What happens during your pet’s first vet visit?

During your pets first visit, the vet should:

• Weigh the patient;
• Listen to heart and lungs with a stethoscope
• Take his/her temperature (note: pet temperatures are taken rectally)
• Examine eyes, ears, nose, feet, and genitalia
• Examine skin and coat
• Look at teeth and mouth
• Palpate abdomen and lymph nodes
• Examine feces (bring a fresh sample) for the presence of worms (most pets have some type of intestinal parasite);
• Discuss pets history and any questions you might have about feeding, medical issues, such as worm medications, and future care, such as microchipping, spaying and neutering, flea and tick control, and heartworm prevention;

If you are going home with medications or treatments, make sure that you understand when and how they are to be given. Follow directions to the letter, and set up a schedule for follow-up visits and recommended vaccinations.

Remember to bring any paperwork, such as previous medical records from the breeder/rescue or previous veterinarian, so that we can include these in your pets file.