Is “Santa Paws” Bringing A Puppy? Now’s The Time To Get Ready.

christmas-1810501__340It’s an idyllic Hallmark scene . . . a child on Christmas morning shrieking with delight as a new puppy playfully licks the child’s face. It’s certainly what the countless children who put “puppy” on their wish lists to Santa envision. Ah, but the reality of getting a new puppy is often quite a different scene, and is a situation that’s best overly-prepared for.

Ideally, a puppy should be introduced to the family after the big day. All the excitement of opening gifts and the temptations of unfamiliar things to chew (bows, wrapping paper, toys) may be too much for an untrained puppy. You may want to consider wrapping a stuffed dog in a box, or a photo in an envelope for the stocking, to let your child know Santa gave the A-OK to a new puppy. You can explain that’s it’s not particularly safe for puppies to fly in the sleigh.

That said, if your plans are firm to introduce the puppy to the home on or shortly before Christmas day, then keep the following tips in mind:

  • Block off the Christmas tree so your pup can’t jump on the lower branches or drink from the water in the tree’s stand. Christmas tree water may contain bacteria or fertilizers that could cause vomiting or diarrhea. If you can’t easily block access to the tree, keep the water covered.
  • Make sure the electrical cords for all lights are inaccessible to the puppy. If chewed, they can cause a shock or electrical burn. If you can’t hide or block the cords, spray them with bitter apple to dissuade licking and chewing.
  • Keep all decorations out of reach. They may look like low-hanging chew toys to your pup, and could cause choking.
  • The same goes for small toys, stocking stuffers, and the like. Your puppy will think anything is fair game to play with and chew.
  • Take a look at our last blog post to be aware of holiday hazards that may not be so obvious, such as turkey bones, gravy, and alcohol.

Planning for your puppy’s first Christmas is one of the first proactive steps you’ll be taking to provide preventative care for your furry friend, which is what we’re all about at PetWellClinic® of Knoxville and Alcoa.

We offer low-cost puppy packages and can help you figure out which vaccinations your puppy needs, and when.

By operating convenient hours for non-surgical care, PetWellClinic® is able to offer substantially discounted prices for vaccinations, safe flea and tick preventative products, wellness exams, and treatment of minor conditions—with quick in-and-out service during convenient evening and weekend hours and no appointment necessary.

We’ll be happy to help you determine the best vaccination and prevention care plan to keep your puppy happy and healthy well beyond the holiday season.