1441 Bridgetown Pike, Feasterville, PA 19053
Your Puppy's First Veterinary Visit
Bringing home a new puppy is exciting, and the choices you make in the first few months set the foundation for your dog's lifelong health and behavior around veterinary visits. At Family Pet Clinic, we recommend scheduling your puppy's first wellness exam as soon as possible after adoption, both to check on their health and to begin building positive associations with the veterinary hospital.
Puppy Vaccine Schedule
Puppy wellness visits are typically scheduled at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. Each visit includes a full physical exam, a fecal test to screen for intestinal parasites, and administration of appropriate core and non-core vaccinations, spaced out to build immunity safely as maternal antibodies wane. Core vaccines include the distemper/parvo combination and rabies (given once your puppy reaches the appropriate age), while non-core vaccines such as bordetella or canine influenza may be recommended depending on whether your puppy will attend daycare, puppy classes, or the dog park.
Spay/Neuter and Microchipping
We recommend discussing spay or neuter timing at your puppy's early visits, as this procedure protects against certain diseases and unwanted behaviors and is one of the most common procedures we perform. We also strongly recommend microchipping, a quick and low-discomfort procedure that can often be done at the same visit as a spay/neuter surgery or a routine wellness exam. A microchip gives your puppy a permanent, unique form of identification linked to a national database, which is invaluable if he or she is ever lost.
Setting Puppies Up for Positive Vet Visits
Puppies who have fearful or stressful early experiences at the vet often carry that anxiety into adulthood. Because our entire team is Fear Free certified, we use gentle handling, treats, and a patient pace during puppy visits to build trust from day one. If your puppy shows any nervousness during visits, ask us about scheduling a Happy Pet Visit, a no-procedure visit designed purely to help your puppy get comfortable with our hospital, team, and smells before any medical care is needed.
Nutrition and Growth Monitoring
We track your puppy's weight and growth curve at every visit and provide guidance on age-appropriate nutrition, since large and giant breed puppies have specific dietary needs to support healthy bone and joint development.
Schedule Your Puppy's First Wellness Visit
Call Family Pet Clinic at (215) 357-6357
to schedule your new puppy's first exam in Feasterville. We look forward to being part of your puppy's journey to a long, healthy life.