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Bringing a new furry friend home is one of the most exciting things you will experience. And as a pet parent, the first thing you need to do is lay down a puppy vet care plan. Hence, it is essential that you take your new, little pet for a general check-up within the first week of bringing it home. During this vet visit, you can learn about your dog’s vaccination schedule, nutritional requirement, training needs, and more. It is crucial to seek professional medical advice to make sure that you do not overlook any aspects that may need immediate attention. If you are not sure why and when you need a vet for your dog, this article is for you. It gives you a gist on how often you should visit your vet, vaccinations, annual check-ups, and more.
A veterinarian is going to help you keep your floofy healthy and in check. A puppy, just like a senior dog, will require more attention. So, if you are wondering how often a puppy should go to a vet, here’s your answer: once every 3-4 weeks. If your puppy requires special attention, your veterinarian will recommend frequent follow-ups. If this is your pup’s first vet visit, contact the breeder for information on vaccination and any other medical history. If you have a rescue pup, let your vet know. It will help your doctor assess your pup’s case better.
Moreover, take your puppy to the doctor immediately if you notice any of the following issues:
Note: Even if your dog comes with a documentation of up-to-date vaccination shots, you should take it to the vet at least once to get a green signal.
We humans visit our family doctors at least once a year even if we do not exhibit any symptoms. Similarly, even your fur baby needs to be taken to the vet once a year for annual vaccination and a general medical check-up The vet will check your baby’s heart, lungs, ears, eyes, look for any abnormal growth, and do other basic tests.
Based on the medical examination, your vet may recommend certain dietary changes, physical activities, and a dental care routine. Follow their recommendations religiously to improve your puppy’s health! Here are a few things you can carry during your dog’s yearly appointment:
Puppies are born with some immunity passed on to them by their mothers. However, they start losing their inherited immunity once they turn 6 to 8 weeks old. Therefore, it becomes imperative that you start vaccinating your puppy around that time. Their innate habit of sniffing and licking everything that strikes their fancy exposes dogs to a plethora of diseases. Thankfully, a vaccination plan can shield them against fatal viruses and diseases. Vaccine shots are administered when puppies turn 6-8 weeks old, and they are repeated every 2-4 weeks until the puppy is 16 weeks of age or older. Sometimes, a vet may recommend an earlier vaccination regimen, starting at 4 weeks of age in the face of an outbreak or when the mother has an unknown vaccination history. You can ask your vet for a vaccination schedule customised for your puppy.
As kids, we were inoculated against several health issues with different types of vaccination. Similarly, your dog too needs to be vaccinated against multiple diseases such as rabies, distemper, hepatitis, etc. So, Let’s take a look at the types of vaccines commonly administered to your dog:
The above vaccines may come in different combinations; hence, consult your vet and get a proper understanding of
During the first year, your puppy will visit its vet frequently to get vaccination shots. Once your dog is fully vaccinated, you can consult your vet as and when required. However, do not forget to go for annual vet examinations to rule out serious health problems.
If this is your puppy’s first vet visit, you should speak with the breeder or shelter to understand if they have already administered any vaccinations on your puppy. Moreover, your vet must know if the deworming process has already begun. In case your pup is on any medicines or supplements, carry it along. Inform the veterinarian about its diet or any concerning issue.
If the puppy is less than 4 months old, you should take your pup to the vet every 3 or 4 weeks. Once it is eligible for vaccinations, your veterinarian shall provide you with a schedule. Take your puppy to the vet as per that schedule to ascertain that your puppy is fully vaccinated.
Puppies grow quickly and have special nutritional needs to keep their bodies strong. The most noticeable period of a pup’s growth phase is known as the rapid growth stage, which occurs between 2 and 6 months of age. From about 3 to 6 months, most pups will lose their puppy teeth. In fact, you might find a tooth near the feeding dish or on the floor, and this is quite normal. However, you may also be left wondering what to feed a teething puppy. This is a perfectly normal query that tends to concern a lot of pet parents.
During the teething phase, the young pup’s mouth and gums may be very sensitive, which could cause them to be a bit picky when it comes to eating. There's nothing you can do except to wait it out, even if their appetite is low for a couple of days.
While teething is painful for puppies, there are a few tips for teething puppy that can make them feel better. Here is a quick guide for you on what to give a teething puppy in terms of food and toys:
Your puppy may seem uninterested in dry food during teething. But don't switch to a new formula to stimulate your puppy's appetite. Changing food at this time can cause additional stress and intestinal upset. The tips below could help your puppy make the change:
Encourage your young dog to chew on toys by choosing chew toys that are appropriate for their size. Also, pick a variety of textures to keep them interested in the toys. You can also try giving them frozen toys that are shaped like a bone. Always keep an eye on the puppies while they are busy chewing the toys, to ensure they don’t bite off chunks. If that happens, do make sure to replace the toy immediately.
You can also give your puppy a clean and damp washcloth, chilled for a few hours. Chewing on this will also provide some much-needed relief. Do ensure that you supervise the puppy while they are chewing on this cloth so that they don’t ingest any sections of it.
Teething is a painful process for the puppies and can cause just as much inconvenience to the owners. Your puppy may lose their appetite and may experience a lot of pain and discomfort. But it is essential to get them through it all while also maintaining their diet. You can consult your vet for any major decisions or choices you make for your puppy during this time - the choice of toys, food, and other soothing methods. You will also have to keep constant vigilance to prevent your little companion from chewing on anything that may harm them, like shoes or the couch. These six months of the teething period may be hard, but you will certainly enjoy seeing them grow through this phase.
In addition to teething, ensuring excellent dental care for your dogs or puppies is of utmost importance. Discover our captivating blog post on dog dental care, and unlock a world of techniques to keep those pearly whites shining bright!
