Author: Brittany Grenus, DVM

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Take a Just-Before-Bed Potty Break  Take your puppy out right before bed so that he has one last chance to potty. This should be a short outing, just long enough for him to go to the bathroom. If timed well with dinner, he will hopefully both urinate and defecate during this potty break.  Even if you do take him out just before bed, expect to take your puppy out a few times during the night the first few weeks he’s with you. While it’s recommended to take a new puppy to potty every 1.5 hours during the day, overnight they can usually go about 4-6 hours.  ,Know That Your Puppy Will Cry It’s very common for puppies to cry their first few nights—or weeks—at home with you. Up until now, they’re used to being surrounded by their mom and siblings all night, every night. When put into this perspective, it’s easy to see how they could be anxious and lonely their first night. So if your puppy’s whining in his crate his first night, this is considered normal; he’s adjusting to his new home and family.  Fortunately, there are some things you can do to help your new puppy feel more comfortable in his new home:  Putting the crate in your room can help your puppy feel closer to you, while also providing him with the safe space of the crate.  Consider putting something in his crate that smells like you, such as a sweatshirt or T-shirt you recently wore, to help make him feel like you’re close.  It’s important to distinguish between a puppy’s anxious crate crying versus potty break cries. Typically, anxiety and stress crying occurs early in the night when your puppy is first put into his crate. If he starts crying in the middle of the night, he might need to go to the bathroom.  Bringing home a new puppy is a major lifestyle change for both of you. But once the first few nights are through and your bond grows, puppies can be some of the best companions—and their love is worth all the sleepless nights.  Featured Image: iStock.com/whitebalance.oatt ,Bringing home a new four-legged family member is such an exciting time, but it can also be overwhelming—especially for your new puppy. Not only is your pup in a new home with new humans and possibly new animal friends, but this may also be your pup’s first night away from his family, so he may need a little extra TLC.  But if you know what to expect, there are several things you can do to make your puppy’s first night at home more comfortable. 

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3. Take a Scent Walk Set aside specific walks where you allow your dog to take their time, explore wherever they’d like to go, and sniff all the smells. Sniffing has been shown to not only decrease a dog’s heart rate (decreasing their stress), but it also releases dopamine, the “happy” brain chemical. These walks are less about the distance or time and more about quality, allowing them to take their time and explore the area they’re in. Some of the best settings for these walks have lots of grass, bushes, and trees.  4. Try a New Route Have you ever gotten bored doing the same thing over and over again? Dogs do too. This is why changing up your walking route can be very stimulating for them. Walking somewhere new allows them to see and smell new things. Regularly changing your route helps keep things exciting for your dog—which is mentally stimulating. 5. Play With Puzzles and Interactive Toys Puzzle toys and other interactive toys typically have compartments where you can hide food, and your dog has to figure out how to access those tasty treats. There are countless puzzle toys, all with varying degrees of complexity. Similar to hide-and-seek and “find it,” interactive toys require critical thinking skills. They’re great for keeping your pup occupied for an extended time, distracting them from things that make them anxious, and mentally exhausting them. Dogs also receive a food reward when they play, leading to a dopamine release. As a bonus, puzzle toys are a great way to slow down dogs that eat their food too fast.,When people think about caring for a dog, they often think about the pet’s physical needs—such as food, exercise, and grooming. But they might overlook the need for mental stimulation, which is also crucial for a dog’s well-being.

5. Vomiting and Diarrhea   While not illnesses themselves, vomiting and diarrhea are symptoms of an underlying illness and are indications your puppy should be assessed by a veterinarian. Some of the more common causes of vomiting and diarrhea in puppies include: Foreign body (they ate something they shouldn’t have and it’s stuck in their stomach) Eating a toxin or garbage Intestinal parasites Diet change Bacterial infection Viral infection Stress Treatment for vomiting and diarrhea varies depending on the cause and can range from outpatient therapy to surgery and/or hospitalization.,6. Parasites  Parasites are organisms that live on—or in—a host and get their food from or at the expense of the host. Puppies are more predisposed to parasites due to their underdeveloped immune system, and there are several different types of parasites that can affect them, both externally and internally.  Common internal parasites include: Roundworms Hookworms Tapeworms Whipworms Giardia Coccidia Heartworms Common external parasites are: Fleas Ticks Lice Ear mites Scabies (Sarcoptic Mange) Demodex Cheyletiella mites (“walking dandruff”) Symptoms and treatment vary greatly depending on the type of parasite. To protect your puppy, stay up to date on dewormers and routine flea and tick prevention.,Bringing a new puppy into your home is always exciting. And when you add a new family member, you want to do everything you can to keep them safe and healthy. Just like human kids, puppies don’t have as strong of an immune system as adults, and there are several illnesses they’re more susceptible to—especially if they’re not fully vaccinated. Here’s what you need to know about the most common puppy illnesses your new addition can experience, and how you can help your new four-legged family member. 1. Parvovirus (Parvo)  Parvovirus is one of the scariest illnesses a puppy can get—it’s prevalent throughout the United States, easily transmissible, and potentially fatal. At its most basic level, parvovirus is a highly contagious, really nasty stomach virus. It’s transmitted through feces and can survive in the environment for months or even years. Because of this, it’s recommended to avoid putting a puppy on the ground in public places or taking her for walks in the neighborhood until she’s fully vaccinated. The symptoms of parvovirus are typically acute (meaning they have a sudden onset) and can be rapidly progressive. If you notice any of these common symptoms, contact your veterinarian: Vomiting Diarrhea (usually bloody and profuse) Lethargy Decreased appetite Depression Dehydration Stomach pain Pale gums Fever Weakness Seizures There is no specific treatment for parvovirus, only supportive care. Ideally, puppies with parvo should be hospitalized to ensure they get adequate care. With hospitalization, survival rates have been shown to be as high as 90%, but this greatly depends on the puppy’s age, symptom severity, vaccination history, underlying health issues, and the level of medical care provided. 

WRITTEN BYBrittany Grenus, DVM Veterinarian Dr. Brittany Grenus graduated from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in 2018 with her doctorate in veterinary medicine and a…,In 2022, the French Bulldog officially surpassed the Labrador Retriever as the most popular dog breed in the U.S., according to the American Kennel Club (AKC). While their short, stocky stature and “smush-nose” face make Frenchies adorable, they don’t come without drawbacks. In fact, one study found that French Bulldogs are more likely to develop over 20 common health disorders compared with other dog breeds. While many of these health issues can be treated, they often require surgery or are chronic (requiring lifelong management), and tend to come with expensive vet bills. While pet insurance is now recommended for most pets, it’s especially helpful in managing the medical costs that typically come with French Bulldogs.

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