Puppy Care

Hopefully, your puppy will sail through life and not experience any emergency health scares. Be prepared for them, however, and you could save her life.

Be very careful when approaching and treating an injured puppy. Even the sweetest dog may bite if she is in pain. If she growls or snaps or if her hackles (the fur on her shoulder blades) are raised, she's trying to tell you that she wants you to leave her alone. Of course, leaving her alone is the last thing you want to do. But she won't understand, because she's hurt and afraid.
In cases like this, it may be necessary to muzzle your puppy. Keep a cloth, soft, or open/basket muzzle on hand in case you need it. You also can get muzzles from your veterinarian or a pet supply store.

If you don't have a muzzle handy, you can get by with a piece of cloth or leash. Tie the cloth around the puppy's muzzle, and then bring the two ends under her ears and tie the ends behind her head.

There are times when you should never muzzle a puppy. These include if she is having difficulty breathing or if she is vomiting, choking, or aggressively resisting the muzzle. Never muzzle an unconscious puppy.