Q. What do I need to know about adolescence in my puppy?
A. Congratulations! You have made it through puppy hood. You have enjoyed and survived puppy breath, mouthiness and chewing, teething, housebreaking, puppy snuggles and kisses. Puppy and you have gone to kindergarten, had daily new experiences, several veterinary visits, and a lot of fun.
Welcome to adolescence. If you have teenage children at home, you will see some similarities. The majority of your puppy’s physical growth is done by 6 months. Adult teeth have erupted and will finish coming in over the next few months. If not, have your veterinarian check him for retrained baby teeth, which may need to be removed. Their chewing strength will become stronger too. What took your puppy hours to chew, like a bully stick, will take only minutes.
Adolescence in a pup will begin around 6 months and will continue until they are 18 to 24 months old in most breeds. Some will take longer. We have to remember that they are still growing. Their bones have open growth plates called epiphysis. The puppy’s epiphyses do not start closing until at least a year for small dogs and 18 months or more for bigger breeds. This is important to know for the health of your pup’s joints. Injury to growth plates will cause severe pain and may result in leg deformities.
Now that your pup has more energy, you will want to take him on long hikes and walks to tire him out. Walking Fido is very important, but strenuous hikes can injure these growth plates and joints causing arthritis and pain later in life. Be selective of the activities you engage in at this age. If you are planning on doing dog sports with your teen, be sure to find a trainer who respects your dog’s developmental stage. Many talented teens become injured from over training, repetitive drills, and intense competition. Have a balance between fun sniff walks and training.
Fido’s caloric needs are changing. Puppies need a lot of calories to keep up with their fast growing. Adolescent dogs have a variable need. If you have an easy-going pup and he isn’t setting the world on fire, you will want to cut back on his food for optimum weight. If you are using puppy food, now is the time to change to adult food. There are some teens who need more calories. If you have an active pup, he may need more calories during this time. It is important to remember that a fat puppy or teen can cause damage to his growing bones resulting in a painful adult and senior life.
We must remember this teen is still developing mentally. He has grown from a pup that follows you everywhere to an exploring maniac. This is normal development. You did your homework with your new puppy safely socializing and training him. Even though he acts like he has forgotten everything you taught him, be assured, all that knowledge is in there. Adolescence is a time of being distracted. Continue doing your good work, be patient, make training fun, it will pay off in the end.
The question of when to spay, neuter, or not at all will come up now. Hormones are starting to become active. New research is questioning the practice of neutering and spaying during the first year. Looking at cancer statistics, fear development, joint disease, and other maladies, some authors are suggesting waiting until the dog is 2 and a half years old or longer. Health wise waiting is best. If Fido has a medical problem, or your four-legged friend has behaviors related to raging hormones, or your life style conflicts with having an intact dog, neutering is an option.
Next month we’ll discuss the adult dog.
Judith K. Herman, DVM, CVH
Animal Wellness Center
Augusta, Maine
www.mainehomeopahticvet.com
