Puppy’s First Vet Visit: When To Go, What To Expect, and Costs
When you’re preparing to bring home a puppy, be sure to include finding a veterinarian in your plans. Puppies may act like they’re up for anything, but because of their immature immune systems, they’re quite susceptible to illness and injury.
It’s vital to schedule your puppy’s first visit to a veterinarian within the first few days of bringing them home. Healthy puppies need to get started with a preventive care routine—and sick puppies need treatment before their condition becomes serious or even life-threatening.
When To Take a Puppy To the Vet
Many dog shelters and breeders start vet visits for puppies before they release them to new pet parents. When you pick up your puppy, you should receive paperwork that clearly states what type of care has already been provided and when. You’ll need to have these details handy when you schedule your puppy’s next veterinary visit.
Regardless of the care your puppy receives before you welcome them into your home, it’s a good idea to schedule a new puppy vet visit as soon as possible.
Antje Joslin, DVM, a Phoenix-based veterinarian and consultant at FurPetVo, recommends scheduling the first vet appointment for your puppy within two days of bringing them home.
“This initial checkup allows the vet to assess your puppy’s overall health,” she says, “and it’s also a time to review your puppy’s previous vaccines and establish a health care plan.”
Along with a complete physical exam, the vet may recommend some routine laboratory tests at your new puppy checkup. Be sure to share your puppy’s health records along with any potential signs of illness or injury you may have noticed, such as:
- Low appetite
- Lethargy
- Change in behavior
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Abnormal gait (walking pattern) or limping
- Coughing or sneezing
- Eye discharge
- Poor coat condition
- Skin problems
In addition to starting any treatment your puppy may require, your veterinarian will create a vaccine schedule based on your puppy’s particular history and needs.
Puppies typically start receiving vaccinations between 6 and 8 weeks of age. They’ll need booster shots every 3 to 4 weeks until they’re 4 or 5 months old, then annually once they reach 12 months of age. If your new puppy is already over 4 months old, they may only need two sets of booster shots scheduled 3 to 4 weeks apart.
How To Prepare for Your Puppy's First Veterinarian Visit
Collect as much information as possible in the days before your puppy’s first vet visit. Has your puppy traveled from a different part of the country or world? Are you starting to notice behavioral problems as your pup settles in? Does your puppy have a good appetite? Any vomiting or diarrhea? Is potty training proceeding as you expected?
While it is, of course, fine to answer a question with “I don’t know” (you can always call back with the answer), the more information you can provide during this first trip to the veterinarian with your puppy the better.
Checklist of What To Bring
Knowing when to take a new puppy to the vet is important—but if you want to get as much out of that first visit as possible, come prepared. Here’s a checklist for your puppy’s first vet visit:
- Any veterinary records you received from the breeder or shelter
- Written list of important questions or concerns that you might have
- Notes on how much of what types of puppy food and treats you offer at home
- Dog carrier or crate lined with some old towels or shirts that smell like home, for travel to and from the vet office
- Leash and collar or harness
- Chew toy for distraction
- Small treats to reward good behavior
- Any forms provided by your veterinarian that you have already filled out
- A stool sample, as fresh as possible, enough to cover the size of a quarter
Err on the side of caution during this first visit. You don’t know yet what kind of response to expect from your puppy at the vet. New sights, sounds, and smells can be frightening, so make a plan to keep your puppy safely restrained. A crate is ideal for small puppies—but, at the very least, keep them under control with a leash and collar or harness.
Questions To Ask the Vet About Your New Puppy
Whether you’re a first-time puppy parent or a seasoned dog owner, bringing home a new puppy can be overwhelming. Dr. Joslin recommends taking some time to mentally prepare for the appointment so you can be an active participant by absorbing the vet’s advice and asking questions.
If you’re worried you’ll forget your questions as soon as you step into the exam room, don’t be afraid to bring a list!
Consider asking these questions during your puppy’s first visit to the veterinarian:
- How often should my puppy go to the vet?
- Is my puppy at risk for any breed-related health issues? What signs should I look for?
- Should my puppy be spayed or neutered? At what age?
- What toys or treats are unsafe for my puppy?
- What puppy teething toys do you recommend?
- When is it safe for my puppy to be around other dogs?
- What symptoms suggest my puppy needs emergency veterinary care?
- How much and how often should I feed my puppy?
- What are the signs my puppy is growing too slowly or too quickly?
- Is flea and tick prevention necessary? What kind do you recommend?
- How much exercise does my puppy need?
- At what age should I switch from puppy food to adult dog food?
What To Expect at Your Puppy's First Vet Visit
When you take your puppy to the vet for the first time, you’ll be asked to answer some questions about your puppy’s history and how they’re adjusting to their new home.
“Your veterinarian will perform a complete physical exam,” says Dr. Joslin, including:
- A weight check
- Measuring body temperature and pulse and respiratory rates
- Observing the puppy move around the exam room
- Looking at the whole body—including the eyes, ears, nose, feet, nails, skin, coat, and genitalia
- Opening the mouth to observe the teeth, gums, and other structures
- Checking the eyes and ears with instruments that provide light and magnification
- Palpating (using hands to feel) the lymph nodes, organs within the abdomen, and joints
- Using a stethoscope to listen to the heart and lungs
- Checking reflexes
- Scanning for a microchip
If you didn’t bring a stool sample with you from home, your veterinarian may need to collect one to check for intestinal parasites. If your puppy is 6 months old or older, the doctor or veterinary technician may also draw a small sample of blood for heartworm testing. Other lab work is run on an as-needed basis.
In addition to assessing your puppy’s physical health, your veterinarian may talk to you about important aspects of dog care during your first visit including:
- Exercise and play requirements
- Behavior and socialization
- Pet identification, including microchips and tags
- Reproductive health, including the benefits and risks of spaying and neutering
- Dental care
- Grooming needs
- Travel requirements
- Pet safety and disaster preparedness
- Nutrition
- Flea, tick, heartworm, and internal parasite control
- Vaccination schedules
- Diseases that can be spread from pets to people (and vice versa)
The cost of a puppy’s first vet visit varies depending on location, clinic, and services performed—but most new-puppy exams at FurPetVo clinics range from $75 to $150. This typically includes the physical exam, basic parasite screening, and initial vaccine administration. Additional diagnostics or treatments will be discussed and priced transparently before proceeding.
