Should I worry my 8-week puppy hasn't had a vet health check?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I think that is a great idea! Bring a stool sample with you. The Vet can go over her vaccine schedule, get her started on flea/tick and heartworm prevention and discuss having her spayed. I hope this helps and I wish you all the best!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I would get puppies in by 8 weeks for thei first DHPP vaccines. Bring a stool sample. They will start them on heart worm and flea and tick medication. Your local township should have forms for licensing. Most people wait until their dogs receive their rabies vaccine and are spayed or neutered. Otherwise I’m not sure what you mean by registered. Good luck!

Hi there! Congratulations on your new pup :) If she hasn't had anything done yet, she will need a vet visit for her first DAPP vaccine (for distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, and parainfluenza) as well as a general wellness check-up. She should also have a fecal exam for parasites, and should be dewormed if any are found. She's also old enough to start on heartworm prevention if this is a problem in your area - the vet should be able to advise you if this is needed. After that, she will need to have her DAPP vaccine boostered every 3-4 weeks until she's 16 weeks or older. She will also need a rabies vaccine at 16 weeks. Other vaccinations, such as Lyme disease, leptospirosis, or Bordetella (kennel cough) may also be recommended depending on what is common in your area and her risk of exposure. Your veterinarian should discuss this with you at her check-up visit, and will let you know if any of these vaccines are needed.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and congratulations on your new puppy! I recommend having Abby seen by a vet - they can administer Abby's vaccines, deworm her if necessary, recommend a good quality puppy food, and flea/tick/heartworm prevention. At her young age, I recommend keeping Abby somewhat confined to an area of the house where she cannot get into trouble/eat things she shouldn't. She should also not go outside before she is fully vaccinated. I hope this helps and wish you luck with your new puppy!

Thanks for visiting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! She is not too young to be away from mom if she is 5 weeks of age. Pets are vaccinated as early as 6 weeks of age, and are usually weaned off of mom at this age. Since you have another pet in the home that does go outside, it is best to start vaccines for this pup once she is 6-8 weeks of age. Intestinal worms usually don't make pets too sick, but it can cause loose stool and potential vomiting. They still will eat well and do well as long as the worms are treated in a timely fashion (within 1-2 weeks), so this is an easy fix if you do encounter this. If your other pet is on a monthly heartworm prevention, then it has a natural intestinal dewormer in it as well that can protect your pet against 2 types of worms (hookworms and roundworms), which are the most common types of worms seen in puppies. But again, if you do happen to encounter a worm problem, this is easily dealt with with the appropriate dewormer, so keep an eye out for any loose stools. I hope that this helps and best wishes deciding on if you want to adopt this new pup. Take care. : )

Hello and thank you for contacting Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If the puppy has not been vaccinated or de-wormed I would not recommend buying him. Responsible breeders vaccinate pupps at 7-8 weeks of age and repeat vaccination 2-3 times. Also, 7 months old puppy should have been de-wormed at least 4-5 times so far. In my opinion, buying a 7 month puppy that has never been seen by a vet is a great risk of getting a sick dog.

So cute! If he seems healthy and is not having any problems then he could wait until he is 8 weeks old for a vet visit. I probably would not vaccinate him at his age and weight. You should limit his exposure to other dogs and do not take him to any public places until he is vaccinated. You could take a stool sample to your vet and have him/her test it for parasites and/or get a broad spectrum dewormer from your vet and give him a dose, especially if he hasn't already been dewormed by the breeder. Good luck!