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Puppy Vet Checks


Amber Griffin
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If I get a puppy at 8 weeks old, 1. Is that normal? 2. Will I have to pay for the vaccination at 10 weeks? If so, how much is it?

Also, I've heard that getting a vet check right after you adopt your puppy would be a good idea, but i don't understand why? Wouldn't the breeder take care of all the health related things?

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22 minutes ago, Amber Griffin said:

If I get a puppy at 8 weeks old, 1. Is that normal? 2. Will I have to pay for the vaccination at 10 weeks? If so, how much is it?

Also, I've heard that getting a vet check right after you adopt your puppy would be a good idea, but i don't understand why? Wouldn't the breeder take care of all the health related things?

Welcome to DOL :welcome:

A great place to ask Q's for new dog owners. 

 

8 weeks is the youngest you can legally get a puppy. It's like bringing a new baby home! :) 

I'm assuming you're about to be a first time puppy owner? Do you have a breeder & pup lined up or are you just curious and starting to look into the idea?

 

Yes, you would have to pay for the 10 week vaccines if you get a pup before then. And potentially more vaccines after that depending on which schedule the pup gets. The price depends on your vet clinic. I can't remember how much our's cost.

 

It's always a good idea to take pup to the vet soon after you get them.  Firstly to double check they are healthy (they might pick something up when you get them that the breeder didn't notice, or the breeder might not have told you about an issue...) and Secondly, it's good to do a bit of socialisation, get pup comfortable and happy with going to the vets. Treats and cuddles and meeting your new vet are all a bonus! The vet can give you some advice (but it's always best to get the advice from as many people as possible, ask Questions here on DOL, and any dog trainers or pet supply shop workers etc.)

 

 

 

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Pup should normally have had first vaccination at 6 weeks, and you should get the paperwork for that when you pick up your puppy..   That paperwork will tell you when the next one is due (depends on the particular vaccine used .. it's usually 12 weeks.).

 

I love to take my puppy in for a well puppy meet and greet check.  Just carry the puppy in as he/she won't be fully protected by the first vaccination.   It's a great opportunity for the puppy to be cuddled and spoilt with nothing scary happening.   Vet will normally check eyes, ears, heart rate, lungs, abdomen and usually scan for the microchip so the number can be confirmed with the paperwork .. that will go on their records.  It's a chance for you to start setting up a great relationship with the vet, who will if you're lucky, be looking after your puppy for life.  (My lovely vet who did the well puppy check on my agility girl at 8 weeks 15 years ago, was also the one who sent her lovingly on her last journey at 15 and a quarter, and shed tears with me.  It's also a chance for you to ask any questions .. for instance, I'd forgotten the worming schedule for pups .. and sometimes things change anyway.

 

BTW, I also take my pup in fairly often when the waiting room is not too busy to pop her on the scales.   Of course she always gets cuddles and a treat..

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I rehomed a 3year old dog and she went with the pup for a first general well being check over. As said above it's a great way to make them happy about going to the vet as nothing bad happens. If you only ever go for procedures, the vet becomes like the dentist! No one likes the dentist!

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Pupppy vacs will vary on what the breeder has used ,cost can vary from realistic to over the top .

We suggest to our puppy owners to get there puppy vet checked ,we know the pup is healthy but feel it's beneficial for the owners to get a check ,I have never taken a pup to the vet just so they can say hi ,the last place I want to hang around in 

Age can vary but nothing under 8 weeks placing out can be often between 8/10 weeks varying on the breed some maybe older again 

Edited by Dogsfevr
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Actually you can have a pup off to a home at 7 weeks under state laws.... getting a vet check is really just a precaution for the buyer... chances are IF the pup is from an ethical breeder they would have had their vaccination around the 6-8 weeks and have their health check then.

But then you may not know the vet the pup went to and you decide to have your own vet check.  A cost for a vet visit is likely to cost anything from $60-$120. They usually change a fee of approx $60 and then it seems vets always find things to sell you... so it is easy to spend another $60 without there being any issue.
 

Vets will often try to talk you into buying their dry kibbles as well as worming, flea prevention treatment and other assorted items... Much of which is available at any pet supermarket or online as well. Don't be afraid to check the pricing.

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Personally I wait till it's due for its next vaccination after its arrived before I get the checkup at the same time . That way you have let the pup settle and you know a bit about it if the vet asks anything . Be careful about getting pushed into buying their food and flea treatment which is double what you pay online . Having a new pup can be as expensive as you let it be and everyone wants to sell you something . 

Edited by juice
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I think I must have my lovely vet well trained :laugh:  -  never had them attempt to upsell.   Though I've heard it can happen, and in vet clinic puppy preschools - the not so good ones.

 

I'm so lucky in that at both the vets I go to .. the regular local one, and the holistic one I go to for hydrotherapy and complementary treatments like acupuncture, laser etc. when needed, the dogs and cat are treated as part of the family, and get spoilt rotten.   My thinking is that by making it a fun place to go, I make life so much easier for dogs, staff and me if they have to be hospitalised.   I see what juice is saying, and in fact it's usually a few days after getting the pup .. maybe a week, before they go for their well puppy check.

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Thank you everyone! This has given me amazing help. I have arranged a breeder and the pups are born in a few weeks, and no this isn't my first dog, my family and I have had another dog for 5 years and I decided its finally time to get my own. :) I think I will take my dog to the vet a week after I get her, just a bit anxious about not really knowing the breeder well at all and i am not sure whether to trust the breeder on their health. Another question is whether the puppy will need a 10 week vaccination and how much that will cost me if I take her home at 8 weeks? Sorry, I have so many questions!

Edited by Amber Griffin
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Amber Griffin,  that's pretty exciting.      For me, the most important thing about a vet is that they're good at their job, good with the dogs, and treat me as an intelligent person.   For that, I'm prepared to pay a bit more than the cheapest price going.   (Although I certainly don't want to be gouged :laugh:.)

 

Which vacc your pup will need and when will depend on what the breeder's vet has given.    Most breeders I've dealt with give a C3 at about 6 weeks, which gives the pups some protection when they go to their new homes from 8 weeks, but to get full coverage, they would normally get a C5 at 12 weeks.   (It used to be that there would be a third at 16 weeks or so, but I think that would now b done only in a very high risk parvo area.)       If your family vet is the one you'll be using, you can certainly ring and ask what their normal schedule is, and it should be quite OK to ask the breeder what his/her normal puppy vacc is.    And you could ask about worming schedule too.

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16 hours ago, Rebanne said:

A lot of breeders don't vaccinate until the pups are 8 weeks old, especially the toy breeds. 

Ah OK .. that makes sense (can you tell I've never had a smaller breed :)) .. so that would tie in with them not usually letting the pups go till 10 weeks or so. 

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True .. although it can be a bit hard to find vets that use the Nobivac one shot ..depends on the clinics.   We've been told that there is a minimum purchase order for the vets, and they won't buy the particular vaccine if they can't be sure of using it all in the time frame ... don't know if that's right - that's just what our club was told when we were asking about it (in terms of when we accept pups in for training.)

 

To the OP .. a good breeder will have this information for you, and the pup's vaccination and worming paperwork.

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Hi Amber

 

You might ask around about vet memberships.

 

As an example, I paid for the Healthy Pets Plus membership with Greencross.  This includes all vet-recommended vaccinations and unlimited consultations for 12 months (including emergency after hours consults), among various other things.  As a new puppy owner, this has been invaluable to me as it means I can go in for any minor worry - including when I'm totally overthinking things - without having to worry about cost.  I've been in to the afterhours vet a couple of times, and the peace of mind is fantastic.

 

When deciding whether or not to sign up, I did the maths on costs for vaccinations and all the other things I expected to need in the first 12 months, and decided it was well worth it.  The costs don't stack up quite as well for year 2, so I probably won't renew the membership going forwards, but I can tell you it's been well worth it for this first year.

 

You do have to watch out, as they are keen to prescribe antibiotics for every little thing, but I use the same judgement as when I go see the doctor for me - and my puppies are perfectly healthy and happy.

 

I can't imagine Greencross are the only ones who do this sort of thing - they just happen to have one clinic near to me, and I've been very happy with Dr Sarah there.

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1 hour ago, katherineaw said:

Hi Amber

 

You might ask around about vet memberships.

 

As an example, I paid for the Healthy Pets Plus membership with Greencross.  This includes all vet-recommended vaccinations and unlimited consultations for 12 months (including emergency after hours consults), among various other things.  As a new puppy owner, this has been invaluable to me as it means I can go in for any minor worry - including when I'm totally overthinking things - without having to worry about cost.  I've been in to the afterhours vet a couple of times, and the peace of mind is fantastic.

 

When deciding whether or not to sign up, I did the maths on costs for vaccinations and all the other things I expected to need in the first 12 months, and decided it was well worth it.  The costs don't stack up quite as well for year 2, so I probably won't renew the membership going forwards, but I can tell you it's been well worth it for this first year.

 

You do have to watch out, as they are keen to prescribe antibiotics for every little thing, but I use the same judgement as when I go see the doctor for me - and my puppies are perfectly healthy and happy.

 

I can't imagine Greencross are the only ones who do this sort of thing - they just happen to have one clinic near to me, and I've been very happy with Dr Sarah there.

(Just hijacking a little, sorry) 

How much did you pay for this? Maybe something I might consider for my next pup. :)  

I wonder if any other vets do this.

 

I'm not too sure if I like Greencross as a company though. They buy up all the independent vet clinics and I'm not sure that's a good thing. I did a work experience/placement type thing there and although the staff there were fantastic, I got the feeling that they weren't too happy about the "big boss" and rest of company... 

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Those packages tie you in to what they sell only ,those clinics make up for the cost via crazy prices for spaying and products .

 

Greencross I believe have brought various chains but under different names .

 

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1 hour ago, Dogsfevr said:

Those packages tie you in to what they sell only ,those clinics make up for the cost via crazy prices for spaying and products .

 

Greencross I believe have brought various chains but under different names .

 

Yes, off topic, but Greencross has something to do with Pet Barn, and Greencross goes around and buys the independent clinics to put under their franchise. They own 160 practices in Australiasia. 

They are also linked to City Farmers & Animates, and also offer grooming, training & pet adoption. 

So basically it's a big Pet Care corporation "aiming to consolidate the fragmented veterinary services, pet food and pet accessories markets across Aus & NZ." 

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