Taking your puppy to the vet – What you need to know
Yes, even little furballs need to visit the doctor sometimes. If you’re well prepared and know what to expect, your puppy will sense it too, and the vet visit will be a walk in the park.
In our overview, we answer the most important questions for you,
how to make the vet visit stress-free,
what you need to know about vaccinations,
and what flea and deworming treatments are all about.
How often does my puppy need to go to the vet?
No matter if you got your puppy →from a shelter or a breeder, the little furball should have already been to the vet fairly recently. When you pick up your furry family member, always ask when the last visit was.
In addition to vaccinations, you should take your puppy to the vet at least once a year. Not only does this ensure your pup is healthy, but it also helps build a good relationship between your dog and the vet. (Trust us, a good relationship with your vet is worth its weight in gold!)
The check-ups include an examination of the mouth, teeth and gums, ears, and eyes.
How to stay calm at the vet
Praise your pup in a calm voice during and after the examination
Give your puppy some →healthy treats
If your puppy does get overly excited, stay calm, don’t give too much attention, and only reward good behavior
Don’t think about the vet bill!
When do puppies get vaccinated?
Normally, your puppy gets its first vaccination at 6-8 weeks old. For a booster, you’ll go back in weeks 12-16. Be sure to stick to this time frame so your pup is fully protected against contagious diseases. Afterwards, you’ll receive a vaccination record, which you’ll especially need when traveling abroad.
Vaccinations include:
Hepatitis
Distemper
Rabies
Lyme disease
Leptospirosis
Parvovirus
When and how often do puppies need to be dewormed?
Worms are no joke: these parasites can cause life-threatening complications in puppies. That’s why puppies should be dewormed as early as two weeks old.
You’ll get a deworming treatment from the vet, along with practical instructions. The treatment must then be repeated every two weeks until your puppy has been weaned from its mother for a full two weeks, specifically after the last intake of mother’s milk. From that point on, it’s enough to deworm every three months with a visit to the vet.
Give this a try!
What helps puppies against fleas?
Especially in the first weeks after birth, puppies—because of their close contact with their mother and siblings—provide an ideal platform for flea infestations. Fleas are the main carriers of the cucumber tapeworm, which can later also pose a risk to human family members.
To prevent this from happening, you should act before you spot the first flea (and not wait until they’ve started a circus). The vet can also help here with the right product specifically for puppies. If it does happen, be sure to clean, disinfect, or if necessary, discard and replace all items your puppy regularly comes into contact with. This also applies to other dogs or pets (though please don’t replace them).
