Puppies First Vet Visit

[goldee]

My puppy arrives in a few days and i've made an appointment with our vet to get her in a few days after she gets here. for a general check.

Are there any things i should specifically ask the vet? or things i should be aware of?

I'll get the vaccination card in the post a few days after so i'll then know when to get her in for those.

What are some ways to make the visits a 'positive' experience for the the pup so they aren't scared in going there? Our last dog hated the vets and being in the car so it was a nightmare getting her there.

Thanks.

Edited May 16, 2010 by goldee

[GoldenGirl85]

Take her for lots of little drives so she knows the car isnt bad, when you go to the vet take treats along so she learns that "the place that smells funny" is good, the staff at my vets are very good but you can even ask the staff at the front to give her treats as well. I walk my girl around the show room area and she loves it, there is bags of food at her height so she thinks she is in heaven smelling all the food and inspecting all the stock they keep, so far there has been no problems but then again she is only 5 months old

I can sympathise about your last dog (is that the JRT?) my JRT HATES the vet and hates the car just as much, I was only 16 when I got her so she quickly learned that the only time she gets into the car is when she is going to the vet...and thats where they give you needles, and stick things up your butt...and it smells really bad, lol. That is why Im suggesting lots of little drives, so she doesnt associate the car with the vet

[furballs]

My BC attended puppy school at my vet so she loves going there. My Rotti just loves people so loves going there anyway...lol.

My vets always make a point of patting the dogs to make them feel relaxed and always give them a treat. They also get a treat when we are paying the bill. End of the day, try to take your dog to a nice vet

[goldee]

Take her for lots of little drives so she knows the car isnt bad, when you go to the vet take treats along so she learns that "the place that smells funny" is good, the staff at my vets are very good but you can even ask the staff at the front to give her treats as well. I walk my girl around the show room area and she loves it, there is bags of food at her height so she thinks she is in heaven smelling all the food and inspecting all the stock they keep, so far there has been no problems but then again she is only 5 months old

I can sympathise about your last dog (is that the JRT?) my JRT HATES the vet and hates the car just as much, I was only 16 when I got her so she quickly learned that the only time she gets into the car is when she is going to the vet...and thats where they give you needles, and stick things up your butt...and it smells really bad, lol. That is why Im suggesting lots of little drives, so she doesnt associate the car with the vet

Thanks!! Will try that. I am going to take her out for drives and theres so many places to take her to (beaches, parks etc) so want her to be comfortable in the car.

Yep, our Jack Russell ( she was long haired, ive never found another one!) hated going there. We didn't really take her out in the car so any time she went in the car, it was to the vets and she soon clicked on to that! Plus, when she was about 5 or 6 the vet was rather rough with her and put something up her butt and she yelled out like she was being murdered. It was horrible to hear. After that we switched to a female vet, she was petrified of him! BUt in her last year it didn't bother her, but i think that was due to the fact she probably didn't realise where she was

Edited May 16, 2010 by goldee

[GoldenGirl85]

My BC attended puppy school at my vet so she loves going there. My Rotti just loves people so loves going there anyway...lol.

My vets always make a point of patting the dogs to make them feel relaxed and always give them a treat. They also get a treat when we are paying the bill. End of the day, try to take your dog to a nice vet

Agreed, my old vet was horrible, not mean just anti social, but I was out in the bush and he was more professional than the other vet in town, so I didnt have a lot of choice

If you arent happy with the vet you take her to then change, a bad experience as a pup will most likely affect her for life, so you need to keep everything positive

[goldee]

My BC attended puppy school at my vet so she loves going there. My Rotti just loves people so loves going there anyway...lol.

My vets always make a point of patting the dogs to make them feel relaxed and always give them a treat. They also get a treat when we are paying the bill. End of the day, try to take your dog to a nice vet

Thanks. I do intend to take it to puppy school! The vet does offer it.

Yeah, its only about 5 mins away so im hoping they are still good. Haven't been there since 07. They had a lady vet who was very good.

[WreckitWhippet]

Put your puppy up on a table as often as you can, pat it, feed it treats, check it's teeth, eyes, ears and have a general poke around and then praise like crazy.

My thoughts on going to the vets is arrive as close to the appointment time as possible, keep your pup in it's vari kennel or crate and don;t make a big fuss out of going.

[furballs]

My BC attended puppy school at my vet so she loves going there. My Rotti just loves people so loves going there anyway...lol.

My vets always make a point of patting the dogs to make them feel relaxed and always give them a treat. They also get a treat when we are paying the bill. End of the day, try to take your dog to a nice vet

Thanks. I do intend to take it to puppy school! The vet does offer it.

Yeah, its only about 5 mins away so im hoping they are still good. Haven't been there since 07. They had a lady vet who was very good.

Maybe you could take your own treats for the pup and ask the vet to give it to them if they don't normally do this. I've had some really "unworthy" vets in my time but the ones I have now are fantastic. Google good vets in your area.

[GoldenGirl85]

Id check out the puppy preschool the vet offers before signing up, I know some are really good, but Im glad I took mine to one offered by an obedience group rather than the vets one, I had Lexi at the vet for a shot and they were setting up for PP that night, all they did was put up walls around a corner of the surgery and set out a few seats, there wasnt a lot of space for them, while I was there 4 big breed puppies arrived...didnt seem right to me, but maybe thats because my PP was in an enclosed field, and while we did basic obedience with them, they could also have a run around and play with the other pups

[furballs]

Put your puppy up on a table as often as you can, pat it, feed it treats, check it's teeth, eyes, ears and have a general poke around and then praise like crazy.

My thoughts on going to the vets is arrive as close to the appointment time as possible, keep your pup in it's vari kennel or crate and don;t make a big fuss out of going.

Yes, absolutely what SBT123 says. I always spend a lot of time touching my dogs all over, rolling them on their backs, putting my hand in their mouth, etc, etc so they won't feel any extra stress when going to the vet. We don't have appointments at our vet so we just have to wait until they're ready to see us.

[goldee]

Id check out the puppy preschool the vet offers before signing up, I know some are really good, but Im glad I took mine to one offered by an obedience group rather than the vets one, I had Lexi at the vet for a shot and they were setting up for PP that night, all they did was put up walls around a corner of the surgery and set out a few seats, there wasnt a lot of space for them, while I was there 4 big breed puppies arrived...didnt seem right to me, but maybe thats because my PP was in an enclosed field, and while we did basic obedience with them, they could also have a run around and play with the other pups

I asked if they did it and they said they did for either 4 or 5 weeks (can't remember) but the first week you dont bring your pup.

A dog obedience place was recommended to me too, which is probably an extra 20 min drive, but they have SO much more. Their puppy school goes for an extra 2 weeks, for the same price, but you can do obedience classes/training at all different levels. Plus they operate on a Saturday morning.

The vets only do it mondays at 6.30. I think getting home from work, and then rushing up there wont be good. I want her to learn from it and its no good if im tired!!

[Scarlet]

If you're not stressed then your pup won't be either.

There is no reason for it not to be enjoyable. He's going to meet new people and have a fuss made of him

[GoldenGirl85]

Id go to the obedience place...considering that the first week you dont take your pup to the vets...tells me they are just interested in selling their products

[goldee]

Id go to the obedience place...considering that the first week you dont take your pup to the vets...tells me they are just interested in selling their products

i was told that too. Some vets just push selling their products. I thought it was odd that i dont bring the pup the first time. Its only 5 weeks for an hour, and i've lost an hour already, what can they learn in that! I wondered if its more for socializing the pup instead and that only.

[Danois]

With my last dog, after the first visit we would drop into the vets frequently (as they had a scale there) and he'd get a fuss made of him by the staff and get treats etc so he learnt that the place was a positive place. He never had an issue being there.

With my current dog - our vet was not as close but did a similar thing - made the first visit positive and fun. Now he loves going to the vet and gets so excited when he sees my vet and vet nurse.

[furballs]

Puppy school should be about the puppy getting to socialise with other pups. A small part of it is the owner learning how to do simple things with the pup. Also make sure they have a requirement for all pups to be vaccinated.

[Danois]

Puppy school should be about the puppy getting to socialise with other pups. A small part of it is the owner learning how to do simple things with the pup. Also make sure they have a requirement for all pups to be vaccinated.

I disagree - puppy pre-school is not all about socialisation. It is about teaching the owners the basics. The one I went to had us all sitting a distance apart and our puppies sitting quietly with us - the instructors would talk then we'd do an activity and then more talk etc. In the last couple of sessions the puppies were allowed to have some playtime (with instructors matching dogs). The idea behind this is that if the puppies are allowed to play from the start then they do not focus on the activities as they think puppy pre-school is all about play.

[Tassie]

Since your vet is so close, I would be taking your new puppy in (in your arms - not down on the floor) several times just to visit with the people - there'll be lots of oohing and aaahing and fussing and treating - all good stuff . Obviously don't do it at times when they are flat chat, but most vet offices now are happy for people to drop in just to weigh dogs (I do mine every month or so) and to familiarise puppies - after all, it makes their job easier in the long run. :D

I usually schedule a "well puppy" visit to the vet soon after I get the pup - so nothing 'horrible' happens, and you can be lovely and relaxed and enjoying having your pup meet the vet. Yes, costs money, but to my mind it's well worth it, rather than waiting for the next vax as the first consult.

[furballs]

Puppy school should be about the puppy getting to socialise with other pups. A small part of it is the owner learning how to do simple things with the pup. Also make sure they have a requirement for all pups to be vaccinated.

I disagree - puppy pre-school is not all about socialisation. It is about teaching the owners the basics. The one I went to had us all sitting a distance apart and our puppies sitting quietly with us - the instructors would talk then we'd do an activity and then more talk etc. In the last couple of sessions the puppies were allowed to have some playtime (with instructors matching dogs). The idea behind this is that if the puppies are allowed to play from the start then they do not focus on the activities as they think puppy pre-school is all about play.

You have said as I have above that a small part is the owner learning things. My own experience at puppy preschool was that the puppies were nervous and over the 4 weeks they all learnt to play well with other puppies. We also learned how to walk on lead, sit, recall but at the end of the day this can all be learned at dog training.

The OP wants to know how to make her puppy like vets, puppy preschool at a vet where they can have loads of fun and interaction will certainly achieve this.

[piper]

Id go to the obedience place...considering that the first week you dont take your pup to the vets...tells me they are just interested in selling their products

How does that mean they just want to sell products? I know of obedience clubs and pet dog training places that are NOT at vets and do not sell produc that do first week without pups. In my last 12 months of taking classes I changed to doing them this way too.

The reason - it is really hard for the owners to concentrate on information while also trying to deal with a bouncy puppy or fearful puppy. By having first week without pups the information of what to do when you arrive to help settle your puppy (eg not letting it rush up to other pups who may be nervous etc), what to do if puppy is barking/crying carrying on. I set aside a large time to discuss any issues that had cropped up and go over house training basics. Over the 4 weeks I still covered the same content but got out a lot of theory things while people were not trying to manage fido. This meant classes were much smoother, quieter, calmer. Nervous dogs had not been terrified bfore class started as people were aware of what to do/not to do when they arrived. We also were able to keep things moving at a better pace as many things had already been discussed.