Did you receive a new puppy as one of your holiday presents this year? Are you unsure how to care for your new furry friend aside from the obvious food, water, and walks? A new puppy can be a lot of fun but it can also be a lot of work. In order to ensure that your puppy continues to stay happy and healthy, there are things that you need to do as soon as possible. You may already have done some of these, but it's important to double-check and make sure that they're all completed. Some things that you need to do include:

Find a vet: Finding the right vet for you is an essential part of keeping your puppy healthy. Vaccines will help prevent most serious illnesses and regular checkups will help catch various issues before they become a serious problem. If your vet doesn't have extended hours, you should also look for a suitable veterinary hospital, like Healthy Paws Veterinary Hospital & Housecalls. If you think of the regular vet like the general practitioner doctor that you visit for checkups, a veterinary hospital is more like an emergency room. If your puppy suddenly falls seriously ill when your regular vet is closed or is unable to fit you in, a veterinary hospital will be able to diagnose and treat whatever is wrong.

Eliminate electrical cords: A few decades ago, the most you could find plugged into the outlets in peoples' homes was a handful of lamps, a television, and perhaps a radio. As time has gone on, more and more things need to be plugged in. In today's digital age, you probably have multiple mobile devices, a computer or two, an entertainment system, and more. All of these have cords that can be extremely tempting for a dog to chew on. Whenever possible, unplug these cords or otherwise keep them out of reach of your new puppy. If you can't unplug a cord, try to hide it behind furniture and/or coat it with an anti-chew spray. Electrical cords are dangerous and can kill or seriously injure a pet if chewed through.

Check your plants: Houseplants can be great decorations but they can also be potentially toxic if your dog decides to chew on them. Sago palms, calla lilies, and bird of paradise plants are just a few of the species that could result in you having to rush to the veterinary hospital in the middle of the night. Even if your puppy doesn't seem interested in the plants right now, it's best to keep them out of reach just in case.