Important Information for the new Maltese Puppy Owner.

All the changes, combined with separation from their littermates, can stress a puppy.  Let the pup get used to you and your family before showing it to your friends or taking it on outings.  Pups tire easily and need lots of rest.  Small breed puppies do not have much reserve energy, for this reason it is vital that food be readily available for the first few weeks.  If without food for very long, their blood sugar levels can drop very quickly, and they may become hypoglycemic.

 

HYPOGLYCEMIA PREVENTION

Karo Syrup or Nutri-Cal (Use only as needed)
Give Nutri-cal whenever your new puppy is sick, stressed, or overly tired from playing hard.  Nutri-cal or Karo syrup will help balance the puppy’s sugar level, and help prevent hypoglycemia.  You need to keep some dry puppy food available at all times.  If your puppy seems lethargic and it's gums are turning pale, give it Karo Syrup immediately at full strength and notify your veterinarian.  This puppy needs to eat every few hours.  Hypoglycemia can be deadly - As long as your puppy eats regularly, it should be fine.

 

FOOD & WATER

To prevent an upset stomach, If your water supply is different from mine, please use bottled drinking water at first, switching gradually over to your regular water supply. For the first week or two, please keep your pup on the food sent home with you. When changing foods, do so gradually over a week or so.

 
VACCINATIONS


 Your warranty becomes null and void if you give more than one vaccination at a time.  Because this is a small toy dog you must be very careful when vaccinating.
Vaccinations should not be given less than three to four weeks apart.  Please do not give heartworm or flea/tick medication on the same day as a vaccination.  Wait a few days after vaccinating to give the heart worm medication.  Please spread out your medications for the safety of your little puppies health.  These are small dogs!  If they develop an allergic reaction, it could be fatal.  The vaccination dosage is the same for a dog of any size or any age, they all  get the same amount of vaccine.  Therefore, for your pups well being, please give only one vaccination at a time.  Lepto vaccine is not recommended for toy dogs


Please remember, Rabies vaccination must be done at a separate veterinarian visit from any other vaccination.  I highly recommend the use of Merial's IMRAB 3 Rabies vaccine as it supposedly does not cause the white dog injection site reactions that some of the other Rabies vaccines can cause.  If your vet uses any other Rabies vaccine in place of Merial’s IMRAB 3, please be sure your vet gives the Rabies vaccine in the muscle.

 
TEETH


Teeth need to be brushed daily.  Toy dogs develop Gingivitis easily and as your dog matures it will have a lot of tartar build up.  Your puppy will need regular visits to your veterinarian for professional teeth cleaning as it matures.  Puppy teeth may not always fall out, especially the canine eye teeth.  Canine baby teeth may have to be surgically removed.  Have your veterinarian pull any extra teeth at time of spay/neuter.  Please have your dogs’ teeth checked and professionally cleaned by your veterinarian yearly or as often as your vet recommends.  If regular care is not followed, adult teeth will fall out at an early age, and dog will have bad breath.

 
PATELLA’S / STIFLES


Toy dogs are prone to “weak knee joints”.  It is best to not let your puppy jump from high places such as beds, couches, etc... as this could eventually weaken those stifles and patella's.   Also, when brushing your dog’s long hair, do those legs gently.

 
 

SPAY / NEUTER
Un-neutered pets have a high rate of hormonal cancers and tumors.  Un-spayed females can also develop Pyometra.  When buying a pet puppy from us, you have agreed to spay/neuter your pet.  Please so ASAP to avoid unwanted behaviors and health issues.  Your pets’ future depends on it.

 
GROOMING


Daily hair brushing should be done to prevent matting.  Daily face washing will prevent stain buildup around the eyes.  Eye Envy seems to be the best eye stain remover I have found.

 

 

Which Is Better A Male Or A Female

Some people believe that female dogs make better pets.  A lot of people think that they want a 'sweet girl'.  They may not realize that females display alpha behaviors like marking and/or humping.  They believe that they are more docile and attentive and do not participate in fighting over dominance.
This could not be further from the truth!  In the dog pack makeup, females usually rule the roost, determine pecking order, and she is the one who competes to maintain or alter that order.  As a result, the females are more independent, stubborn, and territorial than their male counterparts.  The females are much more intent upon exercising their dominance by participating in alpha behaviors such as 'humping' and being "in charge" of all other dogs around.  There is a reason people utilize the technical dog term of 'bitch' in a negative way, it refers directly to the behaviors exhibited by the females of the dog world.  Most dog fights will usually occur between 2 females.


Males, on the other hand, are usually more affectionate, exuberant, attentive, and more demanding of your attention.  They become very attached to their people.  They also tend to be more steadfast, reliable, and less moody.  They are more outgoing, more accepting of other pets, and they usually take quicker to children.  Most boys are easily motivated by food and praise, and very eager to please, so training can be easier.  However, males do like to play so they can be more easily distracted during their training.  But, at any age, he is more likely to act silly and play like a puppy.  Boys usually love to play with children and play games.  Boys stay fun loving, up until the day that they die.   Females tend to be more reserved or dignified as they age.


Neutered males rarely exhibit secondary sexual behavior such as humping or marking or the lifting of their legs.  Once the testosterone levels recede, "after the neutering", most of these behaviors (if they ever existed) will disappear.  Boys should be neutered at an early age (by around 4 months), which I highly recommend!  Please check with your Vet to see what age they suggest.  Once they are neutered, they usually won't even raise their leg to urinate (as long as they are neutered before their hormones kick in).


The female will usually come to you for attention, but when she's had enough, she will move away.  While boys are always eager for your attention and always near at hand.  Females are usually less distracted during training, as she is more eager to get it over with, and get back to her comfy spot on the couch.  The female is less likely to wage a dominance battle with you, but she can be cunning and resourceful in getting her own way.  She is way more prone to mood swings. One day she may be sweet and affectionate the next day reserved and withdrawn or even grumpy.


The females also have periods of being in heat unless she is spayed.  Seasonal heats can be a month long nightmare not just for the female, but for you and every male dog in the neighborhood.  During this time she can leave a bloody discharge on carpets, couches, or anywhere else that she goes.  She will be particularly "moody and emotional" during this time also.  Just a walk outside can become hazardous if male dogs are in the vicinity, she will leave a 'scent' for wandering intact males to follow you right back to your yard, where they will hang out, and wait for days.  And, then she will came back in heat about every 5 to 8 months, until you have her spayed.  If you are not breeding, it is best to have her spayed.


Before deciding on male or female, please give these points lots of consideration.