When Should I Bring Newborn Puppies to the Vet?

A canine mother takes an active role in caring for her pups. She administers all necessary care for her puppies, giving them warmth, food, bathing, protection, assistance with deification and developing their social skills. But the puppies still need to be checked by a vet to ensure they're healthy. The veterinarian addresses illness and abnormalities in addition to providing guidance in managing their overall health.

Newborn puppies visit the veterinarian within 48 hours after birth. Take the mother as well to check for infection and health issues or complications from giving birth. The veterinarian also determines whether the mom is producing sufficient milk to feed her puppies. He checks the puppies for illness, birth defects and physical abnormalities.

At 6 weeks of age, puppies receive their first standard vaccinations, usually parainfluenza, hepatitis, parvovirus, canine distemper, and adenovirus cough. Veterinarians may change the type of vaccines administered at each age due to the specific needs of each individual puppy. Puppies at high risk will receive their parvovirus vaccine at 5 weeks. The bordetella vaccination, which is administered at the 9-week visit, assists in warding off kennel cough.

During the newborn puppies' first visit within 48 hours of their birth, veterinarians may detect health issues that will require the breeder or pet owner to bring the newborn puppies for follow-up visits. In addition, veterinarians may suggest specific vaccinations and preventative measures against ticks, fleas and heartworms for puppies at least 6 weeks old, depending on the amount of exposure to the diseases and pests. The health status, age, breed and geographical area helps determine which health care prevention measures are necessary. Veterinarians may advise additional vaccinations against parvovirus and include additional vaccinations of parainfluenza and bordetella if the puppies frequently visit boarding kennels.

Address any unusual physical signs immediately, such as swollen eyes, unusual amounts of discharge coming from the eyes and nose, pale gums, coughing, wheezing, constant crying, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, lack of appetite, poor weight gain and the inability to pass stool. Bring the puppies directly to the veterinarian or the emergency room at your local animal hospital at the first sign of these symptoms.