Two tips to follow if your puppy is due to have their first vet check-up
If you've booked the first puppy vet check-up for your pet, here are some tips to follow.
Put effort into making the experience as calm and pleasant for your puppy as possible
It is very important to ensure that your puppy's first check-up goes as well as possible. If their first encounter with the vet is distressing for them, their subsequent visits are likely to be difficult for you, the puppy and the vet, as your puppy will associate being at the vet clinic with being upset or frightened and may then become too anxious and agitated for the vet to examine them.
With this in mind, you must do everything you can to make this initial check-up as pleasant and calm as you can for your puppy. You should continually praise them throughout the check-up and try to keep your tone of voice as soothing as possible to help your puppy feel safe and happy. If they have a cuddly toy that they are especially fond of, you should take this to the appointment and let them play with it or snuggle up to it in the waiting room, as this should comfort them if they feel uneasy.
Additionally, you should give them a reward after the check-up; this could be a treat food or a trip to the dog park (if they've had their vaccinations). This will help to create a link in their mind between their vet visits and this reward, which should gradually encourage them to feel happy about their vet appointments.
Write down observations about your puppy in the weeks before the check-up
In the weeks before their check-up, you should write down any observations you make about your puppy. This will ensure that at their check-up, you don't forget to ask about a particular behaviour or physical issue that you've noticed.
For example, if you notice that your puppy limps a little after their walks or winces when walking on the stairs, this could be a sign that they have a developmental joint condition. This might not be apparent right away when they're sitting on the examination table at the vet and so by mentioning your observations, you could help the vet to diagnose the joint issue faster, and thus ensure that your puppy is given medical help (in the form of, for example, physiotherapy, a specialist diet or medication) that could reduce their symptoms sooner.
For more information on a puppy vet check-up, contact a professional near you.