What veterinary services does my puppy need?

Many new pet owners can find that owning and raising a puppy is incredibly hard and overwhelming work. With the stress of caring for a new pet, it might be tempting to skip on a vet visit to save a bit of time and money but this is a big mistake. Here are just a few veterinary services all new puppy owners should get for their new best friend.

Vaccinations

Just like infants and babies, puppies need their vaccinations too. Vaccinating your puppy is an important part of responsible pet ownership, especially if you plan on taking them to the dog park or live in a house with multiple pets. Ideally, this should be taken care of before introducing your new pet to other animals in order to reduce the risk of disease spreading. Remember that just because your other pets aren’t showing signs of being sick doesn’t mean they aren’t a potential carrier of a disease that could harm an unvaccinated puppy.

Spaying Or Neutering

While spaying and neutering might be able to wait for a few weeks after your puppy comes home, you’ll want to take care of it before too long. Dogs that are not spayed or neutered, when raised with other dogs, could put you in a difficult position when you find yourself with an unexpected litter of puppies. Even if you’re not planning on having another dog in the house, spaying and neutering can help with hormonal difficulties as they grow. It might be a bit uncomfortable but the benefits are well worth it.

Chekups And Cleaning

Finally, even if your new puppy seems healthy, it never hurts to have confirmation from your local vet. A vet can help identify potential signs of disease earlier on before it becomes uncomfortable for your puppy. Similarly, your vet can recommend ways to ensure your new dog grows and develops healthily, preventing certain breed-specific issues. Your vet can also help teach you ways to care for your dog, including how to properly clean their teeth to avoid dental issues. Although veterinarians explain the importance of brushing, 65% of pet owners do not brush their pet’s teeth. Learning proper techniques from your local vet or animal hospital can keep your puppy healthy.

Even if you assume your puppy is perfectly healthy, it never hurts to schedule an extra visit to the vet just to be sure. For more information or to speak to a local vet, contact Brandywine Valley SPCA today.