Preparing for your first trip to the vet
It’s an exciting time. You have your new puppy (finally!) and you feel a little overwhelmed with all of the information you are taking in, and all of the things you have to do! So let’s make this a little easier. One thing you can get out of the way *before* your new puppy gets home is the preparation for your first vet appointment.
The vet you choose for your new puppy is an important decision. You want to find a veterinarian who listens to your concerns, and is most interested in the genuine wellbeing of your puppy. The best way to start your search is by looking at reviews online. You can make a list of veterinarian offices near you and research their online reviews. Take note of any negative reviews, and what they say specifically. Are there many negative reviews saying that the vet does not listen to their concerns? That the staff is very rude? These are things that I do view as red flags. You should be looking for a highly professional veterinary office, who values you as a customer and your dog as their patient. If you are in the local area of myself, please feel free to reach out to me for any suggestions for a local veterinarian.
Once you choose the veterinary office, it is time to call and schedule the appointment. Your Laurentian Dachshund puppy will leave us with their first vaccines and exam complete. You need to call your new vet to schedule their second set of vaccines. This appointment needs to be 30 days from their first vaccines. I highly suggest making the appointment in the morning, so that if there are any reactions to the vaccine you can bring the puppy back same day. Sometimes, dogs can get an allergic reaction to vaccines. This can manifest as itching or swelling in the face, as just a couple of symptoms. When you bring them in early in the day, this gives you time to monitor them and if you need to bring them back in the afternoon for an emergency you will have time to do so.
You should prepare a list of questions for your vet before you go to the appointment. Any questions you have about their health, vaccines and flea and tick prevention should be asked at this first appointment. Is heartworm prevalent in your specific area? Leptospirosis? These are some examples of good questions to ask your veterinarian.
Make sure you understand your breeder’s recommendations before going into your first appointment. Unfortunately, some veterinarians are motivated to make suggestions not based on the best wellbeing of your dog, but your breeder will always have your puppy’s best interest in mind. I will always have in my contract that your puppy cannot be spayed or neutered until at least 2 years of age. This is highly recommended by veterinarians globally! But, still there are some who will say they should be spayed or neutered at a very young age to prevent breeding and accidental litters. While it is very important to prevent accidental litters, the health of our dogs (our babies) should be in much higher regard! Their bodies need to mature and grow before a spay or neuter surgery. Make sure your veterinarian is on the same page with you and will not pressure you to spay them at a young age, it is not in the best interest of their health long term. Remember that we want to vaccinate our dogs as least as possible! We will cover more of this in a future blog.
Once you are ready for your appointment, it is time to head out! Be sure to bring : leash and collar, booking calendar and your vaccine booklet given to you by your breeder! (The vaccine booklet has all of the information your new vet needs to know about what your puppy has had completed thus far, including his or her microchip number to keep on file.) Even if you are going to hold them, it is best to have a leash attached in case anything happens and they decide to wander off! Also, most vet offices require a leash to be on pets at all times if they are not in a kennel. You can put your puppy in a kennel, or a travel bag if you wish! But always have that collar and leash attached.
You did it! Be sure to book the next appointment with your vet and keep it in your calendar. Best wishes for a good relationship with your new veterinarian.