Taking Your Puppy to the Veterinarian - What You Need to Know
Yes, even little fur balls need to visit the doctor. If you are well-prepared and informed, your puppy will notice, and the vet visit will feel like a walk in the park.
In our overview, we answer the most important questions for you,
- how to make the vet visit relaxed,
- what the vaccination schedule looks like,
- what to know about flea and worm treatments.
How often does my puppy need to go to the vet?
No matter whether you got your puppy →from a shelter or from a breeder, the little fur ball should have already visited the vet fairly soon. Be sure to ask when the last visit was when you pick up your furry family member.
In addition to vaccinations, you should take your little dog to the vet at least once a year. Besides ensuring that nothing is wrong, this also helps create a good bond between the dog and the doctor. (Trust us, a good relationship with the vet is worth its weight in gold!)
The examinations will include a check of the mouth with teeth and gums, the ears, and the eyes.
How to Stay Calm at the Vet
- Praise your furry friend during and after the examination in a calm tone
- Give them a few →healthy treats after the examination
- If the puppy gets agitated, stay calm, don’t give them too much attention, and reward only when they behave well
- Don’t think about the vet bill!
When are puppies vaccinated?
Normally, your puppy will receive its first vaccination at 6-8 weeks of age. For the booster, it will be at 12-16 weeks. Make sure to stick to this time frame so that your furry friend is fully protected against contagious diseases. You will receive a vaccination passport afterward, which you must have with you, especially for trips abroad.
Vaccinations include:
- Hepatitis
- Distemper
- Rabies
- Lyme disease
- Leptospirosis
- Parvovirus
When and how often do puppies need to be dewormed?
Worms are not to be taken lightly: The parasites can lead to life-threatening complications in puppies. Therefore, puppies should be dewormed as early as two weeks of age.
You will receive such a deworming treatment from the veterinarian, along with practical application instructions. The deworming treatment must then be repeated every two weeks until your puppy has been weaned from its mother for two full weeks, specifically after the last intake of mother's milk. From this point on, it is sufficient to visit the vet for deworming every three months.
What helps against fleas in puppies?
Especially in the first weeks after birth, puppies provide an ideal platform for a flea infestation due to their proximity to their mother and siblings. Fleas are the main carriers of the cucumber seed tapeworm in this country, which can later pose a danger to human family members as well.
To prevent this from happening, you should take action before you discover the first flea (and not just when they have started a circus). The veterinarian can also help you with the right product specifically for puppies. If it does happen, you should definitely clean, disinfect, or, if necessary, sort out and replace all items that your puppy regularly comes into contact with. This also applies to other dogs or pets (so please do not replace them).
