This article will help ensure a Pomeranian dogs first vet visit is a happy experience. Included is a puppy first vet visit checklist and for new owners a puppy first vet visit questions to ask. Puppy first vet visit information.
After reading through that list of potential illnesses, you may be feeling a little overwhelmed and somewhat stymied by the prospect of owning a Pomeranian. You shouldn’t be.
Choosing a good breeder will assure you of getting the best possible puppy. And, verifying with the breeder that he has had all the genetic testing completed along with the beginning puppy vaccinations will give you a head start to raising a healthy puppy.
Another thing that will help you raise a healthy Pom is choosing the best Pomeranian veterinarian that is right for your family and your Pom. Choosing a family veterinarian is as important as choosing a family doctor.
The Best Pomeranian Veterinarian
You want a veterinarian that is friendly, intelligent, and willing to work with you. Do some research before you bring home your Pomeranian or soon after.
It’s always better to have a family veterinarian chosen before a medical problem arises. One good way to begin searching for your veterinarian is by word of mouth. Ask around.
Talk to your friends, family, and co-workers about who they use as their family veterinarian. Other people that are wonderful to ask for veterinarian recommendations are your breeder, obedience class teacher, or your groomer.
How to Find the Veterinarian Best for Pomeranian Dogs
Remember, not all veterinarians specialize in small animals. Some are strictly large animal veterinarians. Of the veterinarians that have been recommended to you, which ones are strictly small animal or dog specific veterinarians? Vets specializing in Pomeranians probably don't exist.
You will want to choose a veterinarian that is fairly close to your home. If an emergency arises, you don’t want to be two hours away.
Also check on their office hours. Are they open on Saturday?
Do they have late hours so you can make appointments after work? Do they have an emergency number you can call after hours?
After you narrow your choices down, visit their offices and ask questions.
- Do they take emergencies?
- If they don’t, do they have a recommendation for what to do in case of an emergency?
- Is there an emergency hospital nearby that he refers to?
- Ask the veterinarian if he is familiar with Pomeranians and the medical conditions that sometimes arise. Has he had previous experience with any of these conditions?
- Is he the only veterinarian that is working in the office or does he have partners?
- Will you always be seeing him or will you at times see the other veterinarians?
- Visit with his team of employees such as the receptionist. Are they friendly and considerate?
- Are appointments needed or do they take walk-in clients?
- Listen to how the veterinarian answers your questions. Is he friendly and willing to talk?
- Or is he short with his answers and too busy to speak with you?
- Does his office provide any other services such as grooming or boarding?
Take a look around at his facility.
- Is it clean and well managed?
- Does it smell?
- An important factor in choosing a veterinarian is of course cost. If you feel comfortable asking, find out what his fees are for general care such as check ups or vaccinations. Also, do they take credit cards?Will he be willing to work with you on payments if something expensive happens such as the need for surgery?
If you decide to choose a veterinarian that is affiliated with an animal hospital instead of in private practice, check to see if the hospital is a member of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Veterinarians can also be board certified in a particular area of medicine such as cardiology or surgery.
Choosing a responsible veterinarian is only part of the job. You must also learn how to be a good client. Learn what is normal with your Pomeranian and be able to recognize if there is something wrong enough to warrant a visit to your veterinarian.
- Visit your veterinarian regularly for check ups and always make appointments.
- Always be on time for your appointments.
- Never let your Pomeranian run loose in the office.
- Always keep him on a leash and preferably in your arms.
If you do have an emergency, call to see if the veterinarian is available. If he’s not, ask for a referral to a near by hospital or emergency service. And most importantly, don’t call your veterinarian after hours for questions that can be answered during the workday. Veterinarians have lives too.
Asking these questions when choosing a veterinarian and then following the suggestions about how to be a good client will ensure that you receive the best possible care from your veterinarian when you need it and you can develop a long and lasting relationship.
Puppy First Vet Visit
Taking your dog to the vet for the first time can be a daunting experience for some new puppy owners. A new puppy vet check should be a happy experience for owner and puppy.
As soon as you get your new Pomeranian puppy home, you should ring and book a first vet appointment for puppy. The breeder’s contract may even include a specified period in which the new puppy vet check needs to be done so the puppy’s good health can be maintained.
The puppy first vet visit needs to be successful. The initial visit to the vet carries more importance than any further visits. Your puppy needs to realise the vet visits can be fun. To ensure this happens, follow a few tips.
Take all records from the breeder when you go to the vet. Also provide a stool sample so your vet can check for the presence of parasites.
Place your puppy in a small crate or travel bag during the trip. While sitting in the waiting room, ensure he’s as close to you as possible and make sure he doesn’t bark at other animals. Other owners will appreciate this as they may have sick pets.
Have some of his favourite treats for the vet to use to make him comfortable during the exam. It’s wise to avoid cavity searches and needles during the first visit unless crucial. If so, ask the vet to use the smallest gauge needle possible so the puppy barely feels it.
During this visit, the vet will give you advice regarding common problems for puppies (e.g. worms) and how to treat them. He’ll also want to talk to you about the puppy’s schedule for vaccinations.
Puppy First Vet Visit Checklist
- He’ll listen to your pet’s heart to ensure there aren’t any unusual issues.
- Your puppy will be weighed.
- His gums and teeth will be thoroughly checked.
- His eyelids and eyes will also be checked.
- Knees might be checked to see if there are early warning signs of patellar weakness.
- Some vaccinations may already be due and he’ll administer them as gently as possible. The time frame will vary depending on the age of your puppy.
Puppy First Vet Visit Questions to Ask
Before you leave his clinic, ask all questions you may have. Also make the next appointment for further vaccinations. If your puppy is quite nervous, you can visit the clinic sometimes just to sit there and get him used to the waiting room.
If he has some visits where nothing “bad” occurs, he’ll grow more comfortable with the vet and other staff. They’ll always appreciate this extra attention as it makes their job much easier for all future visits.
If you buy an adult Pomeranian, he still needs a check-up within a few days. The vet will check him out thoroughly, in much the same way as he would for a puppy, but will most likely also do a heartworm check.
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References and Further Reading:
[1] Denise Leo “The Pomeranian Handbook”.