puppy care tips in taking care of your new puppy is that you need to remember to socialize your puppy. No matter what kind of puppy you have, you will see that it is important you socialize them all of the time. Your puppy will be fine around anything you want, as long as you expose them to these things when they are young. This means that you have to let them be around children and babies and other animals to make sure that they are socialized but only when they reach about eight weeks old.

Safe And Healthy

When taking care of a new puppy there are many general puppy care tips that involve keeping your dog safe and healthy. You will need to take your puppy to the vets so that he or she can be checked over and weighed and given any appropriate medication. You will also be given advice on taking care of your new puppy with the type and amounts of food and exercise you should be giving to him or her. The vet will also advise you when its vaccinations, worming and flea treatments are due.

One of the best general puppy care tips that you can get is to make sure that your puppy has the proper amount of love. It might sound silly, but a puppy needs love to thrive on more than anything. You have to be sure that you are always being kind and gentle with your puppy, because that is the best way to have your puppy grow into the dog you want him to be. Taking care of a new puppy is hard work and it will require commitment and training from you but the rewards of taking care of a new puppy far outweigh the work involved. You must remember that one day the little puppy will grow into a dog and will be relying on you for the next 10-15 years.

Gerald Mcnicholl asked:

To get your puppy off to a good start, schedule a veterinary check-up within the first 48 hours of bringing it home. You can then get a clean bill of health, a schedule for future vaccinations and spay/neuter surgeries and advice on food, training, parasite preventatives and trainer recommendations.

What to consider before getting a puppy?

* Investigate the breeds and mixes. * Ensure you are familiar with the breed’s adult size & personality traits. * Estimate costs of regular veterinary care, flea/tick and heartworm prevention. * Estimate costs of grooming, food and how it fits into your lifestyle or family life.

How to keep your puppy safe?

* Create a safe environment at your home. A puppy, just like a human baby, finds the tiniest nooks and crannies to get into and they often get into trouble playing with computer cables, electric cords, cleaning products, pantyhose, etc. Hide or contain wires and cables, put baby locks on low cabinets (little paws and noses can pry doors open), pick up stray strings, needles, paperclips, shoelaces, and move valuables, books and breakables to new heights. * Crate – search for one with enough room for your puppy to turn around, lie down and sleep but not too spacious as this leaves room for it to eliminate in areas where it doesn’t sleep. * Until your puppy has finished all rounds of immunisation, he should not mix with a lot of strange dogs or be where there is a high volume of other dogs walking, as he needs to be fully protected before venturing in public places.

What are the handy things you need to have to care for a puppy?

* Use non-tipping metal food and water dishes – this helps keep the dishes from sliding.

* Buy some stain and odour neutralizer – your puppy will always be drawn to areas where “accidents” took place, a good neutralizer will eliminate odours from its urine or stool.

* Buy a brush, nail clipper and a comb if your puppy will eventually grow into a dog with a medium to long coat.

* Get an adjustable collar, identification tag and a six-foot nylon or leather leash with a small clip. Try to avoid chain collars or leashes.

How to house-train (potty-train) your puppy?

* House-training a puppy is not difficult if you’re consistent and stick to a schedule. You will probably be feeding three times a day. First thing in the morning, take the puppy out of its crate and quickly take it outside to where you’d like it to eliminate. Be patient, and as soon as your puppy starts to eliminate, CALMLY praise it with “Good dog” (or whatever term you’d like to use). When your puppy has finished all its business, take a few minutes to play or cuddle it. What you want to teach your puppy is the sooner it eliminates, the sooner it gets to play with you. When playtime is over, bring it inside, feed your puppy breakfast and let it have water. In about 15-20 minutes, take it outside again and repeat the routine. Once back inside, if you have time to monitor your puppy, you may let it explore its surroundings. After that, put it back in its crate.

* Never leave your puppy in the crate for more than its limit in controlling its bladder. Usually a puppy can hold it for as many hours as its age in months. For example, a 2-month old puppy can stay in the crate for no more than 2 hours, as long as it has eliminated before being crated. Repeat the feeding, elimination, play routine at lunch and dinner, then no more water or food 2 hours before bedtime. If the weather is very warm, a few ice cubes in your puppy’s water bowl will quench its thirst but not stimulate its bladder like water will. Generally, at 8 weeks to 3 months, your puppy will have developed better bladder and bowel control and is capable of sleeping through the night. But remember to take your puppy out first thing in the morning!

* When your puppy pees on one spot, he tends to go back to exactly the same place over and over because your puppy recognises the smell. Therefore take your puppy to the same spot every time. If your puppy does it in the right spot, lavish him with lots of praises! Use your happy voice, your puppy will soon know he did it right and will want to do it right the next time.

* If your puppy had an accident somewhere inside the house, make sure you clean the floor or the carpet thoroughly to neutralise the smell. A good quality pet odour remover should do the trick.

* Each time you want your puppy to defecate or urinate, teach you puppy a specific word by repeating the same word many times, for example “go poop”, “go potty”. By repeating the same words each time, it will become another command for your puppy and he will be able to do it when you mention the command.

* Ideally you will have a dog door installed so that your puppy can be trained to go outside when it needs to eliminate. If this is not practical, keep an eye on your puppy, try to observe how your puppy normally acts before he pees, and take him outside as soon as you see the signs. You can also teach your puppy to ask for the door, but that might take some time.

* Establish a routine – for example, after a nap or before play time, take your puppy outside to eliminate.

What are the development stages and behaviours you can expect from a puppy to a dog?

* The Juvenile Stage: 3 to 4 Months

The Juvenile stage typically lasts from 3 to 4 months of age, and it’s during this time your puppy behaves a little more independent – he might start ignoring the commands he’s only recently learned and tries to exert his new-found independence with its “I don’t have to listen to you” attitude!

You will need to apply firm and gentle reinforcement of commands and training at this stage. Your puppy might even start biting you, play biting or even a real attempt to challenge your authority. A sharp “No!” or “No biting!” command, followed by several minutes of ignoring him should take care of this problem.

When you bond with your puppy, avoid games like tug of war or wrestling with him. He may perceive tug of war as a game of dominance – especially if he wins and wrestling is another game that can rapidly get out of control. As your puppy’s strength grows, he will want to play-fight to see who is stronger – even if you win, the message your puppy receives is that it’s alright to fight with you but this is NOT the message you want to send out!

* The Brat Stage: 4 to 6 Months

Your puppy will demonstrate even more independence and wilfulness during the Brat Stage which begins at about 4 months and runs until about 6 months. You may observe a decline in his urge to please you – expect to see more “testing the limits” type behaviours. During this time he’ll be going through a teething cycle and will also be looking for things to chew on to relieve the pain and pressure. Frozen doggie bones can help sooth him during this period.

Your puppy may try to assert his new “dominance” over other family members, especially children. It is common for puppies at this age to ignore commands to return or come to their owners, which can be a dangerous, even fatal, breakdown in your dog’s response to you. If you turn him loose in a public place, and he bolts, the chances of injury or even death can result – so don’t take the chance. Continue his obedience and basic commands training, but make sure to never let him off his leash during this time unless you’re in a confined area.

Your puppy will now begin to go through the hormonal changes brought on by his growing sexual maturity and you may see signs of rebelliousness. (Think adolescent teen-age boy!) If you haven’t already, you should have your puppy neutered (or spayed if you have a female) during this time.

* The Young Adult Stage: 6 to 18 Months

From 6 months to approximately 18 months, the Young Adulthood stage takes place and is usually a stabilising time in your puppy’s life. He’s young, he’s exuberant, he’s bursting with energy and yet he’s learning all the things he needs to become a full-fledged adult dog. Be realistic in your expectations of your dog at this time, just because he’s approaching his full growth and may look like an adult dog, he’s not as seasoned and experienced as you might expect.

Slowly increase the scope of activities and training for your dog. You can start more advanced training during this period, such as herding or agility training. Otherwise, extend his activities to include more people and other animals – allow him to interact with non-threatening or non-aggressive dogs.

Jodi Adams asked:

Since baby guinea pigs are so small and tiny it’s always a good idea to take more precautions to help to make them safe while they are in their cage.  Take their little heads for example, their heads could easily become stuck in between the bars and this would lead to asphyxiation.

One way to prevent this from happening is to line the cage walls with cardboard from the bottom up to around one foot.  If your cage is made from wire grid, then you could add a new wall by placing more grid on the outside and then putting cardboard in between the two cage walls.  After the babies have gotten to be around 4-6 months old this extra wall or cardboard can be removed.  They have now gotten big enough to not worry about their little heads becoming stuck.

After the new babies are born and mom has had time to sufficiently bond and clean them it will be safe for you to touch the newborn pups.  Your smell on the new pups will not affect the mom from taking care of them herself.  This would also be a great time to monitor their weight.  By keeping track of their weight this will give you some idea of how well their health is coming along.

If by chance your baby pup is not growing at the same rate an another one then you will need to step in and place this pup with the mom alone at feeding time.  This will ensure that this little pup is receiving their fair share.  If this pups weight does not improve or any of the others are not gaining weight, then you need to get in contact with your veterinarian as quickly as possible.

Baby pups also require alfalfa rich hay in the form of pellets as it is beneficial to their growing needs and is also good for a pregnant guinea pig.  Since guinea pigs are a plant based eater they need to not be given, sugars, fats, seeds/nut or animal products.  They do need a fresh supply of water kept at hand and timothy hay.

Jodi Adams asked:

Since baby guinea pigs are so small and tiny it’s always a good idea to take more precautions to help to make them safe while they are in their cage.  Take their little heads for example, their heads could easily become stuck in between the bars and this would lead to asphyxiation.

One way to prevent this from happening is to line the cage walls with cardboard from the bottom up to around one foot.  If your cage is made from wire grid, then you could add a new wall by placing more grid on the outside and then putting cardboard in between the two cage walls.  After the babies have gotten to be around 4-6 months old this extra wall or cardboard can be removed.  They have now gotten big enough to not worry about their little heads becoming stuck.

After the new babies are born and mom has had time to sufficiently bond and clean them it will be safe for you to touch the newborn pups.  Your smell on the new pups will not affect the mom from taking care of them herself.  This would also be a great time to monitor their weight.  By keeping track of their weight this will give you some idea of how well their health is coming along.

If by chance your baby pup is not growing at the same rate an another one then you will need to step in and place this pup with the mom alone at feeding time.  This will ensure that this little pup is receiving their fair share.  If this pups weight does not improve or any of the others are not gaining weight, then you need to get in contact with your veterinarian as quickly as possible.

Baby pups also require alfalfa rich hay in the form of pellets as it is beneficial to their growing needs and is also good for a pregnant guinea pig.  Since guinea pigs are a plant based eater they need to not be given, sugars, fats, seeds/nut or animal products.  They do need a fresh supply of water kept at hand and timothy hay.

Connie Limon asked:

There are usually three major concerns of new or expectant parents when it comes to mixing pets with their family. Those are:

 

 

•· How to prevent pet behavior problems when the baby arrives

 

•· How to introduce the baby to the family cat

 

•· How to keep the baby safe around the cat

 

 

It is not uncommon for pet owners to assume jealousy is the cause of problem behaviors associated with the arrival of a new baby; however, this is not always the case. Cats become stressed by significant alterations in the environment. Family interactions between each other can cause distress for the cat. Stress is usually the main cause of the problems. The following changes all affect the cat:

 

 

•· Changes in feeding

 

•· Changes in exercise routines

 

•· Changes in play schedules

 

•· Changes in what the cat is allowed or not allowed to do

 

•· Changes in how the pet gets attention

 

•· Inconsistencies in the way the owner interacts with the pet

 

•· New structures and odors in the home

 

 

All the above can lead to problem behaviors in the cat.

 

 

Cats do not instinctively know how to act around children. Children need to learn to interact with cats as well. Most cats accept the new arrival without a lot of fuss; however, there are always exceptions to this rule. Some cats will not accept a new baby in their family. In addition, cats can be unpredictable around children. Their behavior can range from total avoidance to intense interest. There is good news in that most problems can be avoided with some forethought, planning and training.

 

 

The number one rule to follow is: Limit the amount of changes the cat will have to experience because of the new arrival.

 

 

Cat’s reactions to babies can be:

 

 

•· Adapts quickly to the new baby either by ignoring it completely or seeking baby out for investigation or social contact with some cheek rubbing, etc. Of course, you want to monitor all the contact, the cat may decide to check out the new baby in ways you would not approve of such as a quick scratch down the cheek, maybe not even meaning it to be malicious.

 

•· Other cats may respond with inquisitive, playful and affectionate overtures toward the new baby.

 

•· All cat and baby interactions need to be closely supervised.

 

•· It is rare that cats spread any kind of disease to humans. Most problems occur from a scratch or bite that can be avoided with close supervision.

 

 

Three basic considerations for helping cats best adapt to new babies include:

 

 

•· Adapt the cat’s schedule so it is prepared for the arrival

 

•· Adapt owner interactions with cat to be similar to what will happen when the baby arrives so there is not a lot of sudden change.

 

•· Adapt cat’s environment slowly to prepare for baby’s arrival. For example, if you will need to keep the cat totally separate from the family unit during certain times of the day, then start this routine before the baby arrives. If you will need to change the cat’s feeding station, play times or anything else concerning the cat’s schedule, do this well in advance of the baby’s arrival so the cat is well accustomed to these changes.

 

•· Most families have the baby’s room and furniture already in place before baby’s arrival. This is more important from the cat’s point of view. Be sure to have all new pieces of furniture in place well in advance of baby’s arrival. Some cats are stressed by new structures and new odors. Give your cat time to adjust to baby’s necessities.

 

•· Cats may be a little fearful or anxious of strange sounds. Try to record baby noises of cooing, screaming, and crying and replay the sounds for the cat to become well accustomed to new sounds of baby.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

John Simmons asked:

If there are baby dogs, cats or rabbits, then there are also baby iguanas. It is during this stage that these iguanas appear in their most fragile and need your loving care the most. Although they appear like they are easy to take of in their small appearance, proper precaution is needed so that they will be healthy in their older years.

Just like any juvenile pet, there are certain requirements that you need to provide for your baby iguana. Although they are not as meticulous and as herd to get as any other pet food, you should also consider if these things will be perfect for your iguana. You do not want them to become sickly and eventually die even before you see them in their full sizes, now do you?

Here are some of the important factors you need to consider when taking care of your baby iguana.

Not just any other type of cage will do. Though it does not matter what kind it is made of, you need to consider what should be inside the cage that the iguana will need.

An example is having something in them that will keep your pet warm during the night. Check out for carpeting or artificial turf to cover the flooring area of the cage. If you do not have the budget for it, you can opt for newspapers because they work just as well.

Since iguanas live on trees, you need to set up some branches for your pet to climb on to. Climbing on branches will form part of their leisure and movements. Just make sure that the branches are stable enough to hold their weight in case they lay down on them.

Baby iguanas should always be warm in order to stay healthy. Since you have no way of telling this just by looking at them, you can put a thermometer inside their cage so you can monitor the changes in the temperature inside the cage.

Make certain that you maintain a temperature of 70 degrees during the night and 85 degrees in the day. It is also a good idea for the cage for its shelter to be placed near a source of heat. You will see that your pet is inclined to have a comfortable rest if they stay close to that heat being radiated.

Special monitoring of temperature is required during the cold season. Check the shelter regularly. You would not want your pet to freeze to death without you knowing.

Baby iguanas need to have a diet that is rich in Vitamin D3, phosphorous and calcium. Lots of greens are also needed. You can also give them vegetables and fruits that you yourself are consuming.

Baby iguanas are not used to being fed any kind of food. Their digestive system is not as strong and as flexible as cats or dogs. Know what kind of food they can take and what they cannot.

Your baby iguana can grow up healthy and strong just by taking care of them the way you do any kind of pet. If it is absolutely necessary, you can consult a vet that specializes in iguana for things that are far beyond your comprehension. They will be able to give you sound advices regarding your baby iguana and the things that you need to do.

Jodi Adams asked:

Since baby guinea pigs are so small and tiny it’s always a good idea to take more precautions to help to make them safe while they are in their cage.  Take their little heads for example, their heads could easily become stuck in between the bars and this would lead to asphyxiation.

One way to prevent this from happening is to line the cage walls with cardboard from the bottom up to around one foot.  If your cage is made from wire grid, then you could add a new wall by placing more grid on the outside and then putting cardboard in between the two cage walls.  After the babies have gotten to be around 4-6 months old this extra wall or cardboard can be removed.  They have now gotten big enough to not worry about their little heads becoming stuck.

After the new babies are born and mom has had time to sufficiently bond and clean them it will be safe for you to touch the newborn pups.  Your smell on the new pups will not affect the mom from taking care of them herself.  This would also be a great time to monitor their weight.  By keeping track of their weight this will give you some idea of how well their health is coming along.

If by chance your baby pup is not growing at the same rate an another one then you will need to step in and place this pup with the mom alone at feeding time.  This will ensure that this little pup is receiving their fair share.  If this pups weight does not improve or any of the others are not gaining weight, then you need to get in contact with your veterinarian as quickly as possible.

Baby pups also require alfalfa rich hay in the form of pellets as it is beneficial to their growing needs and is also good for a pregnant guinea pig.  Since guinea pigs are a plant based eater they need to not be given, sugars, fats, seeds/nut or animal products.  They do need a fresh supply of water kept at hand and timothy hay.

Clarence Clark asked:

Baby huskies often bring an abundance of joy to the family that adopts them. These cute puppies however, require much more attention than adult huskies in order for them to grow healthily into full grown dogs. Improper care of your cute baby huskies can often lead to illnesses and even stunted growth. We provide you with useful information for caring for your cute baby huskies.

Your baby husky emerges into this world with an under developed coat of fur. As such, it would require the warmth of its mother as it is still unable to produce sufficient body heat. Leave your baby husky next to its mother and sufficiently line the kennels with towels and heating pads. This is important as insufficient warmth would result in your baby husky developing severe bouts of chill.

It is important for your baby husky to be fed ample supplies of milk from its mother as it is still not ready to consume dog food of any sort. When the mother husky has run out of milk, consult your vet for a commercially available puppy formula. Never let your baby puppy consume milk formula for human babies as it would often lead to indigestion in the baby husky. In general, puppy formula requires conditioning to get used to, thus always prepare early so that in the initial stage you would be able to feed your husky puppy with a mix of its mother’s milk as well as commercially available formula.

Visits to the vet are a must for your husky puppy. This should take the form of a general checkup and subsequent regular scheduled checkups. For the general checkup, bring along a sample of your baby husky’s stool for the prescription of an appropriate de-wormer. At six to eight weeks old, another visit is necessary for vaccination purposes. In general, vets dispense valuable advice concerning the raising of your baby husky into full-grown adults. In addition, they may also provide valuable suggestions on issues such as the nutritional needs of your cute baby huskies.

It is important for the mother husky to clean its babies. This not only serves to keep the baby husky clean, but also to stimulate the puppy’s bowel and urinary functions. These are important to the baby husky’s overall health as failure to do so would often result in complicated health-related problems in the long run. You could also assist the puppy’s bowel function by gently rubbing your puppy’s genital area.

Ultimately, caring for your cute baby huskies is not something that can be done easily. Rather, it requires a great deal of time and commitment. From this point of view, people should not consider getting baby huskies simply because of their cuteness, but should give such a decision careful thought before getting huskies as pets. For those who are able to put in the necessary time, effort and commitment, you would definitely be rewarded amply as you watch your cute baby huskies grow healthily into full-grown adults. You would then be able to enjoy a fulfilling long term relationship with your huskies.