Sources for Puppy.tips Articles and Tools

These are the primary sources behind our health, vaccine, nutrition, and growth pages. Each link is a page already cited on Puppy.tips, or a dog page from our calculator notes (checked October 24, 2026).

We are not veterinarians. This list is general information. It is not a substitute for a veterinarian. Always consult a licensed veterinarian for medical or health advice.

Health and vaccines#

Merck Veterinary Manual#

• Introduction to digestive disorders of dogs
• Disorders of the stomach and intestines in dogs
• Gastrointestinal parasites of dogs
• When to see a veterinarian
• Normal physiological values for dogs
• Kennel cough
• The fluid resuscitation plan in animals
• Congenital and inherited disorders of the nervous system in dogs
• Monitoring the critically ill small animal (Rule of 20)

AVMA#

• Parvovirus
• Distemper
• Leptospirosis
• First aid tips for pet owners
• Literature review on socialization of puppies and kittens (2024)

AAHA#

• 2022 AAHA vaccination guidelines for dogs
• Core and non-core vaccine recommendations
• Rabies

WSAVA#

• 2024 vaccination guidelines (PDF)

VCA Animal Hospitals#

• Vaccines for dogs
• Care for your pet after vaccination
• Vaccination failures in dogs
• Diarrhea in dogs
• Puppy has diarrhea
• Grape, raisin, and currant poisoning in dogs
• Home breathing rate evaluation
• How much sleep do puppies need

Cornell College of Veterinary Medicine#

• Parvovirus: transmission and treatment

UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine#

• Normal values chart, April 2024 (PDF)

Nutrition#

AAHA#

• 2021 AAHA nutrition and weight management guidelines (PDF)

WSAVA#

• Nutrition FAQ and myths (PDF)

VCA Animal Hospitals#

• When to switch a puppy to adult food

Merck Veterinary Manual#

• Nutritional requirements of small animals
• Daily maintenance energy requirements for dogs and cats

The two Merck pages and the AAHA box below are energy formulas from the calculator notes. They cover dogs and cats. They are a starting point for calories, not a prediction of adult weight.

• AAHA 2021 energy requirement calculations, Box 1 (PDF)

Growth calculators#

The puppy weight calculator and the breed growth charts estimate adult size from average growth data. Individual puppies vary. Check with your vet.

The calculator notes do not give a measured accuracy percentage for that adult-weight estimate. Newborn care for puppies and kittens is covered here:

• Merck Veterinary Manual: Management of the neonate in dogs and cats

Calorie formulas for growing dogs are the Merck energy pages and the AAHA Box 1 PDF in the nutrition section above.

Related pages#

• Methodology
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• About