Services
Health Care For Puppies
Congratulations on adding a new member to your pet family!
Welcoming home a new puppy is a time for excitement, but it’s also when you should most think about their ongoing healthcare. K-M Regional Veterinary Hospital offers comprehensive puppy care services to determine a baseline of your new dog’s health and set them up for a lifetime of well-being.
Our veterinarians are your committed partners in safeguarding your new friend’s health for life. We can’t wait to meet your puppy soon!
Pre-Puppy Planning
It’s important that you plan for your puppy’s arrival before you bring them home. Take some time to identify and purchase any supplies your puppy may need, such as food and water bowls, chew toys, grooming supplies, bedding, a collar and leash, identification tag, a crate, and gates. Finishing your shopping ahead of time will better prepare you for any new needs that may arise.
Pre-puppy planning includes puppy-proofing the area where your new friend will spend most of their first few months in your home. Work to block off exits, pad corners, and keep dangerous materials out of reach, similar to how you would baby-proof a space. Once you the area appears completely puppy-proofed, lie on the floor and take a look around from an approximate puppy’s-eye view; you may see spots you missed. If you have children, remind them not to overwhelm the puppy on the first day home.
When picking up your puppy, ask about their established feeding schedule, including what they were last fed and when. Follow that same schedule as best you can until your first puppy visit with us. There, we will discuss your puppy’s anticipated lifestyle and nutritional needs as well as any changes we recommend that you make in your care routine.
Your Puppy’s First Wellness Exam
Once your puppy is home, remember to schedule an appointment with our veterinarians for your puppy’s first wellness exam. This initial visit exam includes a thorough “nose-to-tail” physical and dental examination that lets us develop an individualized wellness care program for your puppy, including vaccination schedule, parasite protection, and nutrition recommendations.
Your puppy’s first exam also gives us a chance to introduce ourselves to your new pet and to learn your expectations as a client and a pet owner. This is also an ideal time to ask any questions you may have about your new puppy or puppy care in general.
When you bring your (leashed) puppy in for their exam, please also provide any prior health records you may have received when first picking up your puppy, including vaccine histories, surgical records, or results from past examinations.