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Picking A Puppy
by Mel Mercer, DVM
The day you take a new puppy home is the first day of a commitment that will last for the life of that dog. So it's very important to select as wisely as possible.
Once you've settled on an ethical breeder, there are a variety of considerations. Some of these apply to any breed of dog and some are specific to Irish Wolfhounds. When picking out any puppy you should:
* See the parents (or at least the bitch). Does she look healthy with a good coat, and is she in good weight?
* Look for good hair coat in the puppy with no evidence of external parasites such as fleas or skin or ear mites. There shouldn't be thin areas in the coat and the skin should be smooth and healthy looking. The ears should be clean.
* Look for evidence of hernias; small holes in the abdominal muscle layer in the area of the "belly button" or at the base of the hind legs. Very small hernias may be of no consequence, but larger ones may need to be corrected surgically.
* Look for significant under or overbites that may lead to problems eating.
* Look for good muscle tone as well as good weight. Puppies that are underweight may have intestinal parasites or digestive problems. Puppies that are overweight are at risk for musculoskeletal problems.
* Make sure the puppy has been routinely wormed by its breeder. Roundworms are extremely common and can be passed to humans. (For more information, go to http://www.capcvet.org/ A distended abdomen may be a sign of parasites in puppies.
* Look for watery eyes or nasal discharge- this may indicate a state of poor health. Wolfhound Rhinitis/Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia, by Margret L. Casal, med. vet, Phd
* Look for splayed or flat feet and dropped pasterns (weak wrists in the forelegs); this may indicate a lack of exercise or cartilage and ligamentous problems in the puppy.
* Consider the temperament- you may want to avoid the puppy that seems unusually shy or quiet. When you meet the puppy prior to taking it home it should come to you or be so engrossed in playing with their littermates that they ignore your presence. Be careful of puppies that actively avoid human contact.
 Once home, be careful of the toys you provide. All puppies can destroy toys, but this is particularly true of growing IW's. Once it is evident the pup is destroying a toy, remove it from the environment. Pieces of toys that are swallowed can cause stomach irritation and vomiting and, more seriously, can cause obstructions in the intestinal tract that may need to be treated surgically. Be cautious of any small item the puppy can close its mouth over. Rope bones with knots can cause serious problems if the knot is swallowed. (photo clickable)
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Once home, be careful of the toys you provide. All puppies can destroy toys, but this is particularly true of growing IW's. Once it is evident the pup is destroying a toy, remove it from the environment. Pieces of toys that are swallowed can cause stomach irritation and vomiting and, more seriously, can cause obstructions in the intestinal tract that may need to be treated surgically. Be cautious of any small item the puppy can close its mouth over. Rope bones with knots can cause serious problems if the knot is swallowed. (photo clickable)
