The first visit of the puppy to the veterinarian is a very important moment, in which the health status of the child must be evaluated and the dates for the start of the vaccination and deworming calendar, essential to prevent the appearance of any pathology.
In this first general review, the specialist will carry out a complete exploration and will be the right time to resolve any doubts we may have about the care you require, your diet or socialization. Do you want to know when to take the dog to the vet for the first time? What tests should we expect to be performed?
Next, in this Animal Expert article we will show you everything you need to know about the first visit to a puppy's veterinarian, but we will also explain what situations are considered a veterinary emergency or many other questions about puppies. You can not lose this!
Puppies born at home
The first visit to the veterinarian should take place few days after the birth of the dog, when she finds something more recovered. The ideal would be to transport the mother and the puppies by car with the use of a well-conditioned carrier, with a well-wrapped hot water bag to keep the temperature of the little ones. This first visit is very important, since both the health of the little ones and that of the mother, who is the one who should take care of them, must be in perfect condition.
This point is especially important if the parent has not received care, deworming and proper veterinary follow-up during pregnancy, since there is a risk that she could have contracted any disease, spreading it to the pups.
In the case of observing that the dog rejects their puppies and does not feed them, the veterinary visit will be much more urgent, since a newborn puppy should be fed every four hours, approximately. In this case, the specialist will explain how to feed newborn dogs and offer us artificial infant formula for optimal nutrition.
In this first veterinary visit the specialist will evaluate:
- Mother's health status
- Puppy Health Status
- Possible malformations
- Mobility and reflexes
- Weight and growth
- State of nutrition
After this first control visit, we will return to the vet when the puppies have one month of life to set with the specialist the dates of vaccination, internal deworming and external deworming, which usually begin around two months.
Puppies that have been adopted or rescued
Especially if we have other animals at home, it is convenient to go to the specialist before taking the puppy home, since we could be introducing viruses and parasites into our environment without being aware of it. If you have set a date for adoption, also book the specialist visit for the same day. Puppies that have been abandoned or rejected by the mother are the most vulnerable to any disease, so be sure to go to the veterinarian as soon as possible.
It will be indicated to consult, whenever possible, how they have been the care of the child so far, including their diet, care and habits. We will also ask the person to give us the puppy if it has been vaccinated or dewormed so that our veterinarian has proof of it. In these cases the former responsible will also deliver the sanitary primer and all the necessary documentation.
As in the previous case, when the puppy meets four weeks We will go to the vet again to specify the schedule of vaccines and deworming that will begin at approximately eight weeks.
What tests will they perform?
The veterinarian must perform a full scan to our puppy that guarantees a good state of health. Most likely, you will perform an auscultation to ensure that both the heart and the lungs function properly. It will also check mucous membranes, teeth, temperature, ears, eyes, nose and reflexes, as well as any other part of the body. It will be important to check, for example, that the testicles have descended completely.
For any anomaly, the specialist can suggest us supplementary tests, such as a blood test, a urine test or x-rays. You can also suggest us to carry out a monitoring table regarding weight and life time, to ensure that it is being developed correctly. Do not forget to consult all the doubts you have!
Puppy Vaccines
During the first visit, the veterinarian will explain when the best time to start the vaccination schedule of the puppy is essential for prevent diseases life-threatening and serious, such as distemper, parvovirus, rabies or infectious hepatitis.
The standard puppy calendar in Spain is as follows:
- 6 weeks: primary vaccination or first polyvalent vaccine.
- 8 weeks: versatile.
- 12 weeks: reminder of polyvalent and leptospirosis.
Also, it will explain to you which are the ideal products for deworm internally and externally, they must be specific for puppies. You should never use the same products as for adult use, as they could be potentially toxic. Both calendars, both vaccines and deworming, should continue to be performed periodically on the dog, so that it remains protected throughout its life.
Finally, remember that you should never walk a puppy without vaccines, since it is susceptible to contracting any virus, bacteria or parasite that resides in the environment.
When to take a puppy to the veterinarian? - Emergency situations
It may happen that the puppy manifests some abnormal behaviors and, although they will not always be a symptom of disease, it is convenient to know the most alarming symptoms to know when to take the dog to the veterinarian.
Next we will show you some signs that indicate that you should go to the veterinarian:
- Lack of appetite
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Inactivity
- Fever
- Does not urinate or defecate
- Nasal discharge
- Conjunctivitis
- Ulcers
- Rashes
- Anomalous movements
- Seizures
The price of the veterinary consultation of the dog
The price of the first visit to the dog's veterinarian, as in the case of a cat, will vary depending on the country in which you are and of the clinic to which you go. The most advisable thing is that you look for a good veterinarian in Spain or in your country of residence and that you compare opinions and services. If your economic situation is delicate, check the website from the clinic or hospital to find price rates And if you don't show them, call to find out the price of a standard general review. They must tell you.
Do not forget that any specialist must show his or her collegiate number, which you can also buy at the Veterinary College of your country to ensure that, in effect, it is a qualified specialist. Be wary of pages where this information does not appear-
This article is purely informative, at ExpertAnimal.com we have no power to prescribe veterinary treatments or make any kind of diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the veterinarian in case he presents any type of condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to When to take my puppy to the vet for the first time?, we recommend that you enter our Prevention section.
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When do I take my pet to the vet if it is healthy?
Some owners believe that it is not necessary to take your pet to the veterinarian if it shows no signs of illness, however, this is essential. Like is logic, Whenever we adopt or acquire a new pet, we must go through the vet To establish a health plan according to the species and age of the animal, check if the vaccines are in order and deworm it.
This depends largely on our pace of life and that of our pet, in addition to its species and other variables. Subsequently, it is normal and advisable to take your pet once a year to the veterinarian, as some diseases have mandatory vaccines that must be renewed.
In addition, always It is recommended that the specialist check your health condition so that you do not find a surprise in the form of emergencies. Thus, we must take special care in those areas where we have endemic diseases such as canine leishmaniasis.
Of course, whenever we adopt or acquire a new pet, we must go through the veterinarian to establish a health plan according to the species and age of the animal, check if the vaccines are in order and deworm it.
How to know if my pet is sick?
Discover that our pet is blamed for a disease it can be complicated, especially if they are subclinical processes that do not show a great symptomatology. It is because of that,In the slightest suspicion, it is necessary to take your pet to the veterinarian.
However, we play with an advantage, and we know our pets very well. This is because the owners are especially sensitive to changes in the behavior or appearance of our pet, as it may be that our dog eats less or the state of plumage and molts in parrots.
It is vitally important not to make diagnoses on our own, it can be interesting to try to learn, but for informational purposes, since The diagnoses and treatments of our pet must be made by a qualified person and trained in the subject, in this case the veterinarian. This will prevent us from doing home treatments that will not take effect or that They could endanger your health.
Changes in our pet
There are some signs that can alert us to a change in the health status of our pet. As for behavior, apathy, drowsiness, lack of appetite or sign of pain should get our attention.
It should be noted that everything depends on the species: for example, the rabbit shows hardly any signs of disease until it is very serious. Therefore, we must bear in mind that routine periodic visits are of vital importance in these species.
Any change in the appearance of the animal can make alarms jump: weight loss, swelling or skin irritation, changes in the mouth or eyes They may seem unimportant, however, it is recommended that if we suspect a pathology, we will continue the routine visit.
Alterations in appetite and thirst, or in the frequency with which the animal defecates or urinates, as is the case with polyuria, are also very important, and this is something for which the owner is the right person to evaluate it. Being attentive to all this will guarantee the health of our pet and will make visits to the veterinarian more effective, and, as the saying goes, prevention is better than cure.
It is vitally important not to make diagnoses on our own, it can be interesting to try to learn, but for informational purposes, since The diagnoses and treatments of our pet must be made by a qualified person and trained in the subject, in this case the veterinarian.
Graduated in Veterinary by University of Leon (2018). Specialization in Biology and Primate Behavior (Wildlife Biology) by the Girona University.
He has participated in different courses and conferences:
- XVIII AVAFES-Zaragoza Conference on Primatology of the Association AVAFES-Zaragoza (2014-2015).
- VI Cycle of Conferences of the Exotic and Wild Fauna of the Association AVAFES-León (2014-2015).
- International Days of Wildlife Pathology organized by the AVAFES León Association (May 2016).
- X Theoretical-Practical Course of Primatology: the Communication in Primates at Rainfer Primate Rescue Center (April, 2017).
- III Course of Hurones Clinic of the AVAFES-León Association (2014-2015).
- Course "Biodiversity Crisis, conservation and threatened species ”of La Jurbial Environmental Services and University of León.
- Course "Wildlife Animal Welfare in Captivity”Organized by Avafes León (February 2017).
- MOOC course of “Environmental Challenges in a changing world" of the university of Navarra (December 2016).
- MOOC course of “Cognition and canine emotion" of the Duke University (February 2017).
- MOOC course of “Introduction to Conservation" from United for Wildlife (2015).
Eugenio Fernández Suárez is veterinarian with experience in wildlife management and with special emphasis on primates. He has collaborated with various sanctuaries and reception centers of fauna in Spain, and has special interest in the animal behavior, animal welfare and both scientific and environmental dissemination, through various projects. Volunteer inThe Forest Zoo (Oviedo).
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