Buying a puppy can be likened to buying a used car. When the cars history is not known, smart shoppers demand a Car Fax report. Whether you are buying a used car or a puppy, the less educated you are, the more likely you will have expensive problems. The only way you will know for certain how a puppy’s mother was cared for before, during, and post litter is to know the Breeder. Alas, buying direct from a Breeder is no guarantee that your puppy will be healthy! Breeders are often as ignorant of how to properly feed and supplement, as is the majority of MDs and Veterinarians in this country.

Pet Store and Rescue Facility puppies are a high risk to develop weak immune systems. The greater the risk, the greater the probability they will require advanced vet care throughout their lives. Why? Most of the animals sold in rescue facilities were either abandoned, or from feral (wild) mothers. Feral females are often impregnated before they are physically mature, and often become pregnant again, while puppies (or kittens) are still on the teat! Feral mothers survive by scavenging for food. Scavenged food is likely to harbor pathogenic bacteria. At best, this bacterium causes mild diarrhea, however, more likely it will cause chronic diarrhea, which leads to dehydration and fever, quickly followed by more advanced digestive and immune diseases, which compromises the milk.

The unquenchable appetite of Empty Nester’s to buy puppies for companionship has resulted in an out-of-control business known as Puppy Mills. They are Big Business, and as such are run like businesses whose prime interest is stock-holder profits. The living conditions in puppy mills has been documented, but nothing has been done to legislate and monitor their facilities. Breed dogs are often treated like feed animals. Instead of getting proper nutrition and supplements to keep them strong, so they can produce and nurse healthy pups, they are fed lowest quality food and shot full of medications when they are sick, which is most of the time. They are highly stressful environments.

Every aspect of a Puppy Mill is stressful; living conditions, food, sickness, and premature weaning. This is followed by, how pups are handled when shipped to pet stores all over the country. They are stacked in cages, given little food or water, no light, extreme weather conditions, lying in the own urine and feces for days, listening to other pups crying in fear. Once they arrive at the pet store, they are exposed to a whole new set of stresses. If they adjust the stress begins again when you take them home.

Bringing Your Puppy Home One of the common signs of stress is diarrhea. Unfortunately, the common treatment prescribed for diarrhea is antibiotics, more complicated cases also get steroids. This is a poor treatment plan for a healthy dog, let alone a stressed out puppy. The 21st Century approach is to administer the opposite of antibiotics, or probiotics. Dogs instinctively know they are digestive aids, and eat them by pulling at the roots of grass, where soil-based probiotic organisms (SBOs) thrive. SBOs are clinically proven to quickly and safely resolve diarrhea, as well as most digestive disorders.

Contrary to what you have been lead to believe, the best food for your puppy does not come in a bag, or in a can, unless you are shopping in a holistic pet store, and even then “Buyer Beware”! Two important nutritional facts to know and act upon are (1) 90% of your puppy’s total immune system is located in their digestive system, and (2) 80% of all chronic disease is caused by an unhealthy digestive system.

Your puppy is a meat eater. Manufactured dog food lacks human-grade animal protein and digestive supplements any dog needs to grow up healthy, and stay healthy. If your puppy is already weaned, the best food to help their young bodies and immune systems to develop properly is food that comes as close to their wild relatives diet as possible- high-quality animal protein. People who have switched to a raw diet report improvements in health, energy, and behavior: however, no matter what diet you choose, it needs to be supplemented with digestive enzymes, soil-based probiotic organisms (SBOs) and a complement of omega 3-6 oils; all are essential to develop and sustain a strong digestive/immune system.

Much of the responsibility for the health of your puppy depends on you. The internet provides a wealth of information, as well as disinformation. It should not be hard to connect the dots between manufactured pet food convenience and the millions of dogs today suffering from poor health. Unless you personally know that the Breeder has a working knowledge of what the right foods and supplements to feed the mother and the pup are, you would be better off to avoid getting a puppy until you do.