The arrival of a new pet into a home is reason for much excitement for everyone in the family. The experience can be made pleasurable by preparing in advance.

A puppy which has been separated from the mother and its litter-mates will be anxious and stressed by their absence. The young pet needs a secure and safe place for the first few days of arrival and should be left undisturbed with very little physical handling.

Prior information on the dietary habits of the puppy will be very useful in replicating it upon arrival. This will ensure that the puppy is offered something to which it is familiar. Do not change the diet drastically or medicate as soon as the puppy arrives as it can lead to disturbances that are best avoided.

Allow the puppy to ‘settle’ down to its new environment, family and routine. Once the acclimatisation is complete, I can assure you that life will change for the better and a bit more ‘complete’.

The writer is a veterinary surgeon at The Ark, Chennai. Send your pet queries to vetdoc.aravind@gmail.com