~Tidwell Toy Puppies ~
and Red Angus Farm
|
~Tidwell Toy Puppies ~ and Red Angus Farm
|
|
|
Our next hand delivery Chicago area, St. Louis and East is after the Fourth of July (5th-7th) Transportation/Flight Information:
Because we can't simply mail your precious new puppy.... We are offering private ground transportation in our comfortable, climate and humidity-controlled Mercedes Van. This is done twice monthly to certain areas, with personalized service by JOHN. Because we, ourselves, provide this service, we know the needs of each puppy and each puppy knows us! We have over 8 years of puppy transportation experience.
The cost of transportation, whether flying to your nearest airport or convenient pick up point or driving your puppy (usually right to your home!) is $250 (A couple of the remote states can be a little higher, and if the puppy/crate is more than 25 lbs, the price can be slightly more). To destinations that are closer to us, the cost is less. Just let us know where you are located! In the case of an arranged flight, this fee includes transport to the departure airport, interstate health certificate, and airfare. For personal hand delivery, this fee includes health certificate, and transport to you door (or sometimes a convenient point near your home). Firstly, the puppy's safety is of utmost importance! We will not transport a puppy until it has reached 8 weeks of age, and with many of the toy breeds it may be 9-11 weeks of age before they are ready for this journey. We will always take the puppy's health and well-being into consideration above all else. Likewise, there are times when weather dictates when these babies can be shipped by air. If the weather is too hot or too cold, a flight at a later date will have to be chosen. Puppies are remarkably resilient, and seem to do quite well on this new adventure.
We recommend that you bring the following with you, when picking up your new baby: an old towel, baby wipes or a moist wash cloth in a baggie, bottled water and most importantly....warm and loving arms!! For our tiny toy -sized babies, we ask that you also bring along some Nutri-cal (or equivalent hi-energy nutrient source) to give to the puppy when you pick it up at the airport, or when you arrive at home if you are close to the airport. It may not have eaten on its journey by air, so it will need a little boost. Please allow your new baby to rest, and limit exercise and going places/having too many visitors until it has settled in and feels comfortable. Even following you around for more than 5 or 10 minutes can cause exhaustion. Also, playing with other pets or children for too long a period of time will use up the reserves in these tiny Toy puppies. We can't stress enough that quiet time, and being allowed to eat frequently are a must for the first couple weeks in their new home! They are babies and have just had a big change in their life!
To set up the flight, we will need from you: ** Your nearest airport, which has American Airlines service. We try to get the closest one for your convenience, but we choose a flight that is the safest for the puppy. ** The name(s) of who will be picking up the puppy (you will be asked for ID!) ** Your home address and a contact phone (cell especially so that you may be reached even if you are on the road) You should receive a confirmation from us, usually 1-3 days before the flight: ** Date of flight ** Your puppy's Airway Bill number (ticket) ** The flight numbers, arrival times, the departure & arrival airports You may track your flight by going to : www.Flightaware.com
Nutrition/Feeding
We believe in providing our animals with the best nutrition for optimal health, strong immune systems and proper growth or maintenance. Each breed we raise has its own needs, and even some individuals within a breed may need a slightly different diet. We feed NutriSource and Tuffys dry pet food (www.nutrisourcedogfood.com and www.tuffyspetfoods.com). The formulas have glucosamine for joint health, balanced Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids, and a special digestive enzyme which aids in optimum digestion. Toy breed foods are more densely packed with nutrients so that even the small appetites still receive good nutrition. The food is manufactured under strict guidelines and the plant is inspected by the American Baking Institute (which inspects human bakeries!). Our toy breeds are started on NutriSource Puppy Starter dry food. The tiny ones are kept on this past 8 weeks, and depending on weight, are then introduced to the small breed Puppy food. This is slightly higher in protein, as the growing puppy becomes more active. Our large breeds are started on NutriSource Puppy Starter food, then transitioned around 7 weeks of age to Large Breed Puppy food. Remember: feeding a high quality food SAVES you money!!
You can visit their website, and locate a store near you at : www.nutrisourcedogfood.com The things we add to this complete diet are: Canine Missing Link Supplement or Nupro supplement (both are dry "ground" mixtures that can be added onto the dry food). The Missing Link : A nutritional supplement is a great thing to add to any pet food, especially for puppies and kittens, older animals, or animals with special nutritional needs. The Missing Link® is one of our favorite general nutritional supplements because it derives it’s nutrition from unprocessed, nutrient-rich, human-quality whole foods. The Missing Link® is nitrogen flushed and vacuum- packed for freshness to protect its precious nutrients. For years, veterinarians and pet owners have used The Missing Link® to promote general health & well-being, better digestion, healthy skin and coat, increased energy, quicker recovery, reduced allergies, reduced odor, less joint stiffness and overall health and well being.
At times, we also add yogurt or cottage cheese. Yogurt provides extra calcium and also the "good bacteria" which aids digestion. Cottage cheese adds calcium and protein, in an easily digestible form. If you want to give your puppy an occasional egg, please cook it first (boiled or scrambled & microwaved or pan-fried). Raw eggs are NOT good for a puppy! Puppies should be fed 2-4 times per day. The smaller the puppy, the more frequent the feedings. If your puppy seems disinterested in its food at first, you can entice it by adding a little warm water to the dry food, or add a half-teaspoon of human baby food-- the pureed chicken or turkey meat in the small jar-- with a little warm water.
Toy Breed Info You will receive a 2-page guide that I have written to inform you of some of the special needs that a tiny toy puppy might have. I have included some information on hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and signs to look for. Don't be frightened by this! I just want to let you know, in the very rare case that your puppy gets stressed and needs a nutritional boost! It is highly recommended that you have on hand a high calorie/sugar supplement. I recommend Nutri-Cal (also called EnerCal or EnerGel). This is a concentrated palatable form of nutrients, sugar and calories for the little ones.
Important information about the care of your new arrival! Your puppy has had a good appetite, and has been playful and carefree at our home. There will be a transition period when he/she arrives at your home. Everything is new and exciting...new sounds, new smells, new sights and NEW PEOPLE! It is very important to realize your new tiny puppy will take some adjusting, and might need some special care in getting him/her settled in. Any of our puppies that are less than 3 lbs are considered at risk of "running low on fuel", especially the first week after arrival. There are several important things that must be done: 1) keep stimulation to a minimum-- don't let your new puppy run and romp excessively (10 minutes can be excessive for these little ones); this includes running around and following you everywhere. They are like little hummingbirds...their energy stores are small, and their heart and desire to be a part of everything can overwhelm them. Try to minimize visitors and don't take the puppy out and about the first week of settling in (excluding the Vet visit!). 2) provide elecrtrolyte water (Puppy Aid or plain Pedialyte) at all times the first week. And be sure the puppy isn't held so much that it doesn't get the chance to eat and nibble. 3) Monitor food intake. Should he/she not seem very interested in the dry food I've provided, you can: to a small amount of dry food add about a half teaspoon of baby pureed chicken meat (in the jar) with a little warm water to entice the appetite. Also, they tend to like the following canned/packaged wet foods: Little Caesar Puppy; Pedigree chicken, ground; Ol Roy (Wal-Mart brand) Gourmet chicken, egg & bacon or gourmet dinner or lamb & rice (small 5 oz cans). If you think your puppy may need an energy source, you can add a little Karo syrup, molasses or Nutri-drops or Nutri-Cal to the food. IF ever you must hand feed (this does not happen often, but it can and I want you to know what to do) : mix a few tablespoons of human baby rice cereal with a little warm water, and add a little chicken baby food and sugar source (as above). Make it a little soupy if you need to use a dropper or syringe to feed. Place food in the corner of the mouth and to the back of the tongue, tipping the head slightly up so the puppy will swallow and not spit it out.
Micro chip Implantation This is a wonderful way to permanently identify your pet. The small, safe microchip is implanted under the skin between the shoulder blades. It is completely safe and harmless. Should your pet ever get separated from you or slip out of your home or yard... you can be safely reunited when this chip is scanned and you can then be contacted. We offer the Micro chip implant for $20. There is also a fee for registering the microchip for life with a global recovery database. To read more visit: www.microchipidsystems.com
We offer Avid Micro chip implantation - $20
Importance of spaying/neutering PROTECTION BY SPAYING A female puppy spayed before her first heat cycle can expect never to develop a mammary tumor of any kind. The incidence of tumor development in this group is nearly zero. If she is allowed to experience one heat cycle before spaying, the incidence rises to 7% (still quite low). If she is allowed to experience more than one heat cycle, the risk is driven up to one in four.
Crate Training The crate is a very useful training tool. We need to view the crate as the puppy's "den" or secure bed. It is NOT a place to put a pet that misbehaves or has had an accident. The crate is a comfort zone and a place that your pet can call his own. The fold-up wire crate is useful, especially if you will be traveling. A color coordinated fabric or blanket can make it blend nicely with your decor. To prevent problems, crate training a puppy must be based on a canine's natural tendencies: they like to bed down in a sheltered, den-like atmosphere, be in the presence of others (littermates , mom or you!) and they learn through association. The proper crate size should allow an adult to stand up and turn around comfortably. Wire crates allow good ventilation and allow it to see its surroundings. Plastic crates can also be used. Start the puppy/dog out with positive associations to the crate: place the pet inside with a treat. You might also offer a meal or more inside the crate. Be sure no collar or tags can become entangled in the crate. Start with short intervals inside the crate. DO NOT speak the dog's name, or offer soft voice to soothe a crying, whining or barking pet. This just reinforces the behavior. A sharp rap of a newspaper on the door, or shaking a can with coins in it will tell the puppy that the behavior is not appropriate. Only after the puppy has become silent, do you open the door and let it out. Do not praise or carry on with attention immediately after letting it out. This would reinforce the desirability to leave the crate. Use short stays of 10 minutes to begin with, then increase time to 30 minutes. It is good to leave a comforting blanket, and a chew toy to preoccupy the puppy while in its den. By bedtime, the puppy should associate being quiet with being inside the crate. If the crate is in your bedroom and near you, the puppy does not feel alienated and separation stress. Crate training has several advantages:
Tear Stain Removal You should also make sure your dog doesn't have a tear duct obstruction (blockage) and have corrected the food and water issue first so he doesn't keep getting tear stains. After all if you treat the tear stains to remove them while at the same time you feed a food that causes tear stains you won't gain anything. Try the least invasive of the methods below first, give them 2-4 weeks to work, then if you are not satisfied go to another method of treatment. Do not use multiple treatments at the same time. Always have your vet give the dog a complete exam to rule out any serious eye condition first before trying anything else. The commercial products just don't work very well so it is best to just forget about them unless you have a very mild case of stain. TUMS If you need to change the pH of your dogs system to aid in preventing yeast or infection then Tums is primarily a source of Calcium, known as an antacid formulated as 500 mg Calcium Carbonate. Giving your Bulldog 1/2 of the Fruit flavored variety twice a day (toy breeds 1/8-1/4 depending upon size) will help change the pH of the tears. This will change the tears' environment and can help make it hostile for the continued growth of yeast and bacteria. White Vinegar A teaspoon of white cider vinegar can be added to your dogs drinking water to control new tear stains. It may take a while for your dog to "decide" to drink this water so start with a little less and gradually increase the amount of vinegar. Vinegar works much like TUMS in that it changes the pH of the drinking water. Changing the pH of your dog slightly will do wonders in the tear stain war and help eliminate bacteria and deep stain color and prevent yeast build up and is best used as a prevention once you have the tear stains removed or nearly removed. This will help for the future of the tear stains and make them a minimum occurrence. Milk of Magnesia, corn starch and peroxide Use equal volume of MOM (plain white) and peroxide, and then use the corn starch to make a good paste of this; put on and work well into the stained area and let dry 4 hours. Wash out, CONDITION WELL. Keep doing this for several days until tear staining is gone, although I would recommend skipping a day or two between applications if possible. Apply a thin coat of desitin diaper rash ointment after the area is washed out and dry. Try this every other day if possible and the choice way of doing it. If your dog has heavy stains then do this for 3 days in a row, then skip every other day. This is a very old tried and true recipe. Corn Flour, water and a drop of bleach (homemade) Take 2 teaspoons of corn flour, add a few drops of boiling hot water and mix to a paste. Add 1 single drop of plain bleach. mix again. Allow the mixture to cool down and apply to the tear stain area. Allow to dry (10 minutes), wait 1 hour and remove with warm water and clean cloth. Then wipe on a thin layer or peroxide and allow to air dry and leave alone. Repeat every other day for 2 weeks. DO NOT get any in the dogs eye. Tetracycline Consult your vet for this method as it requires an RX anyway. This method should only be used when all others have failed and should only be used for 1-2 courses of treatment and not relied on as a continued treatment. Some have found success in eliminating tear staining by putting a dog on a ten day course of low dose tetracycline. Occasionally this may need to be repeated. Do not use this in puppies that have not yet cut their adult teeth. Tetracycline has been shown to cause teeth which have not erupted to permanently stain yellow. The product "Angel Eyes" and similar products have a small amount of Tylosin, also an antibiotic. Using a product with antibiotic is controversial and not always the best choice.
Pet Supply websites:
www.petedge.com a great place to buy toys & treats, exercise pens, grooming supplies www.revivalanimal.com good vet supplies, flea/tick products, books www.jefferspet.com lots of things for pets and livestock, too
Tidbits of information: Hair whitening formula: For each use, mix equal parts of Milk of Magnesia, Peroxide and Cornstarch. Work this mixture into the stained area, let dry overnight. Then wash out and condition well. Swimmers ear solution (for those smelly ears, especially if your dog loves to swim, or is groomed often and has problems with getting water in the ears: one part water/one part vinegar/one part alcohol (91 or 99% alcohol is best) Mix fresh solution each time you use it. You can adjust amount you make as needed, for example: one teaspoon of each, or 1 cc of each, or 10 drops of each....what ever is easiest for you. Apply into ear canal daily for 5-7 days or until ear has dried up and no longer has an odor. Liver Treats
1 lb raw liver 2 eggs- blend with liver in food processor or blender 1 tsp garlic powder 2 1/2 c. wheat germ bake in 9X13 greased pan for 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Cut into 1/2 " pieces when cool. Freeze for longer storage.
Psalms 29:11 |
|
Send mail to puppies@tidwellfarm.com with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
We also use
American Airlines Priority Pet Service!
This is an enlarged photo of
an actual microchip. It is actually just a little bigger than a grain of
rice. 
the pup does not form the habit of eliminating in the house
The Lord will give strength
unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace
