One of the first things you should do when you get a puppy is to introduce it to a vet. This is best done in the first few days. Try to choose a time when the vet’s clinic is least crowded, for example first thing in the morning, so that you don’t have to spend a long time in the waiting room, where an unvaccinated puppy can catch a number of diseases or become anxious because of the unfamiliar environment.
The vet will examine your puppy and give you all the information you need about how to care for your pet: how to train it, how to feed it, how to create a safe environment for your puppy and how to take care of its health. It is advisable to think about your concerns beforehand.
During your first visit to the vet, you will probably have to fill in some paperwork. Veterinary clinics usually provide the puppy with a medical card, which includes details of the owner (address, telephone number, workplace) and the pet (name, age, breed, sex, vaccinations, test results, etc.).
Later, you willIn the morning, you and your puppy will be invited to the examination room, where the vet will weigh your puppy, take its temperature, check its heart rhythm, and may do urine and stool tests.
Your pet will also undergo a thorough medical examination:
eye, ear and dental checks;
a skin check;
checking the abdominal organs;
check for umbilical hernia;
heart and lung check;
checking the joints;
checking the genitals.
After this examination, the vet may ask you some questions. The most common questions are:
How long have you had this puppy?
Where did you get it?
How do you feed it?
Is it causing you any problems?
Does it chew on your belongings?
What toys does he like to play with?
How does the puppy behave with family members, how does it react to other animals in the house (if any)?
After listening to your answers, your vet can advise you on how to better educate your puppy to avoid behavioural problems, how to care for it, how to tinhow to choose your food. If the puppy is a purebred, the vet can tell you about medical problems specific to the breed. If you don’t plan to breed puppies, you can discuss spaying or neutering your puppy with your vet, and find out the pros and cons of this surgery.
Vaccinations
It is often necessary to vaccinate your puppy on the first visit to the vet. Puppies are vaccinated between 6 and 8 weeks of age. Repeat vaccinations are given every three to four weeks until the puppies are 16 to 20 weeks old. Puppies are often already vaccinated before they reach their new owners. Therefore, when you buy a puppy, make sure you ask if the puppy has been vaccinated and find out the exact date of vaccination. Be sure to inform the vet of any vaccinations that have already been given so that the puppy is vaccinated on time. At 12 weeks of age, your puppy should be vaccinated against rabies.