KIDS ARE STRESSED OUT WHEN GOING TO SCHOOL OR DAY CARE FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE CHILD IS LEARNING WHAT TO DO WITHOUT MOM AND DAD AROUND. IT DOESN’T TAKE LONG TILL THE CHILD ENDS UP WITH A COLD OR OTHER KINDS OF ILLNESS AND HAS TO MISS A DAY OR TWO OF SCHOOL OR DAYCARE. WHEN A PUPPY GOES TO ITS NEW HOME, IT TOO SUFFERS FROM VERY SIMILAR STRESSES. IT WAS RECENTLY WEANED FROM ITS MOTHER, TYPICALLY HAS TO TAKE A TRIP TO ITS NEW HOME EITHER BY VEHICLE OR PLANE, AND THEN TYPICALLY GETS GREETED WITH A HOUSEFUL OF ANXIOUS NEW PET OWNERS AND OFTEN CHILDERN WHO WANT TO STAY UP LATE TO PLAY WITH THE NEW PUPPY. CAN YOU SEE HOW THIS IS STRESSFULLY? THERE ARE SOME TOOLS TO HELP DECREASE THIS STRESS AND ELIMINATE MANY POTENTAIL COMPLICATIONS.
STRESS CAN CAUSE A VARIETY OF CONCERNS WITH NEW PUPPIES. THE REASONS BEHIND THESE STRESSES MAKE PERFECT SENCE IF WE UNDERSTAND THE BASIC NEEDS OF PUPPIES. PUPPIES SLEEP ANYWHERE FROM 15-20 HOURS A DAY. WHEN A PUPPY ARRIVES AT ITS NEW HOME, THE NATURAL REACTION WE HAVE IS TO IMMEDIATELY PLAY WITH IT AS LONG AS WE POSSIBLY CAN. WE OFTEN TRY TO TEACH IT TO SIT, FETCH, ROLL OVER AND SPEAK ALL IN ONE NIGHT. PUPPIES NEED SOME DOWN TIME, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY FIRST ARRIVE. IT IS BEST IF WE CAN PLAY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THEN LET THE PUPPY SEE WHERE ITS NEW BED IS, AND THEN LET THE PUPPY HAVE SOME DOWN TIME.
ONE COMMON PROBLEM WE SEE IS UPPER RESPIRATORY ILLNESS. I COMMONLY REFER TO THIS AS A COLD. THERE ARE VARYING INFECTIOUS AGENTS THAT CAN CAUSE THIS FORM OF NORMAL OPPORTUNISTIC BACTERIA THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF STRESSED IMMUNE SYSTEMS AND SET UP RESIDENCE. THIS CAN LEAD TO KENNEL COUGH, WHICH CAN CAUSE DISEASE IN EVEN HEALTHY, STRONG IMMUNE SYSTEMS. PROMPT TREATMENT FOR THIS “COLD” IS RECOMMENDED AND YOUR VETERINARIAN CAN GET YOU THE ANTIBIOTICS YOU NEED TO RESOLVE IT. TYPICALLY, THE “COLD” ONLY LASTS A WEEK OR SO, BUT IN SOME CASES, MAY TAKE 2-3 WEEKS TO COMPLETELY RESOLVE. IF YOUR NEW PET IS NOT IMPROVING IN 7 DAYS, LET YOUR VETERINARIAN KNOW AND THEY MAY WANT TO TRY A DIFFERENT MEDICATION.
NEW PUPPIES ARE SUCH A JOY TO BE AROUND!! THE THRILL OF A NEW FAMILY MEMBER EXCITES EVERYONE AND WILL BRING FUN FOR YEARS TO COME. JUST REMEMBER THAT THE NEW MEMBER OF THE FAMILY NEEDS SOME DOWN TIME TOO!! LAY SOME RULES DOWN ABOUT HOW LONG THE KIDS CAN PLAY WITH THE NEW PUP DURING THE FIRST WEEK OR SO UNTIL THE NEWEST ADDITION GETS ACCUSTOMED TO ITS NEW HOME AND FAMILY. THESE TIPS WILL HOPEFULLY MAKE THE TRANSITION A SMOOTH PROCESS FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED!!
