Puppies are frequently born with intestinal parasites inherited from their mother, even when the mother appears healthy and is kept in clean conditions. This is not a reflection of poor care — it is a biological reality of how certain parasites transmit.

Deworming should begin as early as 2 to 3 weeks of age in most puppies and continue on a schedule throughout the first year and beyond. At Diamond Claw, we will assess your puppy’s parasite status at each visit and recommend the appropriate deworming schedule based on their age, risk factors, and the parasites common in our region.

Common intestinal parasites in UAE puppies include roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms. Some of these can be transmitted to humans — particularly children — making deworming a family health matter, not just a pet health one.

Microchipping: Non-Negotiable in the UAE

Microchipping is a permanent, painless form of identification — a tiny chip, about the size of a grain of rice, injected under the skin between the shoulder blades. It carries a unique number linked to your contact details in a pet registry.

In the UAE, microchipping is required for pet registration, and it must be done before the rabies vaccine is administered. It is also required for international travel.

Beyond compliance, microchipping dramatically increases the chance of being reunited with your pet if they are ever lost. Unlike collars and tags, microchips cannot fall off. At Diamond Claw, we routinely microchip puppies at their first visit.

Feeding Your Puppy: Getting the Foundation Right

Puppies have significantly higher nutritional demands than adult dogs. They need more protein, more calories, and specific ratios of calcium and phosphorus to support rapid bone and muscle development.

Key feeding principles for puppies:

Feed a puppy-specific, complete and balanced formula appropriate for your puppy’s expected adult size. For large and giant breeds, this distinction is critical — excessive calcium and calorie intake during growth phases in large breeds is associated with developmental bone problems.

Feed three to four small meals per day for puppies under six months, transitioning to two meals per day from six months onward.

Do not supplement a complete commercial puppy food with calcium, cod liver oil, or similar supplements without veterinary guidance. Over-supplementation of calcium in growing puppies is a documented cause of orthopaedic disease.

Always ensure fresh water is available. In Sharjah’s heat, hydration is particularly important — even puppies who seem to drink well should have their water topped up regularly throughout the day.

Socialisation: The Window You Cannot Afford to Miss

The socialisation period in puppies runs approximately from 3 to 12–14 weeks of age. During this time, the brain is forming the neural pathways that determine how a dog responds to the world throughout their life. Experiences during this window — both positive and negative — have a disproportionate and lasting influence on adult temperament.

A well-socialised puppy who has been gently exposed to a wide range of people, sounds, surfaces, animals, and environments during this period is far more likely to grow into a calm, confident, adaptable adult dog. A puppy who has missed this window — kept isolated during the critical months — is at significantly higher risk for fear, anxiety, aggression, and lifelong behavioural problems.

How to socialise safely before full vaccination:

The common concern is that puppies cannot be exposed to other animals until they are fully vaccinated. This is true for high-risk public areas — dog parks, pet shops, streets where unknown dogs have been. However, safe socialisation is still possible:

• Invite vaccinated, healthy adult dogs and puppies from trusted households to interact with your puppy at home
• Carry your puppy in your arms in public so they experience sights, sounds, and smells without ground contact
• Arrange puppy classes at veterinary clinics or controlled settings where all participants are vaccinated
• Expose your puppy to different types of people — men, women, children, people wearing hats, uniforms, or carrying umbrellas
• Introduce household sounds gradually — cooking, TV, the vacuum cleaner, vehicles

Socialisation is not optional. A puppy whose vaccination schedule is perfectly completed but who has been kept in isolation during these months faces serious behavioural risks that no amount of training can fully reverse.

When Can My Puppy Go to the Park or Dog Beach?

In the UAE, there are designated dog parks and pet-friendly beach areas that many pet owners in Sharjah and nearby emirates use regularly. Wait until two weeks after your puppy has completed their full initial vaccine series — typically around 16–18 weeks of age — before taking them to high-traffic areas where unknown dogs are present.

During Sharjah’s hot months, also be careful about the timing and surface temperature. Puppy paw pads are sensitive to hot asphalt and sand. If the surface is too hot to touch comfortably with your hand for several seconds, it is too hot for your puppy’s paws. Walk during early mornings or evenings.

Spaying and Neutering: Having the Conversation Early

The timing of spaying and neutering involves a more nuanced conversation than it used to — current veterinary literature increasingly supports considering the individual dog’s breed, size, and health status rather than applying a single universal age recommendation.

At Diamond Claw, we recommend discussing reproductive surgery at your puppy’s early vet visits so we can advise based on your puppy’s specific breed and expected adult size. For many breeds, especially smaller dogs and cats, the traditional recommendation of six months remains appropriate. For large-breed dogs, there is growing evidence to support waiting until physical maturity before neutering, particularly in males.

This is a conversation, not a prescription — and it is one we want to have with you early.

Month-by-Month Puppy Care Summary