Care and Nutrition

Time is closing in your puppy's homecoming!!! I wanted to share the following information to prepare you and your family for the big day!!  Order your puppy's food and treats today to be sure you have what he/she needs for transition to your home.

By feeding complete and balanced nutrition now, you can impact your dog's lifelong health. Feeding a premium dog food has a great long term value for the health and well-being of your new loved one. For the most part, your dog eats the same food every day. That is why carefully choosing food is so important to your dog’s long-term health.

I recommend pawTree Real Chicken and Sweet Potato for several reasons. First and foremost the food is made in the United States and is shipped directly to you. It contains no artificial flavors, preservatives, artificial colors, corn, corn gluten, wheat, wheat gluten, or soy. They also use real meat as the first ingredient with no by-products! Even if you plan to switch brands I require that you order at least a 10.3-pound bag of food as making an abrupt change in a puppy’s food can cause digestive problems and can pose other serious health risks. Having a bag on hand will help to make the transition as easy as possible.

Because pawTree doesn’t add preservative chemicals it is not sold in stores. It is shipped directly to your door. To find out more information about pawTree or to place an order for a bag of food

Regular shipping typically takes 2 to 5 days. If you select “EZ Ship” and select 3 qualifying items you get free shipping too! EZ Ship is easy to adjust or cancel should you ever need to make changes. I recommend ordering the 30.9# bag every 12 weeks.  Add (3) bags of Chicken, Apples & Kale treats, and your puppy is set for the next 3 months. EZ Ship can easily be adjusted if you get close to running out or have too much food or treats on hand. The food will arrive in 3 separate 10.3# bags. They also sell lots of yummy treats and toys. Check out MY RECOMMENDATIONS product page at the link above to see products your puppy is currently using and what I believe as a breeder will help puppy transition with ease.

In advance of puppies arrival, you will also need to purchase www.nuvet.com/17986 

Nuvet at 1-800-474-7044 and use order code 17986 for a discount and to verify you have ordered this for the puppy. I use the wafers but powdered is fine too. I really like th shampoos they offer too! Do not over bath puppy!!

Feed your puppy ¼ to 1 cup of kibble each day dividing the amount in small feedings every 4 to 5 hours around the clock, (adjust amount to your puppy's consumption being sure puppy is eating enough to sustain him/herself). We currently keep food available to puppy 24/7 and monitor his/her intake and energy level. To stimulate puppies appetite, top dry kibble with 1/2 pump of pawTree Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil and/or sprinkle a small amount ½ teaspoon of pawTree paw pairings on the dry kibble. You can also moisten dry kibble with a very small amount of chicken broth. Only moisten food for one feeding at a time. Other things you can try to feed your puppy if he/she is not eating enough are soft scrambled eggs or broiled, baked or boiled chicken (lukewarm). Be sure your puppy is eating enough to sustain him/her.

If your puppy won’t drink the water you offer him/her offer him/her GatorAid to drink. Water in different locations can taste and smell much different than the water your puppy has been drinking. Use shallow dishes for feed and water. Be sure your puppy is eating, drinking and going potty.

The puppy will need plenty of rest. When puppy is not resting puppy should be alert and playful. 

Your puppy will need a quiet and stable environment to adjust properly. Loud noise and quick movement will stress your puppy. Please be gentle and kind to your puppy. Talk softly, handle the puppy gently, and spend a lot of time with your puppy. A puppy that is adjusting will sometimes eat small amounts of food from your hand while on your lap. This helps build a good relationship between you and the puppy.

We recommend keeping the puppy in a confined area (not too large 6’ X 6’) or crate when you are not immediately with him/her. Do not expose the puppy to excess heat.  Provide puppy a soft towel or pillow to rest on.

Use extreme care not to step on puppy or allow puppy to jump or fall from your arms, furniture, stairs or any elevated surface. Always handle puppy in a very gentle manner. 

Do not take your puppy into public areas where other animals have been until your puppy is complete on his/her puppy series of vaccinations at or about 15 weeks of age.

You will want to purchase a tearless brand of puppy shampoo and a soft brush. Do not bath your puppy so often that you dry the skin. Use care when bathing puppy not to get soap and water in the ears, nose and mouth.

Give daily attention to the eyes and rectal area keeping both areas clean using a soft damp cloth.

If you have any questions regarding the care of your new puppy please do not hesitate to give me a call at 417-505-0571. Your veterinarian and staff are also a great source for advice in the care of your new puppy.

Real Chicken and Sweet Potato ingredient and nutrient information:

A delicious combination of chicken, sweet potato, flaxseeds, coconut oil, apples, blueberries, cranberries, pumpkin, , broccoli, carrots, spinach and parsley. Real chicken is the first ingredient in this highly-digestible, nutritionally-dense, holistic recipe. pawTree recipes are formulated with no corn, no wheat and no soy because we know our pets rely on us to make the best nutrition choices for them. Our recipes contain no artificial colors, flavors, preservatives or poultry by-products.

Key Benefits:

• Natural
• Contains healthy grains
• High protein
• Real chicken is the first ingredient
• Antioxidant-rich formula
• Natural source of DHA – supports healthy brain development
• Contains Taurine to support heart health
• Contains prebiotics to support a healthy digestive tract
• Balanced Calcium and Phosphorus for bone and tooth health
• Contains Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids for a healthy skin & coat
• A good source of natural Glucosamine to help maintain joint health
• No corn, no wheat, no soy
• No poultry by-products
• Formulated for reduced stool volume
• No added sugars or sweeteners
• No artificial colors, flavors or preservatives
• Complete and balanced nutrition for dogs
• Developed by Veterinarians and Nutritionists

Chicken, chicken meal (source of glucosamine), dried peas, dried chickpeas, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), dried sweet potatoes, tomato pomace, natural flavor, flaxseed, dried egg product, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), sea salt, coconut oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), fructooligosaccharides, dicalcium phosphate, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, niacin, D-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A acetate, biotin, vitamin D3 supplement, riboflavin, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid), minerals (ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, calcium carbonate, manganous oxide, copper sulfate, iron amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, cobalt carbonate, ethylenediamine dihydriodide), choline chloride, taurine, dried apples, dried blueberries, dried cranberries, dried pumpkin, dried spinach, dried parsley, Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast culture, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Aspergillus niger fermentation extract, dried Trichoderma longibrachiatum fermentation extract, dried Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract, mixed tocopherols, L-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate, L-carnitine, rosemary extract.

Crude Protein (min)                         32.0%
Crude Fat (min)                               18.0%
Crude Fiber (max)                             4.0%
Moisture (max)                                12.0%
Calcium (min)                                   1.3%
Phosphorus (min)                              1.0%
Vitamin E (min)                                200 IU/kg
DHA* (min)                                      0.05%
Omega-6 fatty acids* (min)                 3.5%
Omega-3 fatty acids* (min)                 0.6%
Glucosamine* (min)                         500 mg/kg
Taurine* (min)                                  0.10%

* Not recognized as an essential nutrient by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles

Metabolizable Energy 3,790 kcal/kg (calculated)

                                  440 Calories/cup (calculated)

pawTree Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe is formulated to meet the nutrient levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for growth and maintenance.

• Real meat, poultry or fish is the first ingredient in our pet food
• No poultry by-products
• No corn, no wheat, no soy
• No artificial colors,,flavors or preservatives
• Developed by Veterinarians and Animal Nutritionists
• Made in the USA