Taking your new puppy to the vet can be overwhelming, but a new puppy vet schedule PDF will keep you prepared and informed.
If you're anything like me, you want to make sure your new family member is getting all the care they need for their age, breed and lifestyle. I made the New Puppy Vet Schedule Checklist so that you and your vet can have a complete conversation about your new puppy.
As a dog trainer, dog owner, and over five years working in a veterinary clinic I know that being and staying prepared for a new puppy can be overwhelming at times.
Congratulations!! A new puppy is super exciting! In this article, you'll be able to download the free Puppy Vet Schedule PDF to take with you to your first, second, third and fourth veterinary appointment with your puppy.
I created this so that you and your vet could have an informed conversation regarding your puppy's health.
There's so much going on in the first few months with your new best friend, so I also made a list of the 13 best questions to chat with your vet about.
Click here to download yours, or scroll down to get more information!
1) Are there any abnormal findings on my puppy's exam?
Most vets will be forthcoming about anything worrisome or abnormal on your puppy's exam. Just in case, it's a good idea to clarify with the veterinarian that your puppy is growing appropriately.
In my experience, about 95% of routine puppy exams are completely normal though and don't need any extra diagnostics.
Some of the most common health concerns that come up at this point would be fleas, ticks, GI upset, and dental concerns.
Some breeds are predisposed to ear infections, hip problems, certain types of cancers or other health issues. Your vet should be able to keep you in the loop about what to look out for depending on your puppy's breed.
Depending on the results of the physical exam, your vet may recommend some screening tests for your puppy, like radiographs or blood panels. Some breeders will provide health information about the parents, or health certificates from the previous vet.
Usually a puppy should be seen within a few weeks of bringing him/her home. The sooner the better, especially if your adoption agency or breeder has a contract on veterinary care or health guarantee.
When should I schedule the next visit for my puppy?
Growing puppies should be seen regularly until they are about 4-5 months of age by a veterinarian depending on the vaccination schedule. Usually this is about once a month, provided your puppy isn't sick.
There's a set of core vaccines your vet will recommend, like the distempter (known as DAPP) and Rabies vaccine, but there will likely be additional vaccines your vet will recommend based on your puppy's lifestyle.
These could include the bordetella (kennel cough vaccine), Leptospirosis vaccine, Canine Influenza vaccine and the Lyme vaccine.
Do you have any recommendations for training?
Though your veterinarian isn't likely a dog trainer, they likely have many ideas, tricks and tips in handling potty training, puppy biting, and basic obedience if you're having trouble in any of these areas.
When in doubt, your veterinarian can always offer handouts, brochures, websites or referrals to local dog trainers to help you with basic puppy socialization.
**Please note that your veterinarian does NOT replace a dog trainer. A dog trainer has a much wider and deeper range of tools and knowledge when it comes to dog behavior.
When should my puppy be tested for heartworm?
Usually heartworm is tested for anytime between 7 months to a year and a half. However, when your veterinarian recommends to test for heartworm disease is based on several criteria.
These variables include: age, how long they've been on heartworm preventative, previous history before your puppy was in your care, any presenting symptoms.
A dog will only come up positive for heartworm six months after the exposure. Some clinics recommend testing at 6 1/2 months because mom was a stray and the puppies were out on the street for the first few weeks, so the risk is higher.
There are also veterinarians that will wait until the first annual adult visit to test for heartworm. Your veterinarian will be able to make the best recommendation for you based on your puppy's unique history.
What preventative for fleas, ticks and heartworm do you recommend for my puppy's lifestyle?
There are quite a few options for dogs when it comes to heartworm and flea and tick preventative, puppies have a smaller range of options. Some preventatives for fleas ticks and heartworm are only FDA approved for dogs over 6 months of age.
This makes sense for products like Bravecto, that lasts three months. This is not something usually recommended for puppies who are likely to grow out of their weight class within three months.
The two main types of preventatives are topical (like advantage, advantix and frontline) or oral (like simparica, bravecto, heartgard, nexgard and sentinel). Frontline Plus and Advantage can be purchased over the counter before your vet appointment if needed.
The other preventatives are prescription only so your vet will have to supply them.
Personally, I use heartgar for my dogs heartworm preventative. I only give flea and tick preventative March-October and primarily use Nexgard.
Based on your dog's lifestyle one brand may be better than the other. Additionally, some clinics offer discounts on certain products for new clients or puppies! Be sure to ask for rebates or sales on any preventative!
You can expect to spend anywhere from $45-$200 on your puppy's first exam. The exam alone may be $45 -$50, but does not include any of the recommended treatments. Vaccines usually run $15-$45 depending on several factors.
When should my puppy be microchipped
6. When should my puppy be microchipped? (if they aren't already).
Microchipping is such an important part of making sure your pet is safe in case of an emergency.
Most veterinarians are ready to microchip as soon as you are! However, the needle used for a microchip is rather large, and while some dogs don't mind, others definitely will!
If your dog may be more sensitive or has a hard time holding still, your vet might recommend waiting until the spay or neuter procedure to do the microchip so that your pet doesn't have to be awake for the big poke!
Should I spay or neuter my puppy and if so, when?
Spaying and neutering can be a hot topic, depending on who you talk to. This is a conversation is between you and your vet.
If you aren't planning to breed your pet, the vet will likely recommend spaying or neutering to help decrease the likelihood of health risks in the future.
Some vets will neuter or spay as long as the puppy is at least two pounds. This is usually in situations where population control is the goal. Other vets will recommend waiting until 6-8 months of age or later depending on the breed.
Additionally, if you're curious about the cost/benefit of spaying or neutering, The Forever Dog has some wonderful resources and ideas to help you make your decision and even offers some alternatives.
Easily one of the most important books you can read as a dog owner. This easy to understand book is packed with science and practical tips to help you and your dog not just live a quality life, but also increase the quantity of years together.
