Puppies require a lot of special attention and care during their early months. Our experienced team at West Chester Veterinary Care is dedicated to giving your new family member the best possible start, offering tailored health plans, essential vaccinations, and expert advice on nutrition. We're here to guide you through every wiggle and woof, ensuring your puppy grows up healthy and happy.
Bringing a new puppy into your family is an exciting time, but it also comes with the responsibility of ensuring their health and well-being from an early age. West Chester Veterinary Care offers a full suite of puppy care services to ensure your new companion gets off to the best start.
During your puppy's first vet visit at West Chester Veterinary Care, you can expect a warm welcome from our caring staff. Our experienced veterinarians will conduct a thorough nose-to-tail examination to assess your pup's overall health and development. We'll discuss your puppy's vaccination schedule and administer any needed immunizations to protect against dangerous diseases.
Our team will also discuss important topics like proper nutrition, socialization, and at-home care tips to ensure your furry friend flourishes. We encourage you to ask any questions you may have—no concern is too small when it comes to your puppy's well-being.
Puppies should be dewormed starting around 2-3 weeks of age, with deworming treatments repeated every 2-4 weeks until they are 12 weeks old. This helps eliminate common intestinal parasites that can be passed from the mother dog to her litter. Your veterinarian will recommend an appropriate deworming schedule and medications based on your puppy's risk factors.
We often recommend bringing in your puppy for a wellness exam every 3-4 weeks from around 6-8 weeks old until they are 16 weeks old. After that, puppies typically go for checkups every few months until they reach one year old and can transition to an annual exam schedule for adult dogs. These regular visits allow our veterinary team to administer vaccinations, perform deworming treatments, and monitor growth to catch any health issues early on. Consult with your veterinarian to find a good exam schedule for your pet based on their breed, age, and health status.
Yes, we recommend that pet owners spay/neuter their puppies. The procedures are safe, relatively inexpensive, and provide tremendous health and behavioral benefits for dogs. We typically recommend spaying/neutering around 5-6 months old for smaller breeds and around 1 year for larger breeds. Our experienced veterinarians will discuss the best timing for surgery during your puppy’s exams.
Microchipping puppies is highly recommended for tracking your puppy. A microchip is a small, rice-sized chip implanted just under the skin that contains your contact information linked to a national pet recovery database. Should your puppy ever become lost or stolen, this permanent microchip ID can help reunite you with your furry family member.
Proper nutrition is essential for your puppy’s growth and development. We recommend meal feeding and measuring each meal to monitor your pet’s intake accurately. This practice not only helps maintain an optimal weight but also helps with house training. Our feeding recommendations for puppies are as follows:
