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.
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Puppy Vet Schedule
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!
There's also a free new puppy bundle of PDFs- so you can be prepared for everything related to your new puppy!
Free Printable Puppy Vaccine Schedule
New Puppy Bundle
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 and don't need any diagnostics.
Some of the most common health concerns that come up at this point are 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.
2) When to take puppy to vet after bringing home?
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.
3) 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.
4) 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.
Related: 15 Puppy Training Tips Your Puppy Class Didn't Tell You About
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.
Dog Vaccine Schedule
5) 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.
5-in-1 Vaccine for Puppies Schedule
6) 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!
Related: Veterinary Price List | 10 Ways to Save Money at the Vet
Pet Insurance
7) How much do puppy shots cost?
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.
First-Time Vet Visit Puppy Questions
8) When should my puppy be microchipped
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!
Related: How to Prevent a Lost Dog
When do puppies get 1st shots?
9) 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.
10) How long does the first vet appointment take?
The first vet visit is the longest. You can expect to spend anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours depending on questions, health findings and any emergencies your veterinarian has to see that day.
Dog Vaccination Schedule Chart
11) If I have an emergency, can I bring my dog here?
We always fall to the level of least preparedness. Now that you have a new member of the family, you'll want to update your emergency protocols and be prepared.
Some facilities are equipped to handle all kinds of emergencies, while other facilitates will refer out depending on the type of emergency. Whatever the case is, make sure you have an emergency plan for your puppy!
12) Is there anything specific that I should work on to help my dog with future vet appointments?
So many puppies come into the clinic super friendly and happy to see everyone, but then when the vet looks in the ears, or the tech tries to cut their nails the puppy freezes, wiggles away, or yelps out of fear. These procedures don't hurt if the vet is doing it properly!
Related: Dog Has Anxiety | 10+ Tips to Help Your Dog Feel Less Anxious
Based on the exam, the veterinarian may have some recommendations on how to help your dog to become more comfortable. It might seem cute now when your puppy is small and wiggly, but when your dog is older it's super important for them to be comfortable with a basic exam.
Trust me, no one wants your dog to be comfortable more than you and your vet do! Along with an increase in your dog's anxiety and comfort level, a dog that is difficult to examine becomes a safety risk for themselves and the staff. It can become expensive too if calming drugs or sedation is needed.
New Puppy Vet Visit Near Me
13. Do you have Licensed Veterinary Technicians on staff? If so, how many?
This question is going to help weed out the good veterinary clinics from the great ones! The more LVTs on staff the better! This shows you that the clinic is actually invested in their staff's knowledge and credentials.
Depending on your state, the law may or may not require a veterinary technician license to work with animals directly in a vet clinic. In states where an LVT is not required, it's cheaper to hire people that the clinic can train on the job.
Don't be alarmed at a high veterinary assistant count. Veterinary assistants are what keeps a clinic up and running! Some assistants have more technical skills and experience than newer technicians too! It's not a bad thing to see vet assistants, you just want to make sure that LVTs are on staff too.
Puppy Deworming Schedule
14. Do you have any specific food recommendations for my puppy?
There's sooo much debate between grain-free, raw diets, grain inclusive, chicken by-product, and other ingredient trends. Your vet probably has their own opinions on each of these too.
Related: Puppy Eats Too Fast! 16+ Ways to Help Your Dog Eat Slower
Be aware that dog food companies invest HEAVILY in marketing. Dog food is a business. So just be informed about the dog food choice you make! Don't be afraid to ask about trials, recalls and studies involving pets on a certain diet.
Whatever kind of diet you want to put your puppy on is up to you! Just make sure your veterinarian is involved!
And definitely... go read The Forever Dog if you feel any amount of interest in the topic of dog nutrition.
When should I take my 8 week old puppy to the vet?
15) What do you recommend for dental care?
Dental care should be a routine part of your pets care, whether it is every day or once a year. Ask your veterinarian what products and methods they would recommend.
It's easy for dental care to get lost in the puppy visits since they loose their puppy teeth by the time they're a year old. Plus there's about a bazillion other things to be keeping track of when they're a puppy.
Depending on your pet you may want to try and ask your vet about any of these teeth cleaning products. (I'm personally a fan of letting a dog chew the tartar off, but I've also used toothpaste with a soft bristle brush!)
Tendons last just about as long as bully sticks- but without the odor! Any dog is guaranteed to love chewing on this!
My dogs were a little hesitant of me sticking a tooth brush in their mouth at first, but this toothpaste flavor definitely made them almost enjoy the process!
Any toys with nubs or grooves in them help protect against tartar build up and can last a lot longer than chewable treats.
My dogs love the tartar shields. But- remember to never leave your dog unsupervised with anything that could be a choking hazard.
Newborn Puppy Vet Schedule
16. Can you trim my puppy's nails?
Not only will some clinics do this for free for puppies- but it's good socialization! It's important for your puppy to get used to nail trims and if you aren't comfortable doing them yourself.
The clinic staff are pro (and can usually get it done very quickly). It's important to build up your puppies confidence about nail trims.
