Common Puppy Health Hazards and How to Avoid Them

When you have a young puppy, they're full of energy and often get into things they shouldn't. We’ve seen it all, from curious puppies finding old rat poison, to a simple misstep off the couch resulting in disaster. Cats often are credited with curiosity, but we know that puppies carry their fair share as well. With their developing immune systems, and small size, injury and illness in puppies can be hugely more complex than for adults. 

Here are my most common hazards to avoid, based on what we are seeing come through our emergency service.

BITING OFF MORE THAN THEY CAN CHEW

Did you know that puppy teeth are fragile, and largely hollow? It’s true.

And so, for that reason, did you know that they are easily broken? We especially see this when puppies chew on objects that are far too hard for their baby teeth such as bones, dental chews, and hard plastic toys. Not only is a broken baby tooth painful, but they get infected quite easily - we often see the developing underlying adult tooth suffer from enamel defects which require treatments with fillings to help protect them.  More on our advanced dental services here.

Puppies lose all their baby teeth by the age of 6 months, so reserve any hard chewing objects until they’re a bit older.

ACCIDENTALLY DROPPING PUPPIES

Such an awful accident - but it is a lot more common than you would think. Little puppies are often carried around because they’re just so small and portable! Not only is this damaging to their psychological development, but a fall for a little cavoodle from your chest height is the equivalent to a 4-storey drop for you!

The most common injury that we see associated with this type of accident are fractures of the developing elbow joint.

It is not only safer to keep puppies on the ground but also far better for their behavioural development.

INTRODUCING TOO MUCH, TOO SOON

Puppy’s little tummies are still naive and developing. They’ve often had very limited dietary variety, and with all that training you’re doing together, we can sometimes be very liberal with the treats! Diarrhoea and vomiting are some of the most common reasons we will see new puppies in the hospital, often due to changing their diet too quickly or introducing a new treat too hastily.

Remember that you should spend 7 days transitioning your puppy onto a new diet. The same goes for introducing new treats.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Work closely with your vet to understand local infectious diseases to which your puppy is at risk. Often we need to strike a balance between keeping our puppy safe, and encouraging socialisation in the big wide world. Ensure that your puppy benefits from a full course of core vaccinations, and is only interacting with vaccinated dogs until that point. Dog parks are a festering pit of parasite-ridden disease and, for a puppy, should be avoided at all costs.  

NOT BEING SENSITIVE TO THE BREED

Get yourself informed. Whip out Google and do some home research on your dog breed, bring your questions to your vet, and get proactive about their health. Many dog breeds are prone to extremely serious, genetic health conditions which may only reveal their true extent with age. For many of these conditions - early intervention is the make or break for their quality of life. Ok, want some examples?

ROTTWEILER? LABRADOR? GERMAN SHEPHERD?

There's a crazy high incidence of hip dysplasia with a very narrow window to diagnose and treat as a puppy. Early at-home management strategies substantially reduce the severity of this disease. 

BULLDOG? PUG? FRENCHIE? BOXER?

As time goes on, that breathing is going to get worse. Airway collapse is so common in this breed that it is considered a normal finding! Team up with your vet about how they can help alleviate your pet’s distress, and what you can do at home to keep them living comfortably, more info here.

GREAT DANE? GERMAN SHORT-HAIRED POINTER? BERNESE MOUNTAIN DOG?

Bloating and twisting of the stomach is a deadly condition that you want to become familiar with. Stat. Team up with your vet for help. More info here.

POODLES? CAVOODLES? SHIH TZUS? CHIHUAHUAS?

Known for their little mouths - and overcrowded teeth. This is why so many grow up to lose every tooth as they become rotten. This is completely something that you can help to prevent by being proactive, early. More on our advanced services here.

Becoming a puppy parent is an adventure filled with love, laughter, and learning. By being mindful of these common health hazards, you can help ensure that your puppy grows up healthy and happy. Remember, when in doubt, always seek advice from your family veterinarian.