There is nothing that a dog lover wants more than to ensure the good health of their beloved canine companion. This is especially true for puppies who are vulnerable, health-wise, at such a young age.
While considered to be among the healthiest and more robust breeds, Labrador Retriever puppies still need to be given the best care so that they can continue to enjoy good health until their senior years.
Here are 10 things you should look out for in taking care of your Labrador Puppy:
1) Bring your Lab puppy home only when it is 8 weeks of age
Many newbie dog owners don’t know this, but all puppies, including Labrador puppies, should only be brought home when it has reached the age of 8 weeks. Between 0 and 7 weeks of age, a puppy needs to learn “how to be a dog”, and it could only learn this from its mother and littermates. At this early age, your puppy learns discipline and bite inhibition from its mother. In addition, much like human infants, the puppy derives early immunity through nursing from its mother.
2) Ensure your puppy’s safety in your home
Before you even bring your Lab puppy home, you should already consider “puppy proofing” your house. This would include removing sharp or hanging objects or electrical wiring which the puppy might end up chewing, running, or lying over. Put child-proof catches on all cabinets and cupboards. Make sure that all household chemicals are kept in locked cabinets where your puppy can’t reach them. Remove all plants that are toxic to your puppy, such as tomato plants, ivy, and aloe vera. Consider installing baby gates on stairs and around ponds or pools to prevent your puppy from falling.
3) Nutrition and Weight Monitoring
Choosing the best puppy food can be difficult. You may consider continuing your puppy on the food that it was eating while still at the breeders. You may also want to ask your vet on their recommendation based on their physical examination of your puppy.
The amount of puppy food that you give to your Lab pup depends upon the puppy’s age, its weight, and the brand of puppy food. Every bag of dog food has an instructive feeding chart. A puppy food has a prescribed amount of food that it needs to consume per day. This amount is divided into smaller meals per day.
For example, a two-month-old puppy weighing 15-18 pounds needs to consume 7-9 ounces of puppy food per day. Because it gets hungry frequently, you need to give the puppy four meals per day. This means, for every meal, you should give your puppy between 2-2.5 ounces of puppy food.
Take note that obesity is a common problem in Labradors, so it is very important that you monitor their weight and adjust their feeding schedules accordingly.
4) Bathing and Coat Care
Because of their dense, double layer coat, Labrador puppies don’t need frequent bathing unless they get too dirty or muddy. In most cases, you will only need to bathe your puppy three to four times in a year. In order to keep their coat healthy and also to get dead hair and dander out, they should be brushed at least once a week. Brushing more frequently is required during heavy shedding, particularly during spring and fall. Never shave your puppy (nor when it is full grown either) as it can affect the quality of its double coat.
5) Ear Care and Dental Care
An aspect of puppy hygiene that is commonly overlooked by dog owners is ear care and dental care. Lab puppies have floppy ears which can allow dirt, parasites, and harmful bacteria to lodge and accumulate in their ear canals. Make it a point to check your puppy’s ears weekly for dirt buildup. Gently clean their ears with cotton swabs or pads moistened in warm water.
Much like human beings, puppies and their adult counterparts should have their teeth brushed after every meal to prevent tartar buildup. Check your puppy’s teeth regularly for loose, broken or cracked teeth, gum problems, and abscesses. You may schedule a regular dental appointment for your puppy with your vet.
Starting your puppy early on hygiene procedures can make them more compliant and less likely to be wiggly or run away.
Speaking of your veterinarian, you can ask them about what ear cleansers and toothpastes they can recommend for your puppy.
6) Regular nail trimming
Normally, Lab puppy nails are “filed down” whenever they run on hard surfaces like sidewalks and roads. However, if you hear your puppy’s nails tapping or clicking on your floor, then it is in need of a trim. Too long nails can affect the way your puppy walks. In the case of long dewclaws, it may even bury itself into the skin, causing pain.
For puppies, it is advisable to use small nail clippers. Be careful that you don’t clip your puppy along the quick.
7) Regular vaccinations, deworming, and parasite treatment
Before you even bring your puppy home, it should already have received its first round of vaccinations and deworming. This would include the following basic shots as well as succeeding vaccinations:
- 8 weeks old – First DA2PP injection (a combined vaccine for distemper, parvovirus, parainfluenza, hepatitis, and coronavirus)
- 10-12 weeks old – Second DA2PP and Leptospirosis injections
- 14-16 weeks – Third DA2PP and Leptospirosis injections. Rabies is given starting at 16 weeks or older.
After this, any routine vaccinations and deworming will be given on a yearly basis.
You should make it a point to inspect your puppy’s skin every time you brush. Fleas, ticks, and other parasites not only cause skin irritation and itchiness; it may in time lead to more serious illnesses. In the presence of parasites, ask your veterinarian about spot on treatments like Frontline for your puppy.
8) Regular exercise
Unlike adult dogs, Lab puppies get sufficient exercise from play and other fun activities. In fact, puppies should not be over-exercised within the first three months.
You can follow the 5-minute-rule prescribed by the UK Kennel Club, which states that a puppy should be given 5 minutes exercise per month of age until fully grown. So, a puppy that is 2 months old will need 10 minutes exercise, 3 months old 15 minutes exercise, and 4 months old 20 minutes exercise.
9) Training
Lab puppies need three basic types of training: potty/crate training, socialization, and obedience training.
Crate training and potty training go hand in hand. As you train your puppy to become accustomed to its crate as a safe zone (therefore also a “no pee/no poop” area), you also teach it to answer the call of nature in a designated spot in your house, garden or backyard.
Socialization, on the other hand, entails letting your puppy “socialize” with and get used to other family members as well as pets in the house. Socialization also helps the puppy adjust to its new home – the sights, smells, and sounds. It is important to mention though that taking the puppy outside the home should not be done until it has completed its full first round of vaccinations so that its body can readily combat any diseases it is exposed to.
Last but not least, obedience training of the puppy begins in the home. Owners can already start their puppy on simple commands, such as “stay”, “come”, “sit”, and “down”.
No matter what the training is, positive reinforcement through the showering of praise and giving rewards is more effective than yelling, scolding, or physical punishment.
10) Regular veterinarian visits
It is recommended that you bring your Lab puppy for monthly wellness exams – once every three to four weeks – until they reach the age of 16 weeks old. These exams coincide with the basic vaccination schedule of your puppy as mentioned above.
These are the 10 things you should look out for when caring for your Labrador Puppy. By following these guidelines, you can ensure the health and safety of your dog, not only during the puppy years, but also during adulthood and its senior years.
