Important Facts
  Every person carries around various bugs, etc. in their system.  Under normal circumstances they pose no problem to us.  However, periods of stress may lower our resistance and allow these various "bugs" to wreak havoc! The same is true for puppies.
   You have heard people say to someone..."You should be careful.  You're working too hard and are going to make yourself sick!"  That happens because during periods of stress, or over-exertion, your body's defenses are lowered and you are more susceptible to infections, viruses and those little "bugs".
   Even though we make every effort to ensure that the puppies we raise are more than adequately wormed, vaccinated, and free from the more common "bugs" found in puppies (coccidia and giardia), no vaccine has 100% coverage and wormers are only effective on worms that are at certain stages in their life cycle.  That is why follow-up booster vaccinations and de-wormings are so very important. 
   The most important thing you can do to ensure your new puppy's ongoing good health, is to limit its exposure to stressful situations and avoid letting it get too tired.  Keep those defenses up!
   Just think of your puppy just like you would a human baby.  They, like our babies, often want to do more than is good for them.  It is up to you to recognize when they are over doing it and set healthy limits...especially for the first few weeks.  Also, you wouldn't let any person who was obviously ill hold a new baby.  The same precautions are good for puppies.
   In addition, great care should be taken at t hotter times of the year due to the heat and humidity.  We forget sometimes that puppies, especially long haired ones, are wearing a coat year round!  If you want to take your puppy for a walk, it should be done very early in the morning or late in the afternoon.  It is also a good idea to wait until your puppy is finished with its puppy vaccinations before exposing it to strange animals.  
   I am always willing to answer any and all questions and remember to always call your veterinarian if you are concerned about the health of your puppy.