Welcome to the wonderful world of pet parenthood! Bringing home a new puppy is an exciting and joyful experience, filled with cuddles, playtime, and the start of a lifelong bond. We are here to help you navigate one of the most important steps in ensuring your puppy’s health and happiness: their first vet visit.
Preparing for Your Puppy’s First Vet Visit
1. Gentle Handling:
To help prepare your puppy for their first visit, spend lots of time gently handling their ears, paws, teeth, belly, and tail. This will make them more comfortable during the examination.
2. What to Bring:
- Medical Records: Bring any medical or vaccination records you received when you adopted your puppy. This allows your veterinarian to see what’s been done and plan for future care.
- Stool Sample: A fresh stool sample is essential for checking for intestinal parasites.
- Questions: Make a list of questions about behavior, training, spaying/neutering, diet, etc. This is the perfect time to get answers.
- Leash or Crate: Ensure your puppy is leashed or in a crate for safety.
- Treats and Toys: Bring your puppy’s favorite treats and a toy to keep them comfortable and entertained.
What to Expect During the Visit
1. Comprehensive Exam:
Your veterinarian will conduct a thorough nose-to-tail examination, checking your puppy’s nose, mouth, eyes, ears, heart, lungs, temperature, and more.
2. Vaccinations:
Your vet will discuss necessary vaccinations, including core vaccines and optional ones based on your location and your puppy’s lifestyle. A vaccination schedule will be created.
3. Discussion Topics:
Your vet will cover various important topics such as:
- Behavior: Tips on training and managing your puppy’s behavior.
- Dental Care: How to maintain your puppy’s oral health.
- Diet: Recommendations for a balanced diet suitable for your puppy’s breed and age.
- Exercise: Guidelines for appropriate exercise to ensure healthy growth.
- Grooming: Grooming needs specific to your puppy’s breed.
- Identification: Information on microchipping for permanent identification.
- Preventative Care: Medications for fleas, ticks, heartworm, and intestinal parasites.
- Socialization: How to properly socialize your puppy.
- Spaying/Neutering: When and why it’s important to spay or neuter your puppy.
- Training Techniques: Effective training methods for a well-behaved pup.
After the Visit
Having a puppy is a big responsibility, but it’s incredibly rewarding. The first few vet visits may feel overwhelming due to the amount of information shared. Don’t hesitate to take notes or ask for a written summary from your veterinarian.
Your puppy will likely have follow-up visits every 3 to 4 weeks for the first few months and then annually. If you have any questions between visits, our care team is always here to help, 24/7. We also have have a free puppy course to get your puppy parenthood started on the right track!
Enjoy every moment with your new puppy, and know that your veterinarian is your partner in ensuring their health and happiness for years to come. Welcome to the family of loving pet parents!
