Virginia-based veterinarian Dr. Katy Nelson has three words of advice for dog owners thinking about breeding their dogs: Don’t do it. “Just because your dog is cute and your neighbor’s dog is cute does not mean they should get together to make puppies,” says Nelson. “You need experience and know-how to breed. It’s not something to be taken lightly.”

Nelson suggests spaying and neutering to avoid unplanned pregnancies. If you do find yourself tasked with the care of a pregnant dog, there are important steps you can take to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Below, Nelson weighs in on how to provide the best prenatal and postnatal care for your pet.

Veterinary Visits
When you first suspect your dog is expecting, it’s important that her veterinarian examine her in order to confirm the diagnosis. “Infections to the uterus can mimic pregnancy, with an enlarged midsection and discharge,” says Nelson. “These infections can be life-threatening, so it’s important to rule this out.”

Once your vet establishes your dog is indeed pregnant, her vaccination schedule should be checked to make sure she is up-to-date. “Maternal antibodies last 12 weeks in puppies,” explains Nelson, adding that the puppies “benefit from having a fully vaccinated mother.”

Dogs gestate their babies for nine weeks. Your dog will see her doctor two or three times during this period. The veterinarian can help you to anticipate what to expect during labor, especially if your breed has notoriously difficult deliveries. “Dogs with large heads and small butts often have labor complications,” says Nelson. “For example, bulldogs almost always need C-sections.”

Nutrition and Exercise
Because her most pressing need during pregnancy is for more calories, a pregnant dog should be fed a nutrient-dense puppy formula beginning immediately after her status as a mother-to-be is confirmed. Make sure, however, that the formula you choose is for small- to medium-sized pups, as large-breed puppy food contains fewer calories in order to slow growth.

Like a pregnant human, a pregnant dog can benefit from regular exercise. Stick with low-impact exercise, such as walking and chasing. If her muscles stay toned, she’ll have a safer labor and delivery.”

Labor Day
In advance, prepare a private, quiet place for the birth to occur. “Like human females, a female dog doesn’t want 10 people in the room when she’s in labor,” says Nelson. She suggests providing your pet with a birthing area — a comfortable bed or box. Nelson also suggests a room with a tiled floor to make cleanup easier.

Your veterinarian should speak with you about the signs that your dog is going into labor. “She may become very aloof, or on the flip side, very clingy,” says Nelson. Follow your dog’s lead: If she doesn’t want company, don’t force it on her. “Her hormones are raging. She’s very protective of these arriving babies. Read her body language and take it seriously.”

Postpartum
As with your pregnant dog, the most important consideration for your new mother is nutrition, specifically a higher caloric intake. She should continue to eat puppy food until her puppies have weaned (about eight weeks after birth). “Especially if the litter is big — more than three puppies — intense nutritional support is in order,” says Nelson. Consult your dog’s veterinarian about how much food she’ll need.

You should also be tuned in to the mother’s overall health. Postpartum dogs can develop eclampsia, which results from a calcium imbalance and can be life-threatening. It usually happens within a week of delivery, and signs include shaking, seizures and lethargy. If your dog exhibits these, get her to the vet immediately.

With the right medical and nutritional support, every dog can have a healthy pregnancy and a happy Mother’s Day — every day.

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ATLANTA (AP) — An Atlanta-area animal shelter that closed to suppress an infection resulting in at least four dog deaths could reopen as early as Friday.

Cobb County spokesman Ross Cavitt has said tests on dogs at the county shelter showed they had the highly contagious illness streptococcus zooepidemicus. The often fatal bacterial infection affects animals’ respiratory systems.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the shelter closed two weeks ago and stopped accepting new animals. In a county message on Twitter Monday, cleaners could be seen in full body suits scrubbing cages.

Cavitt said on Tuesday that remaining animals were being vaccinated and the facility is preparing to reopen by the end of the week.

The newspaper says animals adopted days before the closure didn’t exhibit symptoms after leaving.

Remaining animals have been held off-site.

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The Mississippi State Department of Health has created a new policy allowing pet dogs to be present at restaurants and other food facilities under specific conditions.

MSDH has examined policies in other states and believes with the proper hygienic conditions public health can be protected, and local businesses wanting to accommodate their clientele can be supported.

OWNERS: This policy takes effect Friday, November 1, 2019. Check local and county ordinances to ensure that dog-friendly restaurants are not otherwise prohibited.

Conditions to Ensure Public Health

• No pet dogs will be allowed inside a food facility (with the exceptions of service animals).
• A separate outside entrance to the designated outdoor dog-friendly area must be established.
• All tableware in the area must be disposable.
• Pet dogs will not be allowed to come in contact with serving dishes, utensils, tableware, linens or any other items involved in food service operations.
• Pet dogs must be kept on a leash at all times, and employees may not touch or handle the animal.
• Employees who do come into contact with a pet dog should immediately wash their hands.
• Any accident involving dog waste must be cleaned up immediately and the area sanitized with appropriate products provided by the restaurant.

Permits and Inspections

All restaurants that wish to establish a dining area where dogs are permitted must first submit an application to the Mississippi State Department of Health. Once MSDH receives the application and relevant fee, an inspection of the facility will take place to ensure that dog-friendly requirements are met.

Restaurants with dog-friendly dining areas will be inspected at least twice a year.

Liability

• The restaurant or food facility can deny service if the pet owner fails to exercise reasonable control over the pet dog, or if it behaves in a manner that compromises the health or safety of any person in the restaurant. Failure to comply with the policy could result in a lower inspection grade for the facility or revocation of its permit variance for dog-friendly areas.
• These restaurants must have proper signage defining areas where dogs are permitted.

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GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) — An anonymous donor has given 40,000 pounds of pet food and snacks to the Rogue Valley Humane Society.

The Daily Courier in Grants Pass reported Thursday that most of the food will go to the organization’s pet food bank, which fed 5,000 cats and dogs from low-income households in the last year.

Some of it will also be delivered to homebound seniors who have pets.

Executive Director Margaret Varner says the truckload of donated food will cover the needs of both programs for at least six months.

The shelter itself is a no-kill facility and has room for 90 cats and 20 adult dogs.

The organization operates on donations and fundraisers and is not affiliated with the Josephine County Animal Shelter.

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Puppies are without a doubt some of the most adorable things on the planet. Parenting a new puppy, however, is no walk in the park. Here’s a guide to help you care for the new addition to the family.

When the time comes to finally bring your new puppy home for the first time, you can pretty much count on three things: unbridled joy, cleaning up your puppy’s accidents, and a major lifestyle adjustment. As you’ll soon learn, a growing puppy needs much more than a food bowl and a doghouse to thrive. And while it may be a lot of work initially, it’s well worth the effort. Establishing good and healthy habits in those first few sleep-deprived weeks will lay the foundation for many dog-years of happiness for you and your puppy.

1. Find a Good Vet

The first place you and your new puppy should go together is, you guessed it, straight to the vet for a checkup. This visit will not only help ensure that your puppy is healthy and free of serious health issues, birth defects, etc., but it will help you take the first steps toward a good preventive health routine. If you don’t have a vet already, ask friends for recommendations. If you got your dog from a shelter, ask their advice as they may have veterinarians they swear by. Local dog walkers and groomers are also a great source of ideas.

2. Make the Most of Your First Vet Visit

Ask your vet which puppy foods he or she recommends, how often to feed, and what portion size to give your pup.

1. Set up a vaccination plan with your vet.
2. Discuss safe options for controlling parasites, both external and internal.
3. Learn which signs of illness to watch for during your puppy’s first few months.
4. Ask about when you should spay or neuter your dog.

3. Shop for Quality Food

Your puppy’s body is growing in critical ways which is why you’ll need to select a food that’s formulated especially for puppies as opposed to adult dogs. Look for a statement from the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) on the packaging to ensure that the food you choose will meet your pup’s nutritional requirements.

Small and medium-sized breeds can make the leap to adult dog food between 9 and 12 months of age. Large breed dogs should stick with puppy kibbles until they reach 2-years-old. Make sure your puppy has fresh and abundant water available at all times.

Feed multiple times a day:

• Age 6-12 weeks – 4 meals per day
• Age 3-6 months – 3 meals per day
• Age 6-12 months – 2 meals per day

4. Establish a Bathroom Routine

Because puppies don’t take kindly to wearing diapers, housetraining quickly becomes a high priority on most puppy owners’ list of must-learn tricks. According to the experts, your most potent allies in the quest to housetrain your puppy are patience, planning, and plenty of positive reinforcement. In addition, it’s probably not a bad idea to put a carpet-cleaning battle plan in place, because accidents will happen.

Until your puppy has had all of her vaccinations, you’ll want to find a place outdoors that’s inaccessible to other animals. This helps reduce the spread of viruses and disease. Make sure to give lots of positive reinforcement whenever your puppy manages to potty outside and, almost equally important, refrain from punishing her when she has accidents indoors.

Knowing when to take your puppy out is almost as important as giving her praise whenever she does eliminate outdoors. Here’s a list of the most common times to take your puppy out to potty.

1. When you wake up.
2. Right before bedtime.
3. Immediately after your puppy eats or drinks a lot of water.
4. When your puppy wakes up from a nap.
5. During and after physical activity.

5. Watch For Early Signs of Illness

For the first few months, puppies are more susceptible to sudden bouts of illnesses that can be serious if not caught in the early stages. If you observe any of the following symptoms in your puppy, it’s time to contact the vet.

1. Lack of appetite
2. Poor weight gain
3. Vomiting
4. Swollen of painful abdomen
5. Lethargy (tiredness)
6. Diarrhea
7. Difficulty breathing
8. Wheezing or coughing
9. Pale gums
10. Swollen, red eyes or eye discharge
11. Nasal discharge
12. Inability to pass urine or stool

6. Teach Obedience

By teaching your puppy good manners, you’ll set your puppy up for a life of positive social interaction. In addition, obedience training will help forge a stronger bond between you and your puppy.

Teaching your pup to obey commands such as sit, stay, down, and come will not only impress your friends, but these commands will help keep your dog safe and under control in any potentially hazardous situations. Many puppy owners find that obedience classes are a great way to train both owner and dog. Classes typically begin accepting puppies at age 4 to 6 months.

Tip: Keep it positive. Positive reinforcement, such as small treats, has been proven to be vastly more effective than punishment.

7. Be Sociable

Just like obedience training, proper socialization during puppyhood helps avoid behavioral problems down the road. At approximately 2 to 4 months of age, most puppies begin to accept other animals, people, places, and experiences. Socialization classes are an excellent way to rack up positive social experiences with your puppy. Just be sure to ask your vet about what kind of interaction is OK at this stage.

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The love and devotion many people have for their pets runs deep. Sometimes, this even goes to extremes, like a pet owner wanting their dog to be buried with them if they pass away. In most cases, though, if a dog dies, it’s important to understand that you’re allowed to grieve. You don’t have to “get over it” just because it’s an animal and not a person. You know your connection with your pet better than anyone, and allowing yourself time to process their death will make it easier to cope, in the long run. 

You might feel as though you’ll never be able to move on. Maybe your pet died of natural causes or old age. Maybe the death was unexpected or caused by a sudden illness, like bloat. No matter the cause of death, it doesn’t make it easier to move on. 

So, how can you? This article will focus on a few ways you can deal with the pain of losing your pet, and how you can begin the healing process to move on. 

TALK ABOUT IT

Again, losing a pet is like losing a family member. If you try to keep it all inside, you’ll never be able to work through the stages of grief in a healthy, effective way. One of the best things you can do is to talk about your pet the same way you might talk about someone’s life at a funeral. Share stories with your family, laugh about the happy times, and tell each other what you miss and what you remember. 

Talk to anyone and everyone about your pet who will listen or who might be interested. If you find that you’re really struggling, consider opening up about the loss of your pet in a therapeutic setting. Keeping everything in can lead to symptoms of trauma, such as mood swings, irritability, or feelings of overwhelming sadness. 

Talking to a counselor or therapy group about your loss can help you to accept the change and to keep going with your life. That doesn’t mean you’ll ever forget about your pet or stop missing them, but getting the initial shock and weight off of your chest can make a big difference. 

LET GO OF YOUR GUILT

One of the big differences between the death of a pet and the death of a person is that your furry friend can’t tell you what’s really going on with them. They can show physical symptoms of being sick sometimes, but not always. As they get older, they also can’t tell you if they’re in pain or struggling to do certain things. 

If your animal dies, you might start to feel guilty, wondering if you should have done something else for them. Or maybe your guilt will stem from holding on for too long and allowing them to be in pain. 

Letting go of your guilt, wherever it stems from, is hugely important when it comes to moving on. Take comfort in knowing that you gave your pet the best life you possibly could. Remember everything you did for them and the beautiful memories you have, whether it was throwing a doggie birthday party or taking your cat to a “kitty spa” for the day. Thinking about the good times you had with your pet and the good things you did for them will help to alleviate some of your guilt. 

TAKE YOUR TIME TO GRIEVE

There isn’t a concrete timeline for getting over the death of your pet. Some people might think you should get over it quickly because it’s “just an animal.” But we can’t stress this enough: if that animal felt like a part of your family, you’re allowed to grieve that way for as long as you want. 

Additionally, even after getting through the stages of grief, you don’t have to forget about your pet. That’s why many pet owners struggle with the idea of getting a new dog or cat after the death of one they loved so much. It can actually be therapeutic to bring a new animal into the home — not as a replacement but to share the love you still have in your heart with an animal that truly needs it. 

The bottom line? Everyone grieves differently. The best things you can do to move on after the loss of a pet are to take your time, don’t let anyone pressure you into “getting over it” quickly and talk to someone about how you’re feeling. It’s up to you if you’d eventually like to get a new pet or not, but no matter what happens, it’s important to grieve in a way that works for you. If you allow yourself to do that, you’ll have an easier time moving on and looking back on memories of your pet fondly, instead of with sadness.

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Though all puppies are incredibly cute, not all are a good fit for your lifestyle. With the proper research and preparation, you can find a dog who will be a great addition to the family. The decision to adopt is far too important to be based on puppy-love-at-first-sight. The incredible range of breeds, exercise needs and temperaments makes it imperative that you do your homework. All puppies eventually grow to be adults, so choosing a dog who fits your lifestyle is the best way to ensure that your decision won’t end in regret. After taking the time to research and compare dog breeds, you’ll have a better sense about which puppies are likely to grow up to be couch potatoes and which might make good jogging partners.

Do Your Research

If you are curious about different breeds, start by getting a book that provides an overview or by reviewing the more than 200 articles on our site about dogs both big and small.

Ask experts to share their take on breeds you are interested in. Veterinarians work with various breeds every day and have vast insight into which ones may be suitable for your lifestyle. Dog trainers are another excellent source of information about the needs and behaviors associated with different breeds.

Consider Size, Breeds and Needs

Though Great Danes love to cuddle, they quickly grow too large to sit in your lap and can clear off a table with a flick of a tail. Due to his short legs, a Dachshund may have trouble keeping up with you on a jog. It’s important to consider how a puppy will fit into your lifestyle when he becomes an adult.

Grooming and exercise needs should be another critical part of the decision. Dogs in the herding group typically require lots of exercise and attention. Other breeds, such as dogs with very long hair, have some fairly intense grooming needs.

In your research, you’ll find that some breeds are predisposed to certain health issues, like hip dysplasia. Mixed-breed dogs may be less likely to have these types of issues than purebreds, but this isn’t always the case. If you’re considering a particular breed, ask your veterinarian which medical conditions you should know about.

Do a Background Check

Finding a reputable breeder or rescue group is essential to locating a healthy, well-socialized puppy. If you’re searching for a purebred dog, ask your vet or local breed club to point you in the right direction. Breed-specific rescue organizations are also a great source for adopting a purebred dog.

If possible, you’ll want to meet the puppy’s parents and siblings, and see the breeding facility. It’s well worth the time and effort to learn about your puppy’s background and confirm that he comes from a healthy environment.

Where pet store puppies are concerned, it’s often impossible to check up on a particular puppy’s parents or background. Unfortunately, a percentage of the doggies in pet store windows come from puppy mills.

Adopting a puppy from a shelter or rescue organization can be extremely rewarding, though it may be impossible to learn much about a rescue puppy’s background or medical history. But these types of organizations typically offer other important benefits, such as health screenings, microchipping and vaccinations.

Know What to Look For

It’s important to have your puppy examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. Ideally, this should be done before you bring your new family member home for the first time. Fortunately, breeders, shelters and rescue groups often provide paperwork verifying that your puppy’s been examined by a veterinarian, treated for parasites and has had at least one round of vaccinations. Here are a few things to check for when you meet your puppy:

• Make sure your puppy looks alert and aware, not lethargic.
• Check for a little fat around your puppy’s rib cage. He should be well fed.
• Inspect his coat. There shouldn’t be any bald patches or dry, flaky skin.
• Watch your puppy walk. A healthy puppy should walk and run normally, without limping.
• Check the eyes, ears and nose. They should be relatively clean with no discharge.
• Toss a toy or ball. His eyes should follow the toy.
• Watch for coughing, sneezing or difficulty breathing. These could be signs of illness.
• Clap your hands. Your puppy should turn to look at you when you make a loud noise behind him.

Observe Your Puppy’s Personality

Choosing a puppy with a good disposition can help ensure a lifetime of happiness and friendship. By knowing what to look for and paying close attention, you can learn a lot about your puppy’s temperament during a short visit.

1. Watch your puppy as he plays with his littermates. This is a good way to determine how your puppy may get along with other dogs later in life. A puppy who shows a healthy interest in playing, yet eases up when a littermate yelps, will most likely socialize well with other dogs.

2. Gauge how your puppy interacts with people. Ideally, you’ll be able to observe him as he encounters people of differing ages and sexes. Puppies should be curious and interested in people. A puppy who cowers or urinates in fear may be poorly socialized and difficult to train.

3. Roll your puppy on his back for a minute. Puppies who struggle excessively or become aggressive may have dominance issues. A well-adjusted puppy may wiggle a little but will eventually relax and become submissive.

4. Hold your puppy, touching his ears, mouth and paws. Puppies should be comfortable with being handled. If your puppy becomes aggressive or tries to get away, he may not be the kind of dog who likes to lie with you on the couch or allow you to trim his nails.

These are just a few of the indicators that can help you gauge whether a particular puppy is a good fit for you. For more advice on picking the right pooch, go to the Dog Breed Guide section on our site.

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