How To Shop The Puppies For Sale Palm Beach Gardens Locals Are Offering

When searching for puppies for sale Palm Beach garden residents are often looking for cuddly animals that they can nourish and protect and that will eventually grow into trusted companions. This makes it important for prospective pet owners to make sure that they choose healthy dogs with an optimal chance of survival. Fortunately, there are a number of signs that people can look for that can serve as red flags.

The Eyes

If shopping the puppies for sale Palm Beach Garden locals are offering, consumers should make sure to look for clear, bright eyes. A puppy's pupils should have a dark color and no visible spots. White spots on the pupil could be a sign of retained fetal membranes or congenital cataracts.

The Ears

For each breed, the ears are likely to stand up differently. For instance a German Shepherd's ears will rarely stand at full attention until these animals are at least four months of age. For most breeds, however, the ears should be upright and have plenty of fur, even during the formative stages of life. Patches of missing fur and crusty ear tips often indicate mange. The interior of the ears should be clean, pink and have no distinguishable or foul odors. Dogs that have large build-ups of wax and foul ear odors likely have ear canal infections or ear mites.

The Top Of The Head

Like newborn babies, puppies will have a soft spot or fontanel upon entering the world. These, however, should close up fairly quickly. The best time to bring a new puppy home is often when these animals are between 8 and 12 weeks of age. The presence of a large, soft fontanel at this time is rarely a good sign. This is especially true for toy breeds as this is commonly an indicator of hydrocephalus.

The Nose

Healthy dogs have moist noses that are perpetually cool to the touch. Puppies that breathe nasally or sneeze frequently may not be in the best health. Consumers should also check for collapsed noses which are common among Brachycephalic breeds. These can lead to breathing problems and other health issues later in life.

The Mouth

A quality dog will also have a good bite. The teeth should either meet directly or the top teeth should slightly overlap the lowers. Mouth sores, foul breath and pale gums are early signs of other health problems. For instance, pale gums in young dogs is commonly the result of anemia that has been brought on by untreated intestinal parasites.