Quick checklist
- Book the first visit within a few days of bringing your puppy home.
- Gather records from the breeder or shelter.
- Collect a fresh stool sample.
- Bring a secure leash, harness or carrier.
- Pack treats and a familiar blanket.
- Write down your questions and your puppy’s food and habits.
Details follow below. For timing and the visit schedule, see when to take a puppy to the vet.
Before the appointment: what to bring
- Paperwork. Any vaccine, deworming and health records from the breeder or shelter, plus adoption or purchase paperwork that may include a health guarantee.
- A fresh stool sample. Your vet may ask for one to check for intestinal parasites. Ask the clinic how fresh it should be and how to collect it.
- Safety gear. A leash and collar or harness, or a carrier for a small puppy. Puppies should not roam a clinic floor, where sick animals may have been.
- Comfort items. High-value treats, a favorite toy, and a blanket or towel that smells like home.
- Information. The brand of food and how much your puppy eats, when they eat and drink, how they are toileting, and anything odd you have noticed such as sneezing, itching or loose stool.
- Your questions. Writing them down helps, since appointments move fast.
Preparing your puppy
- Let your puppy get used to a carrier or car ride with a few short, happy trips before the appointment.
- Handle paws, ears, mouth and tail gently at home with treats so exam handling is less strange.
- Avoid a big meal right before travel if your puppy gets car sick. Ask the clinic if you should adjust feeding on the day.
- Carry or keep your puppy close in the waiting room and avoid contact with unfamiliar animals until your vet says it is safe.
What happens during the exam
Exact steps vary by clinic, but a first visit commonly includes:
- Weighing your puppy and taking their temperature
- Listening to the heart and lungs
- Checking eyes, ears, nose, mouth, skin and coat
- Feeling the belly, joints and general body condition
- A parasite check, often including a stool test
- Starting or continuing vaccines, if appropriate
- A conversation about food, training, parasite prevention and next steps
Questions to ask your vet
- Which vaccines does my puppy need, and when are boosters due?
- Which parasite preventives do you recommend for my area and my puppy? (Background: flea, tick and heartworm prevention for dogs.)
- What food and feeding schedule suits my puppy’s expected size?
- When should we discuss spaying or neutering? (See spaying before the first heat for one timing question.)
- Should my puppy be microchipped, and is the chip registered correctly?
- When is it safe to start socializing around other dogs and public places?
- Which symptoms mean I should call you, and what is your after-hours plan?
- What costs should I expect this year, and are wellness plans or insurance worth considering?
Never give any medicine, including over-the-counter or human products, without your vet’s direction.
After the visit
- Write down the next appointment dates and what each is for.
- Note any instructions about feeding, rest or monitoring.
- Watch for reactions after vaccines. Mild tiredness can happen, but facial swelling, repeated vomiting, difficulty breathing or collapse need urgent veterinary attention.
- Update the microchip registry and ID tag with your details.
- Reward your puppy so the clinic becomes a positive place.
Puppy supplies to have at home
Commonly recommended items include a properly sized collar or harness and leash, an ID tag, food and water bowls, a food your vet approves, a crate or safe sleeping area, chew toys, a brush, puppy-safe grooming tools, waste bags and enzymatic cleaner for accidents. Ask your vet before choosing treats, chews or supplements.
If you are in a small home, our apartment dog tips can help you set up. For broader basics, see how to care for your pet.
When to call the vet between visits
Contact your vet or an emergency clinic promptly for:
- Repeated vomiting or diarrhea, or blood in either
- Lethargy, refusing food, or weakness
- Trouble breathing or persistent coughing
- Suspected poisoning or swallowing a foreign object
- Pale gums, collapse, or seizures
- Straining to urinate or no urine
Puppies can become dehydrated and weak quickly, so it is safer to call early.
Frequently asked questions
How often do you need to bring a puppy to the vet?
Many puppies are seen several times in their first months for exams and vaccine series, then yearly or as your vet advises. Your vet sets the schedule based on your puppy’s history and risk.
What items do I need to buy for a new puppy?
See the supplies list above. Start with safe basics and add items as you learn your puppy’s needs.
What is the rule of 3 for a new puppy?
It is an informal guide that suggests about three days to decompress, three weeks to learn routines and three months to feel at home. It is not a medical rule, and puppies vary.
What is the hardest month for a puppy?
There is no official answer. Many owners find the first few weeks with sleep disruption and house training hard, and some find adolescence challenging. Ask your vet or a trainer for support if you feel overwhelmed.