Puppy Care

Make the first visit a useful starting point

Contact the clinic when you bring your puppy home so the team can help plan the first visit. Share any breeder, shelter, rescue, or previous veterinary records, including the dates and names of vaccines and parasite treatments. If records are incomplete, bring what you have and the previous provider’s contact details rather than assuming which doses were given.

A puppy examination can assess growth and body condition, the heart and lungs, skin and ears, the mouth and developing teeth, movement, and other physical findings. Tell your veterinarian about appetite, stool, sleep, play, and anything that has changed.

Expect several veterinary visits during the first year, with the timing set for your puppy. Early visits may be closer together while vaccines and parasite care are established. Growth, nutrition, behavior, and health concerns also affect when to return. Ask what is recommended now, what comes next, and when to book the next check.

How can I tell if my puppy is sick?

Watch for changes in your puppy’s energy when awake, appetite, drinking, or stool. Contact the clinic promptly about repeated vomiting or diarrhea, refusal of food, or unusual tiredness when awake.

Trouble breathing, collapse, seizures, severe weakness, or bloody or uncontrolled diarrhea need immediate veterinary care. Call ahead and describe the signs so the team can guide you. Do not wait for the next routine wellness visit if your puppy seems unwell.

Build a vaccine plan from the records

Puppy vaccination usually involves a series of visits, rather than one injection that completes every need. Timing depends on age, previous doses, health, the vaccine used, and exposure risk.

Core vaccines protect against diseases including distemper, parvovirus, rabies, and leptospirosis. Your veterinarian may recommend additional protection for activities such as boarding or travel. Bring the actual vaccine record so recommendations are based on what your puppy has received.

Plan parasite testing and prevention together

Puppies need attention to intestinal parasites as well as heartworm, fleas, and ticks. Stool testing, treatment, and prevention have different roles. Tell your veterinarian which products were given, when they were given, and whether you have noticed a change in stool.

CAPC recommends year-round parasite protection and repeated stool testing during the first year. Your veterinarian should select products and testing for your puppy's age, weight, health, and exposures, including travel. Ask the clinic before collecting or bringing a stool sample.

Support growth without rushing it

Choose a complete and balanced food appropriate for growth. Expected adult size matters, particularly for large and giant breeds. A growth diet, portion plan, and regular body-condition checks help your veterinarian assess whether your puppy is developing appropriately.

Bring the food name or a photo of the label, the amount offered, and a list of treats and supplements. Portions may need to change as your puppy grows. Ask before adding calcium or other supplements to an already balanced diet.

Introduce the world in safe, manageable steps

The early months are an important time for learning about people, places, sounds, and everyday handling. Socialization should be pleasant and gradual. It does not mean meeting every dog or staying in an experience that frightens your puppy.

Ask your veterinarian how to balance early learning with infection risk while vaccines are underway. Brief experiences with new household sounds or surfaces can be part of the plan. Public dog areas and contact with unfamiliar dogs need a different risk assessment from controlled encounters.

Let your puppy approach at a comfortable pace. If they withdraw or seem worried, create distance or stop. Discuss puppy-class health requirements and the trainer's methods before enrolling.

Teach useful habits with rewards

Reward the actions you want to see, such as settling on a mat, following a cue, or choosing an appropriate chew. Short, comfortable practice helps learning fit into daily life. AVSAB recommends reward-based training rather than methods that use pain or fear.

Bring questions about house training, mouthing, alone time, and handling. Your veterinarian can help you recognize concerns and discuss suitable training support. Choose toys and chewing activities for your puppy's size and stage, and remove items they could swallow.

Discuss the next stage before it arrives

Puppy visits are a good time to discuss microchip identification, dental development, and reproductive care. There is no single spay or neuter age that suits every dog. Sex, expected adult size, health, and individual risks should be part of the conversation.

Ask when to revisit these decisions as your puppy grows. The aim is a plan you understand, with room to adjust when health or daily life changes.

Bring the details that make the visit easier

A few records and observations can make the conversation more specific.

• Available medical and vaccine records, including records from before your puppy came home.
• Names and dates of parasite products, medications, and supplements.
• The food label, daily portions, treats, and feeding questions.
• Notes about stool, appetite, sleep, chewing, toileting, and how your puppy responds to new experiences.
• A short list of priorities, such as travel plans, puppy classes, or questions about growth.

Ask about sample collection and visit preparation when arranging care. If your puppy is unwell, contact the clinic for guidance rather than waiting for a routine wellness appointment.