Even a healthy pet needs a preventive examination, and if even minor symptoms occur, the dog needs to be shown to the doctor immediately. The first visit to the vet is an exciting event, stressful for both the animal and the owner. We will tell you how to smooth out the anxiety, and what you need to know before visiting the doctor.
Why do you need to visit a veterinarian?
Don’t delay the first visit. Ideally, find a good doctor before the puppy appears in your home. The sooner the animal is examined by a competent veterinarian, the sooner he will give useful recommendations on nutrition, vaccinations, and daily care.
Don’t skimp on money and set aside a day for a visit. Your dog may already have health issues that are simply being addressed early on before the disease has progressed. The first visit to the vet should be around 8 months.
How to choose “your” doctor
When choosing a veterinary clinic and doctor, pay attention to the following criteria:
- Working hours. Ideally, 24/7, 7 days a week, because urgent help may be needed at any time.
- Close to home. Long trips are always stressful for a puppy or a sick animal.
- List of services and available equipment for diagnostics. A good clinic always has an X-ray, ultrasound machine, and the ability to conduct laboratory diagnostics.
- Reviews of the veterinarian on various resources (not only on the clinic’s website). A large number of negative reviews is an alarm bell.
- Home visit service. Of course, it is impossible to conduct high-quality diagnostics at home, but a veterinarian can provide first aid.
Preparing for the hike
Think about what your dog will wear to the vet. Buy a carrier for your puppy in advance, one that will be spacious and comfortable enough for it. Do not carry your pet in a blanket or bag. Try to accustom your pet to the carrier in advance (a few days before the routine checkup, offer your dog to sit there so it can get used to it).
The rules of preparation are as follows:
- Bathe the animal three days before.
- The dog should not be fed for six hours before the visit to the doctor.
- On the eve and on the day of the visit, try to minimize stress – contact with other animals, strangers, small children.
- If it’s a long way to the clinic, walk your dog before the trip.
Take a notepad and pen with you – all the vet’s recommendations need to be written down. Write down the questions you plan to ask the doctor in a notepad, so you can concentrate easier. To calm your pet, take his favorite toy and treats with you, and don’t forget clean water.
Vaccinations and parasite treatment
At the age of 6-7 weeks, the first vaccination can be done if the puppy has not been vaccinated by the breeder before. Several vaccinations will be done before the age of 20 weeks. If the puppy has already had the first vaccine, tell the veterinarian the vaccination date, the specialist will draw up the optimal vaccination schedule. The dog is shown vaccines against distemper, rabies and other dangerous pathologies. Sometimes a complex vaccine is given, protecting the body from a whole range of diseases. It can be done at any age, even if the standard vaccination periods are missed.
Also during the examination, the veterinarian will recommend effective drugs for deworming. The drug is indicated for all dogs, even if no parasites were found in the stool tests. The first prevention from helminths is carried out at the age of 1-2 months, then the drugs are taken every two months.
Pet with illness
If you notice symptoms of illness in your animal, do not delay a visit to the veterinarian. In doing so, follow several recommendations:
- Write down all the symptoms and the date of onset of the disease in as much detail as possible.
- Please list any medications you gave your pet.
- If you have other veterinarians’ appointments and diagnostic results, bring them with you.
- You can record your dog’s behavior on video so that the doctor can better assess the symptoms and severity of the disease.
Do not try to make appointments yourself! Medicines are prescribed by a doctor. If the dog is diagnosed with a disease, a tendency to allergic reactions, do not experiment with food and treats: they should also be purchased on the recommendation of a veterinarian.
How to behave with a dog in a clinic
A veterinary clinic is a new and unfamiliar place for a puppy, so the pet may be afraid of strangers, strong smells and other animals. Be calm and behave naturally so that your anxiety is not transmitted to the dog. It is the owner who forms the first impression of the animal when visiting the veterinarian. It is important that this impression is positive.
Make an appointment in advance, if possible, at a specific time. Try to avoid contact with other animals, especially if the dog is not vaccinated.
After the appointment, be sure to praise the animal for its courage and good behavior, and treat it with a treat to reinforce the positive impression of the visit to the clinic.