When Do Puppies (pups) Need to Go to The Vet?

Puppies can be so cute and sweet but can end up being sick if not properly cared for, and if the necessary vaccinations are not given at when due.

Most times puppies look and act like they are up for anything but they are really small making them susceptible to a lot of illness and injury. For puppy wellness, it is advisable to take the puppy to the vet from time to time. According to veterinarians, it is very important to schedule your puppy’s first visit to the vet after a few days of bringing them home.

For your cute lovely puppy to grow into a healthy dog, preventive measures must be taken when they are still puppies. As a proud owner of a puppy you might ask yourself the question, what does pet insurance cover? A short and simple answer to that is, a pet insurance plan will cover unexpected injuries or accidents, an unexpected illness, surgery, medication, any emergency care, test or diagnostics, and exam fees.

When do puppies need to go to the vets?

A puppy check-up is one important thing to do. Although most dog shelters or breeders must have started visiting the vet before even releasing them to their new parents, they also add it into the paperwork given to the new parents stating the type of care that has been given to the puppy which makes it easier to know when to schedule the next visit to the vet. But the previous puppy check-up that the shelter or breeder must have given to the puppy shouldn’t be used as an excuse not to do the necessary puppy check-up.

For puppy wellness, it is advisable to take the puppy to the vet for a check-up so that the veterinarian will review your puppy’s records and quickly provide any overdue care. During the puppy’s check-up, identification of potential health conditions is done by the doctor who will run a complete physical examination as well as laboratory tests.

A veterinarian might advise that a puppy’s check-up should be done 3 to 4 weeks when the puppy is up to six to eight weeks old and ending the check-up when they are up to 4 to 5 months old. Although most puppies start their vaccination when they are 6 to 8 weeks.

Puppy check-up

When you take your puppy for a check-up ,the following are the things the veterinarian would check:

· Your puppy will be weighed

· The vet would check or listen to your puppy’s lungs and heart using his or her stethoscope.

· The vet would then gently palpate your puppy’s lymph nodes and abdomen.

· Not leaving out the temperature of your puppy, the vet would check your puppy’s temperature.

· The vet will do a thorough examination of your puppy’s eyes, nose, ears, paws, and genitalia.

· Your puppy's hair or fur and skin will be examined.

· The doctor will check your puppy's dental health.

After these physical examinations, your vet should ask questions about your puppy’s history and will also answer whatever question you have. The veterinarian will also run some tests on your puppy examples are deworming, microchipping, de-sexing, and giving vaccines.

How often should I take my dog to the vet?

It is said that dogs should be taken to the vet annually, but is this enough? But taking a dog to the vet depends on your dog’s life stage and general health. Take, for example, puppies and seniors who visit the vet frequently while healthy adults have annual check-ups. Most vets recommend two check-ups per year for senior dogs. This is because senior dogs are prone to health problems and the earlier these problems are detected, the better quality of life your dog will have. During annual wellness exams, the vet will give your dog an all-around check. They will listen to their heartbeat and lungs, look at their eyes, ears, and nose, check for fleas, etc. They will also update any vaccination if needed.

Conclusion

In general, dogs should have a complete physical check-up at least once annually. It is more like routine maintenance for your dog. If your dog has health conditions it is advisable to go to the vet more often. As your puppy grows into an adult it is recommended or advised to start a biannual visit to the vet, in total that is seven years for a puppy and five years for an adult dog. It is also advisable that when there is a problem with your dog you visit the vet immediately. Most importantly, annual examinations are a key part of preventative care and preventative care is an umbrella term for all good stuff you do to take care of your dog, that is good nutrition, appropriate exercise, and regular vet visit.