Puppy Care

Puppyhood

Yes, puppies are cute! But integrating them into your family is critical and requires commitment and adjustment on your part to ensure a good fit. Metropolitan Veterinary Center can help! Our puppy wellness plans provide all the preventive care new puppies need from the time they first come home through 6 months of age. 

Vaccinations are another key component of your puppy’s good health. We give risk-based vaccinations in a series of visits scheduled three weeks apart.

At each puppy visit, we:

•   Administer a broad spectrum dewormer
•   Perform a complete physical exam
•   Trim nails
•   Provide heartworm prevention
•   Discuss your concerns
•   Provide a comprehensive written report on your puppy’s growth and health

Your puppy’s appointments are a great opportunity to address behavioral concerns and evaluate and celebrate the progress your puppy has made between visits. We can also help with nutritional advice and product recommendations to prevent or eliminate external parasites based on your individual needs.

Puppy Vaccination Schedule that Our Saint Petersburg Veterinarians Recommend at Metropolitan Veterinary Center

Puppy vaccines should start ideally at 6 to 8 weeks of age.

1^st Puppy Visit – 6 to 8 weeks of age

• DHPP temp vaccine
• Fecal exam(ask O to bring in a sample)
• Deworm (Strongid)
• Office Exam
• Puppy kit (heartworm and flea/tick)

*** If fecal is negative on first visit, no more fecals are necessary, just deworming***

2^nd Puppy Visit – 9 to 11 weeks of age

• DHPP temp
• Fecal Exam (only if first fecal was positive)
• Deworm(Strongid)
• Office Exam
• 2^nd dose of heartworm prevention and flea prevention

3^rd Puppy Visit – 12 to 14 weeks of age

• DHLPP temp (lepto begins)
• Deworm(Strongid)
• Office Exam
• Fecal exam (only if second fecal is positive)
• 3^rd dose of heartworm prevention and flea prevention

4^th Puppy Visit – 15 to 17 weeks of age

• DHLPP Annual
• Rabies 1 year
• Fecal Exam(only if third fecal is positive)
• Deworm(Strongid)
• Office Exam
• 1 yr supply heartworm prevention and flea prevention