You’ve purchased their favorite toys, the best pet food, and have pet-proof your home. You’re all set to bring your pet home, but what happens next? Hopefully, the answer is to make an appointment with your pet’s first doctor. While the first visit may be daunting, we’ve produced a list of our best recommendations to make the process as simple as possible.
How can I prepare for the first visit?
You should train your dog to travel by car unless you live within walking distance of a veterinarian hospital. Properly confine him in the car by placing him in a crate or using an approved canine harness restraint for your dog’s protection. It is advisable to take outings to pet-friendly sites such as dog parks and return with a treat before heading to the clinic. Going to a Charlotte vet is simpler if your dog enjoys riding in the car.
How can I make the first visit pleasant?
The initial visit to the veterinary clinic should be a pleasant introduction to a new setting. Before your dog’s first appointment, tell the receptionist that you want to show him around. Ask if you can come in when the clinic is less full so that your dog isn’t overwhelmed by new dogs and cats and the receptionist has time to speak with you.
Keep your dog close to you when seeing the specialist in veterinary internal medicine. When carrying little dogs in your arms, a leash should be worn in case they jump out. To keep a fearful dog protected from other animals, place him in a crate. The container should be lined with a towel or blanket that smells like home.
You may now concentrate on making your dog’s first hospital visit a pleasant experience. To make your first visit more pleasurable, veterinary staff should be happy to tour you around the hospital, meet your dog, and give a reward. Because you won’t be seeing the vet, creating your dog’s medical chart should just take a few minutes. Make a list of all medical concerns and previous immunizations.
What should I do for my dog’s first medical check-up?
Now comes the exciting part. Before your vet visit, take your dog for a stroll to burn off some excess energy. If he makes a bowel movement while you’re out walking, put it in a plastic bag.
After registering with the receptionist, sit quietly in the waiting area and gently converse with your dog. Keep him close because your presence calms him. Assist him in avoiding other animals that may impede his vision.
They will question you about your dog’s appetite, food brand, feeding schedule, and feeding amount. Ascertain that you understand how much one scoop equals. If he has a dog itch, limp, sniff, cough, or runny nose, the technician will ask if his feces are normal.
They will collect your dog’s temperature, a stool sample, and maybe a blood sample to check for heartworms and tick-borne diseases. Your dog will need your calming voice when these weird happenings occur.
What about future veterinarian appointments?
The veterinary staff will notify you when it is time for follow-up appointments. Your dog should be examined by the vet twice a year. These inspections and lab tests may help keep your dog healthy by preventing illnesses with immunizations and parasite treatment, as well as recognizing problems early with periodic checkups and lab testing to get more information about your pets overall health.
Conclusion
During your initial session, you’ll work with your veterinarian to learn about your pet’s nutritional needs, training, and any underlying difficulties. Pet-proofing, training, and parasite management are some issues that may be tackled at this time. To safeguard your pet’s health, your veterinarian will do a thorough checkup, looking for heart murmurs, ear infections, and even worms.
