First Vet Visit: What Happens and What to Ask

Book the first visit within 48 hours of bringing a puppy or kitten home, before any problem appears.

What is checked

Weight, temperature, heart and lungs, eyes, ears, teeth, umbilical hernia, and in males whether both testicles have descended. A faecal sample identifies worms.

What to ask

The vaccination and deworming schedule, when to sterilise for this specific breed, how much to feed and for how long, and what the clinic's emergency arrangements are.

Make it positive

Bring treats. Ask staff to give a few. A puppy that enjoys the clinic is far easier to treat for the next fifteen years.

Bring paperwork

Any vaccination card from the breeder or shelter, and a note of what food it is currently eating.