By now you’ve endured at least one sleepless night as your new puppy adjusts to life without his littermates. To ensure that your newest family member will make the transition to a happy, healthy pet, your next stop should be your veterinarian.
Despite nervous tail wagging and repeated attempts by less-cooperative patients to drag their humans right back out the door, your first visit to the veterinarian should be fun and informative. The doctor will examine your new puppy from nose to tail and look for signs of congenital defects, including hernias and heart murmurs. He or she will also check your pet for infectious diseases and parasite infestations and give your pet his first vaccination shot.
After the examination, your veterinarian will talk to you about your pet’s overall condition and explain what he or she noticed during the exam. If your puppy has any health problems, you’ll talk about how to treat them.
Your veterinarian also will explain how you can work together to keep your puppy healthy and happy during his life, including feeding him a nutritious diet; keeping his vaccinations up-to-date; spaying or neutering your pet; checking for worms; and keeping him free of other parasites like fleas, ticks, and heartworms.
Your veterinarian is also your ally in preventing behavior problems. During this first visit, he or she will discuss the basics of housetraining and explain how to avoid chewing problems and begin simple obedience training.
Now it’s your turn to ask the questions, so don’t hold back. Are hiccups normal? Was that a dream or a seizure when he started running as he slept? Why in the world would he eat that? (You name it, some puppy has eaten it!)
