heartworm preventive

Question
HI I just got a Rottweiler puppy and wanted to know when can I start her on heartworm preventive, she is about 4 weeks. I also have a german shepard male that has heartworm and is being treated currently. Would the rott be at high risk.
Also could you please tell me a little about the feeding regime for long lasting health?

Thans a million,
Sucy

Answer
Did you really mean 4 weeks?  Many puppies are hardly weaned by then.  At least having the German Shepherd in the house will ensure continuing dog socialization.  

You can start heartworm remedy anytime.  I think the law requires a test first, but she isn't old enough to have developed the mature heart worms that could kill a dog if you started heart worm remedy.  Since it comes from the vet, likely he will suggest when.  Since heartworms spread through eggs in the blood, the Shepherd shouldn't be any special problem unless her sharp little teeth draw blood.  Unless you have a long, harsh winter, I would go with it year around.  

Good nutrition is quite simple.  You might start with a dry puppy chow.  At 4 weeks, you may still have to soften it with water.  Don't use milk, it doesn't digest well. I will mention an early switch to adult chow later.  What you need to do is pick a protein source an stick with it as long as the dog is doing well on it.  I have seen thousands of dogs in the dog guide program thriving on the Pro Plan chicken and rice.  I know other schools have the same fine results using Iams or Eukanuba.  I will be watching the one service dog school that has recently switched to purina 1.  Don't add anything else.  Modern dog chows are carefully formulated to give dogs the complete and balanced diet they need.  Adding supplements or this or that, only mess up the careful balance dogs need.  Much of what you read about feeding dogs comes from people selling more expensive diets.  It is nothing but marketing hype with no research to back it.

 
Much of housebreaking is not training the puppy, but making it easier for your
puppy, you, and your carpet while its body to catches up to its instincts. At
around 8 weeks when the puppy goes to its new home, the time from when it
realizes it has to go, and when it can't wait any longer is a matter of
seconds. Only time will fix that. You can hardly be expected to be attentive
enough to avoid all accidents. There is no sense punishing the puppy for your
inattention. It is not fair to punish you either, but you still have to clean
it up if you didn't have the puppy outside in time.

Housebreaking starts before you get home with the new puppy. If you don't have
a crate, buy one. I prefer the more enclosed, den like plastic ones. Skip the
bedding. At first it gets wet, and later it can be chewed into choking
hazards. A wire grid in the bottom will help keep the puppy up out of
accidents at first. They are available with the crates, but expensive and hard to find. A piece of closely spaced wire closet shelving from a home supply place is cheaper. I am now using a plastic vegetable bin with plenty of holes drilled in the bottom. It helps block off part of the crate for the smaller puppy. If you already have a metal crate, covering it may help. Just make sure you use something the puppy can't pull in and chew. Dogs that start out in crates as little puppies, accept them very well. Never leave an unattended puppy loose in the house. If nobody can watch it, put it in the crate. I suggest letting the dog have its crate all its life. A crate needs to be just big enough for a dog to stretch out in.

Choose a command and spot you want it to use. The less accessible to strays,
the less chance of serious disease. If it is a female, choosing a non grassy spot will avoid brown spots later. When you bring it home, take it to the spot and give it the command in a firm, but friendly voice. Keep repeating the command and let the puppy sniff around. If it does anything, praise it. Really let it know what a good dog it is and how much you love it, and maybe a treat. Note, being out there not only means you can praise it, but it also keeps it from being snatched by a hawk. If it doesn't go, take it inside and give it a drink and any meals scheduled. A young puppy will need to go out immediately afterward. Go to the spot and follow the above routine. Praising it if it goes is extremely important. If it doesn't go, take it back inside and put it in its crate and try again soon. Do not let it loose in the house until it does go.

At first it is your responsibility to know and take the puppy out when it
needs to go. It needs to go out the first thing in the morning, after eating,
drinking, and sleeping. If it quits playing, and starts running around
sniffing, it is looking for a place to go. Take it out quickly. You will just
have to be what I call puppy broke until it is a little older. How successful you are depends on how attentive you are.

By the time most dogs are about 3 months old, they have figured out that if
they go to the door and stand, you will let them out. The praise slowly shifts
to going to the door. Some people hang a bell there for the dog to paw. If
your dog doesn't figure this out, try praising it and putting it out if it
even gets near the door. When you catch it in the act, give it a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'' and take it out. Clean up accidents promptly. I mostly keep the little
puppies out of the carpeted rooms. Still I need the can of carpet foam
sometimes. First blot up all the urine you can with a dry towel. Keep moving
it and stepping on it until a fresh area stays dry. A couple big putty knives
work well on bowel movements. Just slide one under it while holding it with
the other. This gets it up with a minimum of pushing it down into the carpet.
This works with even relatively soft ones, vomit, dirt from over turned house
plants, or anything else from solids to thick liquids. Finish up with a good
shot of carpet foam. Note, do not let the puppy lick up the carpet foam.
Once the dog is reliably housebroken, your carpet may need a good steam cleaning.

Many people strongly strongly push cleaning up all evidence of past accidents. I am slower to suggest that. Dogs will return to the same spot if they can find it. When you see one sniffing the spot, that is your clue to run it out.