 When should you first take your new dog to the veterinarian? The short answer is, as soon as possible. And it must not end at one visit. Your puppy will need more veterinary care in the first year of life than at any other time. Not only are there concerns of immediate importance, there is a lot your veterinarian can do and recommend that will help keep your puppy healthy even when he is all grown up.
First Visit
Ideally, select a veterinarian even before bringing your puppy home. Read more about selecting a veterinarian. Once your puppy is home, the first meeting of veterinarian and puppy should happen as soon as possible - ideally within 24 hours. In addition to a general check up and examination for parasites, you and the veterinarian should work out a specific schedule of visits and vaccinations at that first meeting. This is the ideal time to begin discussing housetraining, crate training, and the prevention of play biting, jumping up on people and other impropriate, rambunctious behaviors.
First Three Months
In the first three months of your puppy's life, your veterinarian will probably want you to visit every three or four weeks for vaccinations. Read more about vaccinations. How long this schedule continues varies by location, but going until 16 weeks of age is not unusual.
Three to Six Months
Rabies vaccinations sometimes are regulated by local laws and often begin between three and six months. Between four and six months, your puppy should be checked again for parasites and your veterinarian may recommend heartworm treatment. Also watch for your puppy's permanent teeth to come in.
Spaying or neutering is also recommended between four and six months. The procedure is commonly performed, and males usually feel pretty good in a day. Females may take two or three days to return to their pre-surgery behaviors. This is an important decision. Given the large number of unplanned dogs born every year, having your puppy spayed and neutered is the responsible thing to do.
Six Months to a Year
After six months, the visits to the veterinarian usually taper off. There are boosters at about one year, and these will be repeated on a regular basis, following your veterinarian's recommendation. In general, it is a good idea for adult dogs to make at least one visit a year to maintain the healthy start they got as puppies.
Perhaps the most loving, responsible thing you can do for your pet is to see that he receives timely health care from a qualified veterinarian. Your dog’s life depends on it.
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