New Maltese Puppy Info
Bringing your baby Maltese home is a fun and exciting time. Your new baby will require a lot of love and attention as they transition into their new home. Before your baby arrives there are a number of decisions and arrangements that you should make. First you’ll need to puppy proof your home. We recommend you quarantine off small areas at first. This will help you with house-breaking and only introduce new areas once they have conquered their initial steps in the house-breaking process.
Be sure to pick up any household cleaners and food that your baby could get into, also that any low-hanging electrical cords are managed in a way to minimize the puppy’s ability to reach them and chew. You certainly don’t want them to get at any shoes or personal property. Don’t be lazy, it’s time to do a little cleanup!
FIND THE RIGHT VET
Next, find a veterinarian that you want to use for your Maltese routine care. You may already have one that you are accustomed to but if this is your first pet don’t be shy about calling or visiting a few different local Vets to find one you are comfortable with. In addition find a 24-hour animal hospital in the event of an after-hour emergency.
Your vet should be able to recommend a solid dentist to help with their dental needs. We have all the info for all the veterinarian hospitals and clinics written down on a document taped to the back of a cabinet in their care area. This way the information is always accessible when needed most.
ITEMS YOU NEED
Here are a few items that we recommend you have when bringing your Maltese home. Every person and every Veterinarian you talk to will have their own set of ideas as to what you should have. This is just a list of things we find are important to have close by to properly care for our babies. Most of these items can be sourced from your local pet suppliers or online retailers such as Amazon or Chewy.
- Baby Gates
- Soft Sides Pet Crate
- Pet Play Pen 3’x3′
- Washable Pee Pads – (we highly suggest these as the disposable type are frequently chewed by puppies)
- Small Doggie Bed
- Doggie Blanket
- Doggie heating pad (optional)
- Misc Dog Bowls
- Doggie Place Mats
- Puppy Food dry 15Lb bag or Smaller
- Canned Puppy food (not grain-free)
- Soft Training Treat (human grade)
- Doggie Toothbrush
- Doggie Finger brush for teeth cleaning
- TropiClean Dental Health Solution (water additive for plaque & tarter)
- Greenie Treats or Bones
- Doggie Brush & Comb
- Doggie Fur Conditioner (helps if fur gets mats in it)
- Fur Clippers w/ Auto Vacuum (Optional)
- Grooming Table (Optional)
- Doggie Grooming Scissors
- Angel Eyes (or similar for tear stain cleaning)
- Toys – Soft
- Toys – Chewable
DO I NEED PET INSURANCE?
One last thing to consider is Pet Insurance. Most come at a reasonable price and can save you thousands of dollars when emergency care is needed. A number of well-known insurance providers now offer pet insurance. Well-known companies like Nationwide and Geico have plans available. Additionally, one well-known pet insurance company is Trupanion. If your going to be a pet owner it may be wise for you to investigate these options and choose what you think is best for you and your new baby.
