What Your 8-Week-Old Puppy Needs

What Your 8-Week-Old Puppy Needs

By: PetPlace Veterinarians

Your 8-week-old puppy has certain needs to stay healthy! The following is a list of recommended wellness care for an 8-week-old puppy including tips and advise on dewormers, heartworm prevention, flea and tick control, spay and neutering and nutrition.

  • Vaccines – 8-week-old puppies should at least have their first set of shots. The typical vaccine is a "combination" that protects against canine distemper virus, canine hepatitis, parainfluenza, and canine parvovirus (the four viruses are commonly abbreviated DHPP). Many veterinarians also recommend incorporating leptospirosis in the vaccination (DHLPP) and possibly coronavirus (DHLPPC). Additionally, Lyme disease vaccination may be recommended depending on your pet's level of risk.

  • Dewormers – Most puppies are born with worms and therefore should be dewormed by your veterinarian.
    Fecal examination is the microscopic examination of stools for parasites and may be done to confirm if there are worms or determine which worms are present.

  • Heartworm Prevention – Heartworm prevention is important to puppies that are at risk and should be started before they are 6 months of age.

  • Flea/Tick Control – Depending on where you live and your current flea/tick situation, there are very good preventative medications to control flea and ticks. The best and safest products are prescribed by veterinarians.

  • Spay/Neuter – Some puppies are spayed and neutered at an early age or later, closer to 6 months of age. If your puppy is not "fixed", discuss when is the best time with your veterinarian. Pet overpopulation is a serious issue and by allowing your dog to have litters, you are adding to the problem. Pets that are spayed or neutered are quieter and not prone to roam looking for a mate and tend to be more gentle and affectionate. Also, fixing your pet reduces the risk of developing breast and prostate cancer and eliminates the risk of uterine infections.

  • Diet - Most puppies are weaned at 6 to 8 weeks of age, after which they leave their mothers and eat solid food. Your 2-month-old puppy should be eating four meals per day of a good quality food formulated for puppies of his or her size.

    The energy requirements of a puppy, based on body weight, is nearly double that of an adult. The number of calories a 2-month-old puppy needs varies with their size, activity level and weight. Approximate calorie requirements for the different breed sizes are: 225 for Toys; 400 for small breeds; 530 for medium; 990 for large; and 1220 for giant breed dogs.

    There is no set formula for how much to feed a puppy. Consider your pup's age, weight, and activity level when deciding how much to feed. Weigh your puppy each week. As your puppy ages and his size increases, he will need more food each day. More active pups may burn more calories and require more food. The opposite is true for less active pups. Every brand of food has different nutrients, caloric densities and feeding recommendations. Check the manufacturer's recommendations on how much to feed.

    •  
    Printable Version
     
    Have a Pet Question?
    Review the Most Frequent Questions
    Answered by Dr. Jon and His Staff of Veterinarians
    Ask Dr. Jon
    Dr. Jon's Newsletter
    Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...
     
     

    Related Articles

    • 1 What to Expect from Your 8-week-old Puppy

      Learn about how your 8-week-old puppy is developing including his growth, teething, ability to hold urine, intelligence, play and agility, physical appearance and sleep patterns.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2 Puppy Vaccine Recommendations

      All dogs should be vaccinated. Even if you’re adopting a dog and think he’s probably had his shots, play it safe and have him vaccinated again. It’s better to give an extra vaccine than none at all.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3 How to Control and Prevent Fleas on Your Dog

      The flea is a small, brown, wingless insect that utilizes specialized mouthparts to pierce the skin and siphon blood; the bite of a single flea can cause severe itching, scratching and the most common...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 4 Intestinal Parasites in Dogs

      Intestinal parasites, also called worms, are quite common in puppies. Routine deworming usually eliminates infections but does not prevent reinfection. Annual fecal exams typically detect these parasites....

      Read MoreRead More
    Related Articles
    • 1Puppy Vaccine Recommendations

      All dogs should be vaccinated. Even if you’re adopting a dog and think he’s probably had his shots, play it safe and have him vaccinated again. It’s better to give an extra vaccine than none at all.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2Intestinal Parasites in Dogs

      Intestinal parasites, also called worms, are quite common in puppies. Routine deworming usually eliminates infections but does not prevent reinfection. Annual fecal exams typically detect these parasites....

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3How to Control and Prevent Fleas on Your Dog

      The flea is a small, brown, wingless insect that utilizes specialized mouthparts to pierce the skin and siphon blood; the bite of a single flea can cause severe itching, scratching and the most common...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 4What to Expect from Your 8-week-old Puppy

      Learn about how your 8-week-old puppy is developing including his growth, teething, ability to hold urine, intelligence, play and agility, physical appearance and sleep patterns.

      Read MoreRead More
     

    Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

    Dogs & Puppies
    Cats
    Related Articles
    • 1Puppy Vaccine Recommendations

      All dogs should be vaccinated. Even if you’re adopting a dog and think he’s probably had his shots, play it safe and have him vaccinated again. It’s better to give an extra vaccine than none at all.

      Read MoreRead More
    • 2Intestinal Parasites in Dogs

      Intestinal parasites, also called worms, are quite common in puppies. Routine deworming usually eliminates infections but does not prevent reinfection. Annual fecal exams typically detect these parasites....

      Read MoreRead More
    • 3How to Control and Prevent Fleas on Your Dog

      The flea is a small, brown, wingless insect that utilizes specialized mouthparts to pierce the skin and siphon blood; the bite of a single flea can cause severe itching, scratching and the most common...

      Read MoreRead More
    • 4What to Expect from Your 8-week-old Puppy

      Learn about how your 8-week-old puppy is developing including his growth, teething, ability to hold urine, intelligence, play and agility, physical appearance and sleep patterns.

      Read MoreRead More