Puppy Care - Understanding Optimal Puppy Care

Name: Veterinary Services
Brand: Phoenix Mobile Veterinarians

Why is it important to start good puppy care on day one?

Setting up good care on day one is going to help your pup live the best life they can. We establish good health, good behaviors, and overall good quality of life.

Dr. Mark Caldwell
Phoenix Mobile Veterinarians

How soon should I bring my puppy in to see a veterinarian for their first exam?

This depends on when you adopted your dog. If you got them around five to six weeks, we want to see them relatively soon. The first vaccine is usually given between six and eight weeks. However, if they show any signs of illness, such as diarrhea, coughing, or discharge from the eyes, we want to see them sooner regardless of their age.

What are the most common health problems in puppies?

The most common health problems in puppies include diarrhea, weight issues, vomiting, and respiratory infections. If you notice discharge from the nose or eyes, it's important to bring them in for a checkup.

What are some signs and symptoms of illness in your puppy?

Signs of illness include diarrhea, pus coming from the nose or eyes, coughing, and sneezing. Any behavior that suggests the dog is not doing well can be a sign of illness.

What are the signs of a healthy and thriving puppy?

A healthy and thriving puppy will be full of energy, eating well, gaining weight, drinking water, producing formed stool, and urinating regularly. They generally look happy and active.

When should I start training my puppy?

Training can begin on day one with small behaviors. Early training helps set them up for success.

What will my vet be looking for when first examining my puppy?

During the first exam, the vet will perform a complete check from tip to tail. This includes examining the eyes, ears, teeth, heart, lungs, and belly. For male puppies, they will check if both testicles are present and look for any signs of hernia.

If you have any other questions, please give us a call at (480) 233-7276. You can also email us at [email protected] and we will get back to you as soon as we are able. Don't forget to follow us on social media: Facebook and Instagram

Puppy Care - FAQs 1

Dr. Mark Caldwell
Phoenix Mobile Veterinarians

What should I expect at my puppy's first veterinary visit?

On the first veterinary visit, expect your veterinarian to ask you a few basic questions. How is your dog overall doing? Are we eating? Are we drinking? Are we pooping? Are we peeing? Of course, if you have any concerns about those, I want you to bring them up to your veterinarian. Don't wait for your doctor to ask. But what the doctor is also going to do is they're going to do a good, complete exam from front to back. So everything from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, they're going to take a look at, and they're going to listen to that chest as well.

What should I ask my veterinarian at my puppy's first appointment?

Well, first off, if you have any questions at all, just be sure to ask your doctor. There's no such thing as a silly question. We're happy to answer all of them. But if you have any concerns about diets, behavior, interaction with other dogs, definitely bring those up.

How often does my puppy need to go to the veterinarian?

Well, when we first see your pup, regardless of age, we're going to talk about vaccinations. Now, it really just depends on what vaccines you need. But if we're talking about an early puppy, when we first get you on their visit at around six to eight weeks, then we're going to want to see you every three to four weeks until they're about 18 to 20 weeks of age. And after that, we're going to recommend, depending on the vaccines, we're going to be recommending biannual exams, so every six months.

When should I get my puppy spayed or neutered?

It's really going to boil down to the conversation that you have with your veterinarian. But typically, we recommend dogs get spayed and neutered at around six months of age.

What are some things my vet will be looking for at my puppy's first appointment?

They're going to be looking for everything. They're going to be taking a look in the eyes, the ears, the mouth, listen to the heart, the lungs. They're going to feel the belly. They're going to be looking for anything that's just outside of the normal at all.