Puppies First Visit

What to expect at your puppy’s first visit

So, you have adopted a new puppy! Congratulations! We recommend bringing your puppy in for his or her first exam within 2 weeks after bringing him or her home to make sure your puppy is healthy. A typical first visit includes a full physical exam checking eyes, ears, mouth and teeth, listening to the heart, examining the skin, feeling the abdomen and making sure the puppy is in good body condition. Males who are not yet neutered are checked to make sure both testicles are present.

Puppies frequently have roundworms and other parasites and will be treated preventatively with de-wormer at one or more visits, but we also need to check a sample of your pup’s poop to check for specific parasites. Your puppy will also need a series of vaccines every 3-4 weeks until he is at least 16 weeks old in order to make sure she is fully protected against a variety of diseases. We will also discuss heartworm disease and prevention and recommend flea and tick preventatives to keep your puppy free of external parasites and to reduce the incidence of Lyme disease.

We will talk about feeding, housetraining and socialization with you and answer any questions you may have about puppy ownership.

That is a first visit in a nutshell. We hope to see you and your new pup soon!

Socialization

Next to vaccines, socialization is one of the most important things you can do for your puppy. The socialization window is between 4-14 weeks of age. During this time frame, what they learn, are exposed to and trained for will mold them for the rest of their lives. Any positive and negative experiences during this time will have a significant impact on their personality and growth. What if your puppy is already greater than 14 weeks old? Don’t worry. Continue to follow the same recommendations and socialization techniques. So what should you do for your puppy to make sure they are set on the right track?

When to Spay and Neuter

For many years veterinarians have been recommending spaying and neutering pets while they are young. The average age was typically four to six months. But in recent years, some new medical studies involving large and giant breed dogs such as Labrador Retrievers or Great Danes suggests that early spay and neuter may cause delayed closure of growth plates resulting in longer, thinner bones and may increase certain types of musculoskeletal injuries such as cruciate ligament tears. Females may also have a higher incidence of urinary incontinence if spayed before their first heat cycle. For more information on the most current research.

Basic commands and training:

Basic home care 

House training 

Teaching your puppy the proper way to play!

Link to additional information