Maltese Puppy Care

In case you’d like to crate train your puppy here are some guidelines:
The first few nights will be hard on you and your puppy. He/she is used to sleeping with siblings and going to the bathroom whenever the urge strikes. Now he/she will have to learn to sleep alone in a crate. This is quite a shock at first. Don’t worry though, they’ll learn to love the crate as dogs are den animals and seek a protected area when they sleep. Most likely your pup will wake up in the middle of the night with an urgency in his voice that tells you he needs to go potty. At this point you will probably need to get up or clean up. So be prepared to lose a little sleep for a while. The crate can also be a safe place to keep him safe when you can’t watch him in the house. Constant supervision is always important in the first few weeks. This will assure that he/she will learn quickly what is appropriate behavior.

Never leave your dog in a hot car or hot unventilated area.

HYPOGLYCEMIA* PLEASE READ
My dogs haven’t suffered from this, however it is common for this breed so please read.

Symptoms:

Hypoglycemia, the medical term for low blood sugar, is a condition in which there is a drastic sudden drop in the level of blood sugar in the puppy. It is a puppy disease seen most often in toy breed puppies and usually not seen in puppies over twelve weeks of age. It is most likely caused by the uneven spurts in growth of the internal organs of the puppy, especially the pancreas. The brain will receive incorrect signals from the pancreas and not send out a correct signal for the release of a proper amount of sugar in the bloodstream. Signs of an attack are a weakness, confusion, wobbly gait, frothing or drooling from the mouth, worst case – seizures. A check of the gums will find them to be pale, almost a grayish white in color rather than a healthy bright pink. The puppy can go into shock and, if not cared for properly and promptly, may even die.

Treatment:

Feeding recommendations for puppies at risk for hypoglycemia includes: Frequent (4-5 times a day) feedings of high carbohydrate, high protein and/or fat foods. Feeding soft moist foods may help to prevent a hypoglycemia attack due to the high sugar content. Gatorade mixed with a little honey or Pedialyte are good products to use if dog is having an attack. Note: I personally give the puppies NUTRICAL. Nutrient rich syrup, keeps the puppy happy and healthy. Feed a small portion to the puppy every 2 hours and you will certainly exclude hypoglycemia from being a threat to your puppy’s health. (Depending on the puppy, I will let you know the care it will need to avoid hypoglycemia).

Maltese are indoor dogs, she/he doesn’t need extensive training as it is naturally obedient to it’s beloved master. Basic obedience training is sufficient. To keep your dog happy, spend time with it. Any time spent interacting with your puppy serves to cement your bond together.

There are different styles that a Maltese can be groomed, whether it is a puppy cut, Korean puppy cut or you plan to leave your dog with long hair... all styles require continuous care. Below is a video showing how to groom your Maltese at home.

I recommend taking your dog to a professional groomer, but if you are more comfortable grooming at home, this video can show you how it is done.

Your veterinarian will give you a booklet that will let you know when the vaccinations and dewormings are due. It is important that the puppy receives all of them at the specified dates. You never know when they will need it, so it is best to prevent and be prepared.

If you have any questions contact me and I’ll be happy to help you.