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When should you first take your new dog to the veterinarian? The short answer is, as soon as possible. And it must not end at one visit. Your puppy will need more veterinary care in the first year of life than at any other time. Not only are there concerns of immediate importance, there is a lot your veterinarian can do and recommend that will help keep your puppy healthy even when he is all grown up.

First Visit

During the nursing period, a puppy receives protective antibodies from the mother's milk. This natural immunity will begin to disappear with time, and may be gone soon after weaning. Consequently, around 8 to 10 weeks of age, a puppy is susceptible to a number of diseases. That's why it is so vital to take your puppy to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Ideally, select a veterinarian even before bringing your puppy home.  Once your puppy is home, the first meeting of veterinarian and puppy should happen as soon as possible - ideally within 24 hours. 

Your veterinarian will assess the general health of the puppy and point out any problems.  All puppies should be vaccinated against canine diseases, checked periodically for worms and other parasites, and given an annual medical examination.  You and the veterinarian should work out a specific schedule of visits and vaccinations at that first meeting.

First Three Months

In the first three months of your puppy's life, your veterinarian will probably want to meet every three or four weeks for vaccinations.  How long this schedule continues varies by location, but going until 16 weeks of age is not unusual.

Three to Six Months

Rabies vaccinations sometimes are regulated by local laws and often begin between three and six months. Between four and six months, your puppy should be checked again for parasites and your veterinarian may recommend heartworm treatment. Also watch for your puppy's permanent teeth to come in.

Spaying or neutering is often recommended between four and six months, but will vary so check with your veterinarian. The procedure is simple, and males usually feel pretty good in a day. Females may take two or three days. This is an important decision. With the number of unplanned dogs born every year, having your puppy sterilized is the responsible thing to do.

Six Months to a Year

After six months, the veterinarian visits usually taper off. There are boosters at about one year, and these will be repeated on a regular basis, following your veterinarian's recommendation. In general, it is a good idea for adult dogs to make at least one visit a year to maintain the healthy start they got as puppies.

Perhaps the most loving, responsible thing you can do for your pet is to see that he receives timely health care from a qualified veterinarian. His life depends on it.