HOUND DOG CARE AND INFORMATION
PUPPIES GET FLEAS LIKE BIG DOGS, BUT FLEA SPRAYS, SHAMPOOS, POWDERS, ONCE A MONTH TREATMENTS, DIPS, ETC. ARE NOT MADE FOR PUPPIES. MOST SAY DO NOT USE UNTIL 12 WEEKS OR 3 MONTHS. SO WHAT CAN YOU DO? BATH THEM IN DAWN OR JOY DISH WASHING DETERGENT. THIS WILL KILL THE FLEAS ALMOST INSTANTLY, BUT IT DOES NOT KEEP THEM FROM GETTING THEM AGAIN. YOU CAN ALSO USE FLEA COMBS THAT ARE INEXPENSIVE.
REMEMBER PUPPIES LIKE IT WARM! THEY LIKE IT AT 100 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WHEN BORN. THEN THEIR REQUIREMENTS DROP, BUT THEY DO BETTER IN HEAT THAN IN THE COLD.
HOUND DOGS BUILD A STRONG BOND WITH THEIR OWNERS, AND THEREFOR DO NOT CHANGE OWNERS WELL, SO MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY FOR A LIFELONG (avg. 10 - 13 years) BELOVED COMPANION.
BASSET HOUNDS AND BLOODHOUNDS EVEN AS PUPPIES SLEEP A LOT!! THEY ARE VERY LOVING, MAYBE TO LOVING AT TIMES. YOU MUST WATCH CHILDREN AROUND THEM, BECAUSE THE BASSET WILL NOT PROTECT THEMSELVES, AND A CHILD COULD CAUSE INJURY TO THE PUPPY. HOUNDS LONG BODIES MEANS LONG BACK BONES!! CHILDREN NEED TO BE TAUGHT HOW TO SUPPORT THEIR BACKS.
PUPPIES NEED TO BEGIN THEIR VACCINES AT 6 WEEKS. WE USE A 5 WAY VACCINE. YOU CAN BUY THIS FROM TRACTOR SUPPLY, JEFFERS (ON LINE), PET STORES, OR EVEN FROM US IF YOU WANT TO GIVE THE SHOT YOURSELF FOR LESS THAN $10.00, OR YOU CAN GET YOUR VETERINARIAN TO GIVE SHOTS TO THEM. PUPPIES MUST HAVE A RABIES SHOT AT 4 MONTHS, AND THIS MUST COME FROM A VETERINARIAN. PUPPIES NEED TO BE WORMED OFTEN. YOU WILL HAVE A SHOT RECORD FROM US LETTING YOU KNOW WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN WORMED. YOU CAN GET WORMING MEDICINE JUST LIKE VACCINES FROM THE STORES.
PUPPIES WILL BE GETTING IN NEW TEETH, AND LIKE BABIES WILL CHEW ANYTHING!! TEACH THEM EARLY WHAT IS AND IS NOT ALLOWED. REMEMBER THAT THEY ARE LEARNING NOW WHAT TO DO WHEN THEY ARE 40 POUNDS OR 100 POUNDS. (NOT CUTE THEN FOR THEM TO BE CHEWING ON YOUR FINGERS!!)
HOUND DOGS HAVE CUTE LONG EARS. THESE CAN SOMETIMES CAUSE PROBLEMS. THEY DO NOT GET MUCH AIR IN THEIR EARS WHICH CAN CAUSE THEM TO GET INFECTIONS. THIS CAN BE PREVENTED BY CLEANING THEIR EARS AT LEAST ONCE A MONTH. ALL YOU NEED IS 2 TABLESPOONS OF VINEGAR AND 2 TABLESPOONS OF RUBBING ALCOHOL. MIX TOGETHER AND POUR INTO EARS THEN DRAIN. THIS MIXTURE IS JUST AS GOOD AS STORE BOUGHT STUFF, BUT CHEAPER, AND READILY AVAILABLE.
BY NOW YOU HAVE PROBABLY NOTICED THAT THESE EARS ALSO HOLD WATER AFTER A VISIT TO THE WATER BOWL!! THEY DO SELL SPECIAL BOWLS, BUT I HAVE FOUND THAT THESE DO NOT SEEM TO WORK!! SOMEHOW MINE HAVE AT LEAST ONE WET EAR AFTER THEY GET WATER!! THESE EARS ALSO DRAG THE GROUND OUTSIDE!! THEY ARE AN IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR NEW FRIEND THOUGH. BASSET HOUNDS HAVE THE #2 BEST NOSES AND BLOODHOUNDS ARE #1, THEIR EARS ARE A BIG PART OF THIS.
KEEP YOUR PUPPY ON PUPPY CHOW (ANY BRAND WILL DO) FOR THE FIRST YEAR. PUPPY FOOD HAS MORE PROTEIN NEEDED FOR RAPID GROWTH. CHECK THE LABELS…MOST ANY BRAND OF PUPPY CHOW SHOULD DO. YOU CAN ADD RAW EGGS, COTTAGE CHEESE, ETC. FOR MORE PROTEIN AS WELL. DO NOT CHANGE FOOD THE FIRST FEW WEEKS, BECAUSE CHANGING FOODS CAN IRRITATE THEIR STOMACHS. AFTER THEIR ADJUSTMENT PERIOD, YOU CAN ADD NEW FOODS SLOWLY (LIKE YOU WOULD A BABY).
HOUND DOGS HAVE LARGE RAPIDLY DEVELOPING BONES THAT CAN CAUSE PAIN IN THEIR FRONT LEGS AND OCCASIONALLY LIMPING THIS CAN BE TREATED WITH A CALCIUM SUPPLEMENT.