Your puppy’s first vet visit: what actually happens.

Bringing a puppy home is wonderful chaos — and the first vet visit sets the tone for every visit after. Here’s exactly how those 30 minutes unfold at Marrowbrook, so neither of you walks in nervous.

Before you leave the house

Bring vaccination paperwork from the breeder or shelter, a note of what you’re feeding (brand and amount), and something that smells like home — a blanket or worn T-shirt in the carrier works wonders. Skip breakfast only if we’ve asked for bloodwork; otherwise a small meal keeps blood sugar steady.

The first ten minutes: friends first

We don’t touch your puppy straight away. The vet sits on the floor, offers treats, and lets the pup investigate the room — the scale, the stethoscope, the strange smells. This “hello phase” is the whole secret of fear-free care: exam tables are far less scary after a good sniff around.

The exam: nose to tail

Then comes the thorough part: eyes, ears, teeth and bite alignment, heart and lungs, belly palpation, skin and coat, joints and gait. Puppies usually find this section faintly boring, which is exactly what we want. We weigh them (and photograph them — the wall of first-visit puppies is a clinic treasure).

Shots, chips and plans

• First core vaccine if due — a scratch most puppies barely notice.
• Microchip discussion: a 30-second implant we can do same-day.
• A written plan for boosters at 12 and 16 weeks, parasite prevention, and feeding amounts by month.

One thing to ask us

Ask about socialisation windows: the period before 16 weeks shapes your dog’s confidence for life. We’ll map safe outings around the vaccine schedule so you don’t have to choose between safety and social skills.