New Puppy Vet Checklist for the First 30 Days

Prepare for your puppy’s first veterinary visits with records, questions, preventive care discussions, and a practical home observation list.

Book the first appointment early

Arrange an examination soon after pickup and follow any timing required by the purchase agreement. Ask the clinic whether a stool sample or other records should be brought to the appointment.

• Bring vaccination, deworming, microchip, and breeder or shelter records.
• Write down the food brand, portion, schedule, and recent appetite.
• List any coughing, vomiting, diarrhea, itching, limping, or unusual behavior.

Cover the whole puppy, not one symptom

A first visit is a chance to discuss body condition, teeth, skin, ears, heart and lungs, parasites, development, nutrition, and behavior. It also creates a baseline for later comparisons.

• Ask about flea, tick, heartworm, and intestinal parasite prevention for your area.
• Discuss microchip registration and identification details.
• Review safe exercise, sleep, grooming, and puppy-proofing.

Create the next-step plan

Before leaving, confirm the next appointment, vaccine plan, preventive products, expected growth monitoring, and the clinic’s after-hours process. Store the clinic number where every caregiver can find it.

• Know which changes can wait for a normal appointment.
• Know which signs require same-day or emergency care.
• Keep all medical documents under the puppy’s permanent name.

Key takeaway

A calm first-month plan helps you notice change early and gives your veterinary team better information for individualized care.