I just got a puppy. Will he get a full exam with his first vaccines?

Hello and welcome to Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. For a new puppy visit a vet will do a physical exam looking for any congenital abnormalities (heart murmurs, cleft palate, etc.). They will also look at body condition and if the abdomen seems bloated. At 6-8 weeks of age they will start the vaccine process. Your vet will also talk to you about deworming and diet. For a 3 year old dog the visit is similar, a physical exam and questions about history to make sure nothing is going wrong, as well as vaccines and deworming that is required. You should also discuss with your vet about desexing both April and your puppy. Around the age of 5 your vet might start talking to you about bloodwork to look for underlying disease. Best of luck with April and your new puppy.

Hello, and thanks for your question. Each exam will be slightly tailored to the purpose of that day's visit, and sometimes I will slightly modify an exam based on what has or has not been recently checked. Furthermore, your vet is probably doing much of the exam while you're talking. I'm sure when I do my appointments, it may often look like I'm simply petting the dog - when I am feeling lymph nodes, palpating abdomen, looking at eyes/ears/teeth, etc. So, of course I wasn't there and cannot speak for your vets, but I would suspect that there was more of an exam happening than was perhaps made clear! In a perfect world, every visit would involve checking every body system in every way possible. But, with time limitations and specific concerns that may need to be discussed, some visits will likely involve going more into depth with one body system or another. Hope this helps!

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!

An exam or office visit usually consist of looking at the dog. This includes checking the teeth and mouth and assessing the lymph nodes. It will include checking the ears for any mites or signs of an infection. They do listen to the heart and lungs and feel the abdomen and skin for any bumps or growths. Most vets are good at incorporating this process into vaccinations

Yes you can bring him to a VetCo clinic for vaccinations, a check up and microchipping if you like. Here is a list of prices and locations: https://www.vetcoclinics.com/services-and-clinics/vaccination-packages-and-prices/. You may also try to find out which vet the former owner used. The vet should have a health record of the dog.

She should have an examine as soon as possible once she is brought home. Take a stool sample so your vet can test for parasites since intestinal parasites are common in puppies. As for vaccines, the schedule will depend on if she has already had some vaccines, your location, and her lifestyle. Your vet can develop a vaccine plan once he/she has all that information. Good luck with your new puppy!

Since it is a "new" pup, he should be examined by your veterinarian to confirm good health or to diagnose and treat any preexisting conditions. Submit a stool sample to diagnose intestinal parasites or bacterial overgrowth. If you have no record of any vaccinations, Finn should be vaccinated by your veterinarian to be safe. You can also discuss flea and parasite prevention with the vet.