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Puppy Care & Tips
Feeding your puppy
Your puppy will eat three times a day. In the morning, noon and in the evening. If you do not leave the food down for them then feed them 4 times a day. Just until they are 12 weeks. I recommend Iams Eukanuba small breed. My puppies are weaned on it and it need to stay on it for at least 2 weeks, then gradually begin mixing in the food you have chosen. If you don’t they will most likely get sick and will have loose stools or finicky. You will need to soak their food in water until they are at least 12 weeks old. Do not give your puppy fresh milk or table food. If you are having problems getting your puppy to eat you may consider adding a little cottage cheese or some Gerber baby food meats to his food. You will need small lightweight bowls for food and water. These can be made from metal, plastic, or a ceramic material. Many breeders suggest using stain-less steel bowls, as there have been indications that plastic may be a cause of staining of the facial hair. I recommend using distilled water just because the water is a common problem in tear-staining.
Veterinarian
You need to take your new puppy for its first veterinarian visit within 72 hours. During this visit they will make sure the puppy is healthy. Present your vet with the health record that I have provided. The health record includes shots, and worming dates. Discuss with your vet a vaccination schedule. All puppies will have 1 shot at 6 weeks given by myself. I recommend shots at 9 weeks and 12 weeks and also at 16 weeks. It is only required to have 3 sets of shots but I think the 4th one helps out a lot. Once the puppy is one year you need to take for another shot. A lot of research that I have done on the internet states that yearly vaccinations are no longer required. Please speak to you vet regarding his thought on this.
I also recommend that you be very cautious at the vet since that is the place where people take sick animals. Never put your puppy on the floor or allow them to come in contact with any other animals while there. It is also a good idea to make sure the examination table was disinfected prior to placing your puppy on it. Always disinfect your shoes after a visit to the vet. Bleach will kill parvovirus, Lysol will not. I use 50/50 Bleach in a spray bottle. Do not allow puppies to lick or chew your shoes. Parvovirus can be spread just by you walking somewhere that a dog with parvo had been. Puppies up to 6 months are more likely to get parvo. Also Rabies shot are to be given between 12 and 16weeks.
Grooming
Maltese will need to be groomed on a regular basis. I recommend using a whitening shampoo. A really good shampoo is Pure paws. It is located at Purepaws.net. Never give your dog a bath more then once a week. I recommend going to the groomer for a sanitary cut; they trim around their butts and their belly. This helps prevent poop from getting stuck. It is so important that you check your puppy’s rectum daily as stool can get stuck in their hair and prevent them from having a bowel movement. This can cause serious problems and be very painful.
Tear Staining
Several different things can cause tear-staining. Excessive tearing can be caused by blockage in the tear ducts. When the tears produced are not able to drain properly this causes the tears to overflow onto the muzzle. It is important to keep the muzzle around the eyes dry because this moisture can cause the eye area to get infected. Moisture creates a breeding ground for bacteria and or yeast. Yeast infections can cause a deep reddish-brown stain. Bacteria infections can also cause excessive tearing and staining. Ear infections can also cause excessive tearing accompanied by red stains. When puppies loose their baby teeth the inflammation sometimes puts pressure on the sinus cavity causing the tear ducts to be agitated. Your puppy will require a lot of chewing during this time. Certain foods containing dyes, additives and preservatives. Hair or debris in the eyes will also cause irritations and or infections. Eye irritation will cause the eyes to produce more tears as a lubricant. I think the number 1 cause is water. I suggest distilled water, it has no minerals. Also your water bowl, you need to use stainless steel or wash your bowl at least every other day. Stores sell many different products for tear-staining. Some work and some don’t. I recommend buying the liquid and applying it to a cloth and wiping the eyes daily. They also make a product called tylan powder it is only available at the vet. Only get this if you feel you have a real problem with the staining. This powder is put into their water or on the food. Cornstarch can also be used to keep the moisture out of the coat.
Housetraining
A puppy must have a schedule. Work out a schedule for you and your puppy. Housetraining is much easier when the puppy’s meals, exercise, and playtimes are on a regular schedule throughout the day. Your puppy should be taken to his relief spot last thing at night and first thing in the mornings as well as after meals and naps, and that he should be praised when he does his duty. When taking the puppy out to his spot, don’t play with him. First things first. If the pup does not relieve himself, put him in the crate for a few minutes, and then try again. Most puppies will not soil in their crates if they can possibly help it. Take your puppy out every 2 hours to the potty area, whether it has eaten or not. Don’t play until he relieves himself. If he doesn’t urinate and defecate within 10 min., then bring him inside and place him in his crate for 10-15 min., then try again. Continue this routine until he is successful, and then praise him. The times that a puppy will most likely want to eliminate are after eating and drinking, after a nap, or after a period of play or vigorous exercise. Be patient, consistent, and regulate what goes into your puppy’s tummy, so you can regulate what comes out. Puppies train well with puppy pads if you would like to try that also. Never punish your puppy for mistakes. Once you’re fairly confident that the puppy understands where to relieve himself, scold him for mistakes, but don’t spank, scream, or push his nose in the mess. The spot should be cleaned up, preferably with an enzyme odor eliminator. If the odor is left untended, the dog will find it again, even if people cannot detect the smell. The puppy doesn’t understand that carpets are for walking, not bowel relief. Never let your puppy run free in your home if he is not trained, or he will develop a habit of eliminating anywhere in your home. If your puppy reaches four or five months of age and is still having regular accidents in the house, make sure he does not have a bladder infection, intestinal parasites, or other medical reason for his failure to signal that he needs to go outside.
Crate training
Decide where to put the puppy’s crate, and have it set up and ready for his arrival. Where to keep the crate will depend on what’s most convenient for you as well as the puppy’s response. Many puppies don’t like to be isolated in one part of the house while their family is in another but some puppies wont settle down in their crates if there’s too much activity going on around them. You might have to experiment with different locations until you learn what works best for both you and puppy. Your puppy will need to sleep in the crate at night, make sure you let him out in the middle of the night until he can hold it longer. During the day if you are gone make sure the puppy gets left in the crate. Your puppy will need to go out first thing when you get home or in the morning. Don’t forget to praise him for potting in his spot. Your puppy would also like a cozy bed for the crate. Look for silky type fabrics, cottony and wooly fabrics can cause static electricity and contribute to breakage of the coat ends.
Socializing your puppy
When you bring your puppy home you need to decide what rules you want obeyed, and stick with them from day one. If you don’t want your Maltese to beg while you eat, never feed it from the kitchen or dining room table, and never feed it soon after you eat. By feeding it before you eat, feeding it in a place away from where you eat, and requiring it to remain away from the table while you eat, your puppy will become a polite dog. Just a few pieces of food dropped on the floor (by accident or on purpose) that the dog gets to eat during your meal, and all of your previous work will be undone. If you allow your puppy to jump onto people while it’s little, it will do it when it is an adult. If the puppy sees what life is like from the top of a chair or sofa, it will be at home there when it is an adult also. Decide what rules you want the adult dog to obey in your house and apply them to your puppy now. Exposure to new environments, situations, people and animals is all part of the socialization process. If your dog has a limited exposure to the outside world start slowly, keeping in mind that it may be stressful for your dog. Gradually add distractions and new locations.
Safety
Do not leave your puppy on a couch or bed without keeping a hand on it. It is best to not even put them up there until they are old enough to jump up and down them selves. Many puppies have been killed or injured by people doing this. If a puppy sleeps with you it will either fall off and injure or kill itself or pee and poop on you. When holding keep one hand firmly on the puppy. Many have died from unexpectantly jumping out of your arms. Children should never carry the puppy until the puppy gets a little older. Never leave a puppy unsupervised with children. Puppies are very fragile.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar is a health problem that affects many toy breeds. This is often caused by stress situations such as visits to the vet or other exercise. Some of the symptoms may include weakness, confusion, wobbly gait and seizure-like episodes. They can often be avoided by feeding a susceptible dog frequent small meals. During an episode Nutri-cal, Hi-Cal or dark karo syrup will help. This can become life-threatening if not taken care of immediately. It usually affects puppies between 5 and 16 weeks old. I give hi-cal before they go to their new home. I suggest also giving it before going to the vet. Karo syrup works just as well (put on your fingertip). People with children need to give Hi-Cal everyday for 1 week, until they are adapted to their new home. Children can stress a puppy out.
A few tips
Never leave your pet in the car. Put your puppy on a heartworm preventive at 8 weeks. Use frontline to prevent fleas and ticks. Give your puppy resting time and don’t wear them totally out. Watch all electrical cords, puppy’s can electrocute themselves by chewing on cords. Toys are very important to puppies. This help’s them keep busy and helps teething. Please treat your new puppy as it were your new born baby. Don't take it everywhere nor pass it around to everyone to see.
Ask me
Feel free to ask any questions. I am always here for your questions. You can call me 940-300-7485 cell or 940-686-5514 work.
Maltese books
The new owners guide to Maltese by: Vicki Abbott
Maltese: A complete owner’s manual by: Joe Fulda
The Essential Maltese By: Ian Dunbar
Maltese by: Kathy Di Giacomo
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