Can I talk to a veterinarian for advice before getting a new dog?

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to address your concern. Adopting a pet is a great option and certainly helps those pets in need of a home so thank you for looking into adopting! Some shelters will have an affiliation program with nearby veterinary clinics where the clinic will provide you with a free examination to establish yourself there. I would ask the shelters if they have such a program. When going to the veterinarian, I would ensure that you are looking at preventative care (heartworm and flea / tick prevention). The shelter should have most vaccinations up to date but if it is a puppy, you may have to repeat several vaccination rounds. I hope this helps guide you in the right direction! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Hi Mhabelle! I will be glad to answer your questions :-) 1. I have wanted to be a vet since I was a child. I have always loved animals, and knew from the time I was little that I wanted to look after them. 2. Yes, I have two dogs (a Basset Hound and a Chow Chow), and four cats. 3. The best thing about being a vet is being able to help make sick animals healthy again. 4. If you get a pet, you have to be prepared to pay for their veterinary care. Pets needs regular care, just like humans, and should be vaccinated, treated for fleas, intestinal worms, and heartworms. Pets need to be looked after, and when they are sick, they have to see a vet.

Costs for vaccination vary from place to place, there may be a Humane Society clinic in your area that may offer lower prices. Yes, your dog can go to the vet to get her vaccinations even if she hasn't had any yet. Call around to some clinics and ask them what their puppy visits cost, often those will include some labwork, such as a fecal analysis to check for intestinal parasites. Let them know your concerns and if you have financial restrictions, they will work with you if you let them know up front what is going on. There are very few infections that can pass between humans and dogs, but ringworm and scabies are two that can be transmitted and both cause itchy skin and hair loss.

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.

The first thing you need to do is to take him to a veterinarian for an exam to make sure he is healthy, He can then be vaccinated and wormed. Check for fleas or have the vet check for fleas and get some flea medication/prevention. It also is a good idea to ask your veterinarian about a heart worm test and heart worm preventatives, Depending on the condition of his fur, whether it is very matted or just long, clean or dirty, he likely needs a bath with dog shampoo, and then you can take him to a groomer to be groomed or shaved.

Great questions! The most important tip I have is to have a dog fund, money set aside for your puppy's heath care. I would budget to spend at least $500-$1000 a year, but I would save more than that for emergencies. Dogs need regular health care just like humans, and you need to make sure you have the funds available to provide that care. The puppy you get should be at least six to eight weeks of age, any younger is too young to be separated from their mother. Keep in mind your puppy will need vaccines, deworming treatments, flea treatment, heartworm treatment, and should be either neutered (boy) or spayed (girl) when they are old enough. You will also need a leash, food bowl, water bowl, dog bed, and puppy toys. I would have your puppy see a vet as soon as you get it for a health check and to discuss the vaccine schedule. I hope this helps :-)

This is not an easy question at all and would depend on a vaste variety of factors indeed. If I may, I would recommend this simple test sponsored by the american kennel club about having a new dog (or a dog for the first time). https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/quizzes/are-you-ready-to-get-a-dog/ Hope this answer was helpful, but please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation if you have any more questions or to discuss it any further.