How to Prepare for Your Puppy’s First Vet Visit

I’ve searched for the best bed, picked a diet that seems right for my new puppy, and read every training guide I can find. I’m still nervous about bringing my puppy to the vet for the first time, though. How do I prepare for the visit, and what can I do to make it easier for my puppy?

Even though you know that regular vet visits are vital to your puppy’s wellbeing, it can still be scary to bring them to the clinic for the first time. What if they’re frightened or start to misbehave? What if a bad initial experience makes every future vet visit a struggle for your puppy? Doing some basic prep work can help you make their first puppy vet visit a positive experience.

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What paperwork should you prepare for a vet visit?

Some puppies come with paperwork, but others don’t. Your fancy AKC-registered puppy that can trace their lineage back to the first dog who sat on an emperor’s lap probably has a lot of paperwork documenting their date of birth, breed, medical history, and Zodiac sign. If you adopted a stray puppy, identifying documents may be more scarce. That’s fine, your vet can help get them started on the right track anyway.

Bring any information you have about them to your first vet appointment. When thinking about what to bring to the first vet visit, dog and puppy parents should prepare details about:

Vaccination

Depending on their age, your puppy may have received some vaccines already. Paperwork you received with your puppy may include information about dates of previous vaccinations, what type of vaccines were given, and if there were any adverse reactions to those vaccines. This type of info allows your vet to set up a personalized vaccination schedule for your puppy so that they can continue to be protected from common viruses.

Deworming

Similar to your puppy’s vaccination history, their deworming records can help your vet best determine what future treatments are needed. Puppies are dewormed frequently, and different types of dewormers are used for different parasite problems. 

Diet and food

Even though you may have spent a bunch of time picking out the perfect food for your puppy, it can sometimes be difficult to recall the exact brand and product name when you’re asked. It’s best to just take a picture of the bag for your vet so they can know what your puppy is eating. If you don’t weigh your puppy’s food for each meal, bring the scoop you’re using so they can see exactly how much your puppy eats. You’d be surprised by how many people claim that they only feed “one cup” of food, but don’t mention that it’s a Big Gulp-sized cup.

Pet insurance

Having pet insurance can be a great way to prepare for unexpected expenses for your dog. If you’re getting pet insurance, starting it during puppyhood helps prevent future issues with denied claims due to preexisting conditions. Your vet’s office can keep this information on file so that they can assist with future claims.

Adoption information

Having your new puppy’s adoption information available for your vet is surprisingly helpful. In addition to providing records of vaccinations, dewormings, and any medical problems, adoption papers can let your vet know if your puppy came from a different region of the country. This can be important information because certain diseases (like heartworm disease) are more common in some areas than others.

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What questions you should ask your vet

It’s very easy for your mind to go blank when your vet asks if you have any questions about your new puppy. Starting a list of queries and concerns before your puppy’s first vet visit can help to keep your thoughts organized in the moment. Some common topics new pet parents have questions about include:

Vaccination schedule

While this is usually covered in detail during your puppy’s first vet visit, make sure you’re clear on the timing of appointments for vaccines before you leave the clinic. You’ll be seeing your vet frequently in the first months of your puppy’s life, so making sure you know what to expect at each visit is important.

Parasite medications

There are a multitude of parasite medications available. Fleas, ticks, heartworms, mange, flies, intestinal worms, and ear mites are just some of the parasites that can trouble puppies. Preventative medications are available for many parasites, and they come in a variety of formulations. Ask your veterinarian about what medications are most appropriate for the parasites in your area, and what formulation (oral, injectable, or spot-on) will work best for your puppy.

Diet, nutrition, and growth

Diet is an important topic to cover during your puppy’s first vet appointment. One of the goals for the visit should be making sure your puppy is consuming the right amount of the right diet for their life stage. Ask questions to get a detailed picture of how to adjust as your puppy grows. This includes finding out what treats, chews, and human foods are safe and appropriate to share with your puppy.

Spaying or neutering

Recommendations about the best time to spay or neuter your puppy vary widely. Large dogs tend to be fixed a little later in life than smaller ones, and every vet’s recommendation about the best way to time the procedure will vary. Ask your vet questions about the pros and cons of early spay or neuter and make sure you understand the time frame they recommend.

Exercise and socialization

Puppies sometimes seem to have boundless energy. Finding ways to tire them out can be a challenge, so talk to your vet about strategies to convert their energy into productive training sessions and appropriate play. It’s important to socialize your new puppy so they’re familiar with a variety of people, pets, places, and situations while they’re most open to learning. Ask your vet about safe ways to socialize your puppy while minimizing their risk of catching a disease while their immune system is still developing.

How to reduce your puppy’s anxiety around vet visits

Despite your best efforts to socialize them, your puppy may show some signs of anxiety during their first vet visit. This isn’t entirely unexpected because they’re visiting an unfamiliar environment with a lot of new things happening. You can take some steps to help reduce your puppy’s anxiety for their first vet visit. Starting these strategies early can pay off with reduced vet anxiety throughout their life:

• Exercise beforehand: A tired puppy is a happy puppy. It’s hard to get too overstimulated when you just want to take a nap. Don’t wear them out to the point of complete exhaustion, but a little extra activity before visiting the vet may help your puppy stay calm.

• Gather toys and blankets: If you’re wondering what to bring to the first vet visit for your puppy, familiar toys and blankets top the list. Your puppy may appreciate having the familiar scent of some bedding from home and their favorite toy available as a distraction.

• Grab some treats: Your vet will likely have tasty snacks to distract your puppy during their visit, but bringing along some treats that you know they love won’t hurt. They can be used to reinforce good behavior during the car ride or wait in the lobby. 

• Simulate vet inspection: One of the most important things you can do before the first vet visit for your puppy is getting them used to being gently poked and prodded. This means acclimating them to having their paws touched, tail lifted, and mouth examined. Making these activities part of playtime makes it less weird for your puppy when your vet does them as part of their examination.

• Take car rides to fun places: If one of the only times your puppy gets into the car is to go to the vet, they may start to act out before you even get to the clinic. Be sure to add some variety to their trips so that they don’t only associate the car with the vet’s office.

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How to prepare for the trip

If you’ve never had a puppy before, your first vet visit cost with them may be a surprise. Call around to clinics in your area first to find out the expected price and see if they have any packages available that cover all the expected puppy vaccination appointments. 

The actual process of getting your puppy to the vet may involve more than you expect. For your puppy’s first vet visit, a checklist can help to keep things organized and reduce confusion the day of the visit. A checklist for the vet visit may include things like:

• Preparing the crate

• Buying a collar or harness and leash

• Securing the travel kennel in the car

• Having supplies to deal with pee, poop, or car sickness

• Packing toys and treats

Bottom line

Preparing for your puppy's first vet visit requires careful planning to ensure a smooth experience. Gather all available medical records, including any previous vaccinations or deworming documentation from the breeder or shelter. Make a list of questions about feeding, vaccinations, and breed-specific concerns.

References

• “Getting to Know My Veterinarian | Indoor Pet Initiative.” Osu.edu, 2025, indoorpet.osu.edu/dogs/puppy/getting-know-my-veterinarian. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

• “Guide for Taking Care of Animals.” Ross Vet, 20 June 2023, veterinary.rossu.edu/about/blog/guide-for-taking-care-of-animals.

• “How to Prepare for Your New Puppy.” Veterinary Medicine at Illinois, vetmed.illinois.edu/pet-health-columns/how-to-prepare-for-your-new-puppy/.‌

• “How to Prepare Your Pet for a Low-Stress Vet Visit.” News from the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, 7 Apr. 2022, cvmbs.source.colostate.edu/how-to-prepare-your-pet-for-a-low-stress-vet-visit/.

• “The Puppy Timeline: Physical and Mental Changes.” VMBS News, 19 May 2023, vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/puppy-timeline-part-1/.

• “Things You Need to Know before You Bring Home Your New Puppy.” News.vt.edu, news.vt.edu/articles/2024/03/vetmed-new-puppy.html.