Feeding and Ear Care Guidelines

Feeding Guidelines and Recommendations

for Monitoring Growth Rates in Puppies

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We don't believe in free feeding.

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Feed-controlled portions four times a day until the puppy is 3 months old. Then, switch to three to four times a day until your puppy is 1 year old. Then, depending on how much exercise, feed twice a day. Remove any unused food after 30 minutes. 

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Feed your puppy/dog in a quiet place. Some dogs eat too much or too quickly, especially in the presence of other dogs. 

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Avoid feeding just prior to or just after exercise. Remember the old swimming rule? No eating an hour before swimming....

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Feed healthy treats: apples, carrots, blueberries, etc.

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Do not feed bones. Bones damage teth. Bones and bone fragments can become lodges almost anywhere in the gastrointestinal tract. 

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Your puppy needs PUPPY food until they are AT LEAST 1 year old. They need PUPPY food for LARGE BREED DOGS. 

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NuVet is the ONLY food supplement your dog will need. You don't need to purchase any other supplement. You don't need it. Once your puppy is 3, we HIGHLY suggest you switch to NuVet Joint. If you can afford both from the get-go, EXCELLENT. If not, follow the protocol of NuVet for the first 3 years followed by Nuvet Joint after 3 years.

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If your dog gains too much weight too quickly, he or she will start limping and be in pain. This is called PANO. If your dog exhibits these symptoms, take the dog off puppy food and switch to adult food. Your dog will also need Carprofen, an anti-inflammatory. You will need to get a prescription from your vet or call us, and we will get you some. This is one time that Western medicine is good. Oils will not help. However, you should be diffusing Clary Calm to help sedate your dog. We can't tell you how many puppy parents have freaked out and rushed their puppy to the vet only to be told a number of horrible things. We had a puppy parent freak out and took her 6-mont-old Basset to the vet. The vet scheduled emergency surgery for the next day to amputate the dog's leg. No! No! No! Call us! We are the expert in Basset Hounds. Your vet will say your dog is too fat and needs to be on a diet. Call us! Most vets do not know about European Basset Hounds. 

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PLEASE remember we are here for the life of your puppy. CALL US ANYTIME if something does not seem right. 

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Food Allergies: 99% of all dogs will NOT show food allergies until they are 2. The #1 food that dogs are allergic to is chicken. 90% of all dog food is made from chicken. I feed the puppies chicken, once my dogs get a bit older, I switch them to Purina PRO Plan Salmon and Rice for Sensitive Skin and Stomach. Purina PRO Plan is coming out with Salmon and Rice puppy food. If you are able to switch right away, Basset Hounds get horrible hot spots, and generally, it is from the food or the chicken. I give my dogs chicken treats and only Penelope shows allergies to the treats. 

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EAR CARE for Puppies

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Ear infections are the most common condition seen by vets. There are a number of reasons that a dog's ears become infected, but the most common is bacteria or yeast. In Basset Hounds, a yeasty ear is no joke, and once the dog gets a yeast infection, it is almost IMPOSSIBLE to clear it up. The dog will exhibit discomfort;  perhaps shaking the head or even just tilting the head more than what is normal. When you pick up the flap of the ear, the smell will hit you. PREVENTION is the name of the game!

Clean the dog's ears weekly. Your Basset Hound ear drum is several inches down and at a 90-degree angle. There is NO WAY you can get your finger that far down the dog's ear. We have already sent you the protocol for the ear cleaner. I have recopied the recipe below. If you follow the guideline set out in the recipe, your dog should have a head start to a clean ear. Remember, once you stick the nozzle way down into the dog's ear you need to massage the solution all around. You will hear the solution mixing all around. You will also take a warm cloth and with one finger stick the cloth as far as possible and scoop out any gross stuff. It should be black or VERY dark brown. Finish by cleaning the inside flap. Then, let your dog shake his or her head and get the rest of the fluids evenly distributed. Don't wipe off the excess. Puppies RARELY get an ear infection. For the first few months, put a bit of solution on a cotton swab and swab away. 

If after your diligent work, your dog gets an ear infection, use the recipe for the Blue Genten. Again, the recipe is below. The important thing here is that you do this OUTSIDE. The solution will stain clothing.  Your dog will shake his or her head and a lot will come out. Don't do the treatment wearing your fancy clothes. Your dog should be better within 3 days--but give the treatment for 7 full days, twice a day.

If your dog continues to show signs of an ear infection AFTER you religiously follow these directions, your dog may also have Pseudomonas bacteria in the ear. This can be eradicated by using a flush of apple cider vinegar and warm water (two tablespoons of cider to one cup of WARM water and one drop of frankincense, shaken really well and flushed twice a week). 

For Prevention:

8 oz. of organic Witch Hazel

15 drops of Lavender

15 drops of Basil

15 drops of Geranium

15 drops of Arborvitae

4 tablespoons of Hydrogen Peroxide. 

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Put all ingredients in a squirt bottle, like a hair-dye bottle. You can get the right size squirt bottle at the dollar store in the kitchen department. Shake VERY well before use. 

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For an Active Infection:

16 oz. of Organic Witch Hazel

4 tablespoons of Boric Acid Powder

16 drops of 1% Gentian Violet Solution

15 drops of Copaiba

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The first three ingredients you can purchase on Amazon. Get the Copaiba from DoTerra. 

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Put all ingredients in a squirt bottle. Before each use, SHAKE VERY WELL! Squeeze about 1/8 of a cup in each ear. You want to flood the ear canal. With the ear flap down, rub, rub, rub, and massage and squish to the count of 60. When you pick up the ear flap, you will see the black yeast oozing out and dropping all over the floor. Wipe away the excess discharge and solution very gently. On the first treatment, flood the ear again and leave alone without massage. The dog will shake out the excess. Do this twice a day for the first 7 days or 2 depending on how severe the infection is. Treat once daily for the next 7 days. Then, treat one time per month depending on the dog. 

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If you take the dog to the vet, the vet will give your dog a toxic antibiotic and charge you an arm and a leg. Just have the natural solution ready, and you can save yourself the hassle of a vet bill. 

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Sometimes it is just easier to purchase the solution from me. You can do this, but the cleaner is $30 plus shipping. It should last you several months.