Congratulations on bringing home a new baby for the first time! And by baby, we mean a new fur-baby.
You may have prepared for this time, packing all of the essentials - food, dogproofing the house, and maybe sniffing out a few dog parks and doggycares for walks and socializing.
Life’s about to get a whole lot more entertaining! We both know it. And while you choose whether or not you want to post all your puppy’s antics on social media, there is one very important milestone you need to prepare for - your puppy’s first pet visit.
Your dog may be running around and getting used to the house, but you should first check and make sure its health is up to par. I wouldn’t ask your dog though. They may give you a confused look. I’d suggest checking with your local vet.
But First…
Many shelters and breeders start vet visits before they hand the puppy over to you, so this may not be their first visit. If they have, they should also have provided you with paperwork regarding the type of care the puppy has already received, when they received it, and when the first vet visit should be scheduled.
How to Prepare for the (Not) Big Bad Vet
Regardless of whether the preliminary step has been taken or not, you should always schedule their first vet visit within a few days of bringing them home. This allows the vet to do a review of your puppy’s medical records and provide them any care that they may need.
Make sure you bring the following paperwork with you:
- Any records you received from the breeder or shelter you got your puppy from
- A list of important questions or concerns you have
- Notes on the types of foods and treats you have at home
- A dog carrier or crate that has any items, such as clothing or towels that smell like home
- A leash and collar or harness
- A chew toy
- A stool sample, as fresh as possible
Since your puppy will be visiting a new place, they may become very wiggly once they begin to experience all of the new sights, sounds, and smells of the clinic. Make sure you keep them under control with a leash and collar or harness so that both of you can have a convenient experience.
They Don’t Bite!
The vet staff will start the visit by having a conversation regarding your puppy’s history and how they are doing at home. These may include topics such as how your puppy behaves at home, how you exercise your dog, the proper nutrition they need, how to keep them healthy, etc.
After this, they may perform the following checks on your dog:
- A weight check
- Measuring body temperature, pulse, and respiratory rates
- Watching your puppy move around the exam room
- Examining eyes, ears, nose, genitalia, and feet
- Examining skin and coat
- Examining teeth and mouth
- Examining feces if you brought a sample (this allows them to check for roundworms)
You can also take this opportunity to ask for details about good puppy group areas and dog-training classes held locally to help your puppy socialise easier.
After (party)
Whew! You finally got through your puppy’s first vet visit. Hopefully you both had a comfortable and easy experience.
Make sure you scheduled follow-up appointments (don’t tell your puppy 😉) and got the right medications if any are needed.
You can take your puppy home and give them time and space to relax now. They may have gotten tired from being out of the house and exploring a new location and meeting new people.
But don’t worry! As you take your puppy to the vet more over time, they’ll start to become more comfortable with the environment and staff. We hope you continue to have smooth and easy visits to your vet. After all, a healthy puppy is a happy puppy!