Your Puppy’s First Veterinary Visit
Your puppy’s first visit gives our veterinarians a chance to evaluate their overall health, review any records you received, and help you understand what care is needed next.
During a puppy exam, our team may review:
- Weight and growth
- Eyes, ears, teeth, and gums
- Heart and lungs
- Skin and coat
- Abdomen and body condition
- Stool and parasite risk
- Vaccine history
- Deworming history
- Nutrition and feeding schedule
- Behavior and socialization
- Microchipping
- Spay or neuter timing
This visit is also a good time to ask questions about house training, crate training, chewing, puppy biting, safe toys, and what symptoms to watch for at home.
Puppy Vaccines
Puppies need a series of vaccines during their first months of life. These vaccines help protect against serious preventable diseases while your puppy’s immune system is still developing.
Your puppy’s vaccine plan may include discussion of:
- Core puppy vaccines
- Rabies vaccination
- Lifestyle vaccines when appropriate
- Booster timing
- Exposure risks
- Boarding, grooming, daycare, or dog park plans
- Future adult vaccine recommendations
Our veterinarians will help you understand which vaccines are recommended for your puppy and when each visit should happen.
Deworming and Parasite Prevention
Puppies are especially vulnerable to parasites. Some puppies may be exposed before birth, through nursing, from their environment, or before adoption. Early deworming, fecal testing, and parasite prevention help protect your puppy’s health as they grow.
During puppy visits, we may discuss:
- Fecal parasite screening
- Deworming schedule
- Flea and tick prevention
- Heartworm prevention
- Signs of parasites to watch for
- Safe prevention options based on age and weight
Our team can help you choose a prevention plan that is appropriate for your puppy’s current stage of development.
Nutrition and Growth Guidance
Puppies have different nutritional needs than adult dogs. Proper nutrition supports healthy growth, immune function, bone development, digestion, and energy.
We can help you discuss:
- Puppy food options
- Feeding frequency
- Portion guidance
- Healthy weight gain
- Treats and training rewards
- Food transitions
- Digestive concerns
- When to switch to adult dog food
If your puppy is not eating well, gaining weight too quickly, growing slowly, or having digestive issues, our veterinarians can help determine the next step.
Behavior, Training, and Socialization
The puppy stage is an important time for building habits that support long-term behavior and confidence. Early guidance can help your puppy adjust to your home, other pets, new people, handling, and future veterinary care.
We can answer questions about:
- House training
- Crate training
- Puppy biting
- Chewing
- Leash walking
- Safe socialization
- Introducing other pets
- Handling paws, ears, and mouth
- Grooming comfort
- Car rides and vet visit preparation
Our goal is to help your puppy grow into a healthy, confident adult dog.
Microchipping for Puppies
Microchipping provides a permanent form of identification if your puppy is ever lost. Collars and tags are helpful, but they can fall off. A microchip stays with your puppy and can be scanned by a veterinary hospital, shelter, or rescue organization.
Microchipping may be recommended during a puppy visit or at the time of spay or neuter surgery. Our team can help you decide the best timing.
Spay and Neuter Planning
Spaying or neutering is an important preventive care decision for many dogs. The right timing can depend on your puppy’s age, breed, size, health, and development.
During your puppy’s visits, our veterinarians can discuss:
- When spay or neuter surgery may be recommended
- What to expect before surgery
- Whether pre-anesthetic bloodwork may be appropriate
- Recovery and home care
- How surgery fits into your puppy’s overall health plan
Hospital and Mobile Puppy Care Options
Puppy care is available at our Scottsdale animal hospital. In some cases, Phoenix Mobile Veterinarians may also be able to provide select puppy services at home, such as wellness exams or vaccines, when appropriate.
If your puppy needs lab testing, surgery, X-rays, or closer medical evaluation, our Scottsdale animal hospital may be the best setting. Our team can help you decide which option is safest and most convenient for your puppy’s needs.
Schedule Your Puppy’s First Visit
If you recently brought home a puppy, Scottsdale Animal Hospital & Phoenix Mobile Veterinarians is here to help you get started.
We provide puppy care for families in Scottsdale, Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Mesa, Tempe, and surrounding areas.
