All breeds of puppy. When a new owner gets a puppy at 8 weeks how soon should it be taken to the vets to see if there is any problems?  What will a vet check for without being asked anything in particular?  How often does the breeder take the puppy to the vets during the first 8 weeks and what for? 

I always take a new puppy to my vet within the first couple of days just for a routine check before the first injection a few days later (always allow a puppy about a 5 days to get over the stress of settling into its new home before adding the stress of a vaccination). The only time I've taken a litter of puppies to the vet is to have the dewclaws off at 3 days old; they don't go as a matter of routine because I don't want them catching anything!

I advise my new puppy owners to go to the vets within 3 days.

There are new rules for Assured Breeders. All puppies they sell must either have been vet checked BEFORE being sold, or we must put it in writing in our contracts that the buyer should take the puppy to their vet as soon as possible, to be seen in the condition it was sold.  I'm another who would not want to take my puppies to the vet unless there was something wrong, or unless they were being FULLY vaccinated before being sold (as in most toy breeds) so I prefer to sell my large pups at about 7 ½ weeks of age, then tell the buyer that they should go to their vet as soon as the pup has turned 8 weeks and therefore is old enough to have the first vaccination. My toy pups see the vet at 8 weeks and 10 weeks for vaccinations and patella checks, as these stay with me until 13 weeks.

> When a new owner gets a puppy at 8 weeks how soon should it be taken to the vets to see if there is any problems?

We advise that the new owners should take their puppy to their own vet within the first couple of days, as stated in our contract that the new owners have to sign.

> How often does the breeder take the puppy to the vets during the first 8 weeks and what for?

If toy breed we take them at 9 & 11 weeks for both sets of vaccinations, plus eyes, hearts, patellas. Our vets also feel their abdomens and look in their mouths. The large breed will be for the vet check only (just before 8 weeks), as we don't like to let them go part vaccinated.

In my experience the actual physical exam is pretty cursory and anyone familiar with animals could probably do the same thing.  Oh, his coat is good, his eyes are weepy, his heart sounds as it should.  It's the faecal float that really tells something.  My last puppy the breeder had the whole litter to the Vet the day before and all puppies were pronounced healthy.  I was advised not to Vet till the next shot was due, which was 4 weeks away.  I could Vet if I wanted to but my breeder's Vet was just as qualified as mine and there was no impact on the health guarantee.  I know things are different here but I'm at the point now where if a breeder tells me I must Vet that puppy within three days then I'm going to have doubts about that breeder.  I searched out a good breeder, surely to heavens that breeder searched out a good Vet.

As an owner I like my vet to meet my new puppy and regardless of vaccination timings I will call in as soon as I feel the pup is ready.

I may or may not ask for an actual check but a meet and greet with the vet, receptionist, nurse etc is a valuable experience and I also like to double check the pups weight and compare with my home scales in preparation for worming, breeder updates etc

Over the first few weeks and months I'll call into the vet on a fairly regular basis to sit in the waiting room, use their scales and just say hello. That said I do have a good relationship with my vet and due to my allergic dog they know me pretty well :)

I will be able to have my new pup at 7 weeks according to her breeder. She asks that they are not inoculated until 9 and 11 weeks. However I do plan to take her to the vets with a few days of getting her home just for him to check her over and for the pup to meet the vet and the nurses. When I book the appointment I will go by their advice as to when to bring her in and my thoughts are; first one in through the door when the place will have been cleaned, or last appointment when all the othe patients have gone and the waiting room is clear. Pup will be carried the entire time except when on the disinfected vets exam table. Does that sound right?

I took my pup to my vets two days after I got her. Took her home on a Sunday to the vets Tuesday. Just for a general check and so her first time at my vets wasn't for an injection. She had a fuss and some treats and the vet gave her a once over and listened to her heart. Booked her vaccination appointment while I was down there.

I take my litters to the vet for a check up and first injection at 8 weeks before they leave for their new homes. I also put in the contract that the pup is seen by their vet within 7 days and if there are any problems I will take the puppy back and refund in full. Never had one back yet.

Not many of us would be prepared to take the risk of giving a first vaccination only as it may end up causing a huge problem for the new owner -or mean 3 injections for the pup rather than 2.

>or mean 3 injections for the pup rather than 2.

Just out of interest I asked all the vets I work with and they all say that as long as the first injection isn't an obscure foreign brand then there shouldn't be a need to restart because all the major brands used in the UK are compatible with each other.

Just out of interest I asked all the vets I work with and they all say that as long as the first injection isn't an obscure foreign brand then there shouldn't be a need to restart because all the major brands used in the UK are compatible with each other.

They are compatible with each other, but the problem is that if there is a vaccine reaction or failure, you cannot for definite pinpoint which vaccine caused it, and hence both manufacturers may blame the other -and the owner may blame their vet. Hence why most manufacturers (but not all) say they only guarantee effectiveness if the same brand is used and therefore many vets will refuse to give two different ones. It's the blame culture again. I've been through it with two different vets, with both a puppy and a kitten. With the puppy I had to travel for 3 hours in total to get to a vet with the same brand. (And with the kitten I actually requested a different vaccine as he had a very serious and almost fatal reaction to the first vaccine, hence I wanted a killed one for the second vacc.)

Never had any problems so far doing it this way.

My vet does a thorough check of all my pups at the time of their first and second vac, I am questioned about worming regimes and diet, any concerns I may have, a booklet for each pup is completed which the new owner gets on collection of pup at 12 weeks old, I have peace of mind that there are going to be no nasty surprises when seen by the new vet within 48hrs of leaving me.