For many pet lovers, there is nothing more exciting and fun than getting a new puppy! Your Aardvark Animal Hospital veterinarian is your partner in making sure your puppy gets the best start possible. Our Puppy Wellness Program was created to make sure your new friend gets started off on the right paw, because the first few months of a young dog’s life are critical to their development, future health and well-being.
You should schedule your puppy to see the veterinarian as soon as possible after you adopt. Below is information on what you can expect when you bring your pet in for his or her initial exam.
Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, but it also comes with plenty of questions. How many veterinary visits will your puppy need? When should vaccinations begin? And what should you be doing at home to keep your newest family member healthy?
At Aardvark Animal Hospital, we’re here to help you navigate these important first months. Puppy wellness care involves more than one appointment. Your puppy will need several visits during their early development to help build immunity, monitor growth, and establish healthy habits.
We recommend scheduling your puppy’s first veterinary appointment as soon as possible after bringing them home, ideally within the first few days.
During the first several months, puppies typically need veterinary visits every 2–4 weeks, beginning around 6–8 weeks of age and continuing until at least 16 weeks of age. Depending on your puppy’s age, vaccination history, and individual needs, our team may recommend visits approximately every two weeks.
These frequent appointments are an important part of preventive care. They allow us to administer vaccines at appropriate intervals, monitor your puppy’s development, screen for parasites, and address any questions that come up along the way.
6–8 Weeks: The First Wellness Visit
Your puppy’s first appointment is an opportunity to establish a baseline for their health. Depending on their age and previous care, this visit may include:
- A comprehensive nose-to-tail physical examination
- Initial vaccinations, if appropriate
- Intestinal parasite screening and deworming recommendations
- Discussion of heartworm, flea, and tick prevention
- Nutrition, feeding, and housetraining guidance
- Answers to your questions about puppy behavior and development
8–12 Weeks: Building Healthy Habits
As your puppy grows, we’ll continue their recommended vaccination series and monitor their overall health.
We’ll also discuss important developmental milestones, including socialization, positive reinforcement training, teething, and safe opportunities to explore new environments.
12–16 Weeks and Beyond: Continuing Protection
During these visits, we’ll continue appropriate vaccinations, including rabies and other recommended vaccines based on your puppy’s age, lifestyle, and health history.
Your puppy’s core vaccination series generally continues until at least 16 weeks of age. Some puppies may need additional visits or boosters beyond that point.
We’ll also help you plan for the next stage of care, including spaying or neutering, microchipping, ongoing parasite prevention, and future wellness exams.
Every puppy is different. This timeline is a general guide, and your veterinarian will create an individualized schedule based on your puppy’s needs.
One of the most common misconceptions about puppy care is that a single round of vaccinations provides complete protection.
Puppies receive temporary antibodies from their mothers, but these antibodies gradually decline as they grow. They can also interfere with how well certain vaccines work.
Giving vaccines in a series helps build protection as maternal antibodies decrease.
These appointments also give our veterinary team the opportunity to identify potential health concerns early and help you manage common puppy challenges before they become bigger problems.
To help us get to know your puppy, please bring:
- Any vaccination or medical records from the breeder, shelter, or rescue organization
- A fresh stool sample, if available
- Information about your puppy’s current food and feeding schedule
- A list of medications or preventives your puppy has received
- Any questions or concerns you’ve noticed at home
When Can My Puppy Start Socializing?
Early socialization is an important part of raising a confident, well-adjusted dog. However, young puppies may not yet have full protection against infectious diseases.
Our veterinarians can help you balance safe socialization with disease prevention. Controlled interactions with healthy, appropriately vaccinated dogs and positive exposure to new people, sounds, and environments can be beneficial.
We’ll also discuss when activities such as dog parks, boarding, grooming, and group training may be appropriate for your puppy.
Early socialization is an important part of raising a confident, well-adjusted dog. However, young puppies may not yet have full protection against infectious diseases.
Our veterinarians can help you balance safe socialization with disease prevention. Controlled interactions with healthy, appropriately vaccinated dogs and positive exposure to new people, sounds, and environments can be beneficial.
We’ll also discuss when activities such as dog parks, boarding, grooming, and group training may be appropriate for your puppy.
Comprehensive Physical Exams
Is your puppy’s growth on track? Are there any telltale signs of current or future health issues? How large will my puppy get? These are all questions that can be answered by your veterinarian with a physical exam.
Vaccinations
Just like newborn babies, the immune systems of young pets are not fully developed. This means they are more susceptible to disease, and therefore puppies need a series of vaccinations given at monthly intervals to be protected. In this package, your puppy will receive rabies (required by law), canine distemper series, Lyme series, leptospirosis, and Bordetella series.
Intestinal Parasite Screening
It’s very common for puppies to have worms, and they can make your new friend very sick and weak. Some of these worms can also be passed to your human family members. Fecal testing for intestinal parasites is a must for puppies. Should your pet test positive for hookworms, whipworms, roundworms or tapeworms, treatment is at an additional cost but is usually very reasonable.
Microchipping
One of the most important things you can do for your pet is to make sure he or she is microchipped. Unlike collars, microchips stay with your pet for life and will make it much more likely your dog will be returned to you if lost.
First Doses of Heartworm, Flea, & Tick Preventative
Fleas and ticks are not only unpleasant, they carry disease and can be very detrimental to a young dog’s health. Heartworm can be deadly, and while there is treatment available for dogs, it is expensive and hard for your pet. We’ll make sure your puppy is protected with their first doses of flea, tick and heartworm preventive.
Behavior & Nutrition Counseling
While it may be true that puppies don’t come with instructions, counseling with our veterinarians about the best housebreaking methods, the importance of socialization and basic training will set your pup up for success as a family member. We can also advise you on feeding schedules and options for optimum health.
Let’s Give Your Puppy a Healthy Start
You don’t have to figure out puppyhood on your own. From those first vaccinations to questions about chewing, housetraining, and nutrition, the Aardvark Animal Hospital team is here to help.
Ready to schedule your puppy’s first wellness visit? Call us at 919-359-3595 or request an appointment online
