Meet the vet
You've chosen your puppy, now it's time to choose
his vet 
One of the first things you'll need to do once you bring
your puppy home is make a vet's appointment. But how do you
find a vet who's right for you? Recommendations from family and
friends can be helpful but, in the absence of those, you'll
need to trust your instincts. Do the staff seem friendly,
knowledgeable and helpful? Is the surgery convenient for you to
get to and does it have good provision if your puppy happens to
be unwell outside of surgery hours? You should also find out
whether the surgery specialises in certain areas, or if your
vet will be able to refer your pet to a specialist if
needed.
Ensuring the first visit goes
smoothly
Your first visit to the vet is likely to be quite stressful
for your puppy. He'll have to travel in the car, come across
new people and new smells and put up with a certain amount of
poking and prodding.
You can help in a number of ways. The first and most
important is to be calm yourself. Next, make sure your puppy is
safely restrained in the car either by using a travel crate or
a puppy harness and a seatbelt. It's also a good idea to pack
some toys and treats to reward your puppy for good behaviour.
That way he'll see that going to the vet isn't all bad! Click
here for more information on
Travelling with your puppy.
Vaccinations
Vaccinating your puppy against life-threatening diseases is
essential and is one of the most important things you can do to
keep him healthy.
Your vet will provide you with an exact schedule of
vaccination but expect your puppy to receive his first
vaccinations at around eight weeks and his next at 12 weeks of
age. He'll need to be kept inside and away from other dogs
until 7-10 days after that.
To maintain protection, annual booster shots must be given
from then on, though some are only required every other year.
Your vet will advise you on this. Click here for more
information on
vaccinations.
Worming
There are two types of worms that will infect your puppy:
roundworms and tapeworms, so you'll need to start treating him
as soon as possible. Your vet will advise you on a regular
worming programme. Because some worms can also infect people,
it is important that you stick to the worming regime
recommended by your vet.
Fleas
If your puppy's harbouring unwanted visitors, he'll probably
scratch a lot. You may also notice flea dirt in his coat when
you're grooming him. You're unlikely to see the actual fleas
though which are red-brown, about 2-3mm long and move very
fast.
If you think your puppy does have fleas, seek advice on how
to treat him from your vet. Modern flea preparations are very
effective and you should be able to get rid of the fleas pretty
quickly. You'll also need to thoroughly treat your home and
your vet will provide you with a suitable spray or powder.
Pet insurance
You may decide to take out Pet Insurance for your new puppy.
That way, at least you know if he does become poorly, you won't
have the additional stress of worrying about big bills for
treatment.
Do bear in mind though that most pet Insurance won't cover
routine health care. It also important to do your homework as
policies and prices vary widely. Don't sign anything until
you've read the small print.
Microchipping
A
microchip is a tiny device that can be implanted
under your puppy's skin on his neck. This is a relatively
pain-free procedure; it's just like receiving a vaccination
injection. The chip carries a unique number which is registered
on a central database. If your puppy ever goes missing, he can
then be traced back to you. You will have to pay for this, but
it's well worth the investment. Ask your vet for more
details.