Questions to ask your vet about your new puppy probably aren’t the first thing running through your mind when you bring that tiny bundle of fluff home.
Your brain is far too busy with puppy cuddles, choosing the perfect name, taking approximately 400 photos and wondering how something so small can cause so much chaos.
But once your newest family member has settled in, a visit to the vet should be high on your puppy-parent to-do list.
Your puppy’s first vet visit is a great opportunity to check in on their health, get expert advice on what they need and start building a relationship with your vet.
And once you know what your new best bud needs? That’s when the shopping begins!
From food and treats to grooming goodies and everyday pet essentials, new puppies come with quite the shopping list. If you’re a Oneplan Pet Parent, the Onepet Store gives you access to pet food and supplies, with plan-dependent discounts available to Oneplan Pet Insurance clients.
But first things first. Let’s get that first vet visit sorted.
Here are 7 questions to ask your vet about your new puppy.
1. What should I feed my puppy?
Food plays a big role in your new puppy’s growth and overall wellbeing, but walking down the pet food aisle can feel a little overwhelming.
Puppy food, small breed, large breed, wet food, dry food. Where do you even begin?
Start with your vet.
They can recommend an appropriate diet based on factors such as your puppy’s age, breed, size and individual needs. They can also guide you on portion sizes and how your puppy’s diet may need to change as they grow.
Once you know what your pup needs, you can head over to the Onepet Store to shop for their food and other pet supplies.
Vet advice first. Shopping second. Happy tummy third.
2. How often should I feed my puppy?
Once you’ve figured out what goes into the food bowl, the next question is when.
Your new puppy’s feeding requirements can depend on their age, breed, size and health, so ask your vet how frequently they should be fed and how much they should receive at each meal.
Creating a consistent feeding routine can also make everyday puppy life a little easier.
Although we’re pretty sure your puppy will learn exactly when dinner time is before you do!
And while you’re stocking up on their food, you can also start putting together the everyday essentials that make feeding time a little easier.
3. How do I housetrain my puppy?
Ah, housetraining.
It’s one of those puppy-parent milestones that requires patience, consistency and possibly quite a few rolls of paper towel.
A few basics can help you get started:
- Create a consistent toilet routine.
- Take your puppy outside regularly.
- Try to use the same toilet spot.
- Reward good behaviour when they get it right.
- Be patient when accidents happen.
Your vet can also give you advice based on your puppy’s age and development.
And once you’re back home, make sure you have the puppy supplies you need to survive the learning curve.
Your favourite rug may unfortunately become part of the process.
Discover the best pet insurance for a puppy.
4. How often should my new puppy visit the vet?
Your puppy will usually need several vet visits during their early months for health checks, vaccinations, parasite control and other preventative care.
Exactly how often your puppy needs to visit will depend on their age, health, vaccination history and your vet’s recommendations.
This is a great question to ask during that first appointment because your vet can help you understand what your pup will need over the next few months.
You can even make yourself a little puppy checklist after the appointment.
Next vaccination? Check.
Deworming? Check.
Food? Check.
Pet supplies? Check.
Approximately 700 more puppy photos? Obviously.
5. What everyday puppy essentials do I need?
Now this is where your shopping list starts getting interesting.
Ask your vet which everyday products they recommend for your puppy based on their age, breed and individual needs.
Your new puppy may need food, grooming products, parasite-control products or other everyday pet essentials as they grow.
Rather than buying everything you see before that first appointment, speak to your vet first. That way, you have a better idea of what is appropriate for your puppy.
Then you can head to the Onepet Store and start ticking things off your list.
Oneplan Pet Parents get exclusive access to the Onepet Store, where plan-dependent discounts are available on pet food and supplies.
So your first vet visit can help answer the big question of what does my puppy need?, while the Onepet Store can help with the where do I get it? part.
Get your pet vaccination schedule with Oneplan.
6. How can I help keep my puppy healthy?
If only we could wrap our puppies in bubble wrap and protect them from absolutely everything.
Sadly, that’s probably not going to work.
And your new puppy would definitely eat the bubble wrap.
Instead, speak to your vet about preventative care.
Vaccinations, parasite control, appropriate nutrition and regular health checks can all form part of looking after your puppy’s health.
Your vet can recommend a preventative care routine based on your puppy’s individual needs.
It’s also worth remembering that caring for a pet involves more than food and vaccinations. Preventative treatments such as flea and tick control and deworming can form part of the ongoing costs of pet ownership.
Once your vet has recommended what’s right for your pup, you’ll know what to look for when shopping for their everyday essentials.
7. Should I get my new puppy microchipped?
Tiny puppy. Surprisingly fast legs.
Microchipping can help identify your new puppy if they ever go missing and are found by someone else.
Ask your vet how microchipping works, when they recommend having it done and how to make sure your contact information stays up to date.
For Oneplan Pet Parents, there’s another important reason to think about pet identification. Oneplan’s current pet insurance information states that pets must be microchipped or have a photo uploaded to the Oneplan App to process a claim.
So this is definitely one to discuss with your vet.
First the vet, then the Onepet Store
Your first vet visit is about more than a check-up. It’s your chance to understand what your new puppy needs to grow, stay healthy and settle into their new life with you.
So take your questions with you. Make notes. Ask about their food, feeding routine, vaccinations, parasite control, grooming and any other products your vet recommends.
Then comes the fun part.
Shopping for your new best bud!
Oneplan Pet Parents have exclusive access to the Onepet Store, where you can shop for pet food and supplies and receive a discount based on your qualifying Oneplan Pet Insurance plan. Current Oneplan information states that discounts can be up to 25%, with discounts tiered and plan dependent.
Because between vet visits, food, treats and everything else that comes with being a paw parent, having one place to stock up on your pet essentials can make puppy parenthood that little bit easier.
Your Pet Store Family,