Health problems you can't vaccinate against

Of course, even a vaccinated puppy can still encounter health problems now and again. Here are some you may come up against:

Diarrhoea

In the majority of cases diarrhoea is just a passing inconvenience. Your puppy could suffer from it if he's overly excited or nervous or if he's somehow eaten something unsuitable like the contents of the kitchen bin! However diarrhoea can be a symptom of serious illness too and you shouldn't hesitate to take your puppy to the vet if you are at all concerned. Always take him to the vet if the diarrhoea lasts longer than twenty-four hours, has blood in it, is accompanied by other signs of illness such as breathing difficulties or if your puppy becomes lethargic or 'floppy' as there is a risk of dehydration in puppies with diarrhoea.

Vomiting

Your puppy is bound to vomit occasionally and, most of the time, he'll just need a little TLC. Like diarrhoea though, vomiting can be a symptom of serious illness and you should always take your puppy to the vet if the vomiting lasts more than twenty four hours, has blood is it, is projectile or is accompanied by other signs of illness. Again, keep an eye out for the signs of dehydration as this can happen very quickly. Above all, trust your instincts and take your puppy straight to the vet if you are at all worried.

Ear infections and mites

Even if you're very conscientious about regularly cleaning your puppy's ears, he may still suffer from ear infections or ear mites from time to time.

Healthy ears are shiny, free from discharge or wax and pale pink inside. They do not smell unpleasant. If you are concerned about your puppy's ears or if he seems bothered by them (perhaps he keeps scratching his ears or shaking his head), don't hesitate to take him to the vet.