One of the most important ways you can keep your pet healthy and happy is to see the vet regularly. For new puppy parents, this is especially important as your puppy will receive his first wellness check and vaccinations shortly. Your calm and friendly presence will help your puppy get through the experience with little to no stress.
Most vets are old hats at wellness checks; they know exactly what needs to be checked and why. But you should still make an effort to know what to expect. Knowing what should (or shouldn’t) happen at the vet is an important part of being a pet parent. To help you meet that goal, we created this veterinary wellness exam checklist for new puppy parents.
Puppy Physical Examination
Every wellness exam starts with a full physical examination of your dog – including body condition, temperature, heart rate, respiration rate, and general physical health. Most vets will start by feeling and assessing your dog’s body from head to toe. He or she will listen to your dog’s heart, feel his developing bones for signs of abnormalities, take his temperature, look inside his mouth, and check his ears. Savvy vets make this investigation more like a petting session than anything else. Most puppies love the attention, but some may balk at investigations of the feet or groin. Staying calm and relaxed beside your pup will significantly reduce any anxiety she might feel.Disease Testing in Special Situations
Depending on your dog’s age and history, your puppy may need his first round of vaccinations and/or disease testing, too. Dogs from breeders may be innoculated or tested already; dogs coming from rescue situations should be tested at least once prior to six months of age and then once again after. Some pet parents prefer to test every dog, regardless of where they come from. Others only test when the dog’s history stipulates increased risk. Whatever your situation, testing is a brief and harmless step that can give you peace of mind. The most common test for dogs is the SNAP test, which identifies the presence of heartworm disease, ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, and anaplasmosis. These parasites are overwhelmingly common in dogs coming from the street or from shelters. The SNAP test takes just a few minutes to process. However, some dogs may need additional blood testing if the validity of the SNAP test is called into question. Some vets also use fecal testing to determine the presence of vector-borne parasites like roundworms, tapeworms, and coccidia. If your puppy experiences diarrhea or bloody stools, this step is a wise choice for your dog. Generally, fecal testing isn’t necessary if your dog is coming from a reputable breeder who monitors health closely before adoption.Puppy Vaccinations
If your veterinarian clears your dog for vaccinations, he or she will most likely recommend that you give at least these five core vaccines:- Distemper
- Canine hepatitis
- Canine parvovirus
- Canine adenovirus
- Rabies
- Canine Leptospira Vaccines
- Canine parainfluenza virus (CPiV)
- Bordetella bronchiseptica
- Canine influenza virus H3N8
- Canine influenza virus H3N2
- Borrelia burgdorferi (Lyme)
- Canine distemper/measles combination