Book the first vet visit within days of bringing your puppy or kitten home, and bring whatever paperwork you got from the breeder or shelter. The rest of this page helps that visit go smoothly.
Preparing for Your First Veterinary Visit
What to bring
- Vaccination records and any medical history from the breeder or shelter
- Microchip details, if the animal is already chipped
- The food you're feeding now: brand, type, portions and meal times
- Any known allergies, plus medication or supplements
- A secure carrier or crate with soft bedding, and a favourite toy
- A few small treats, so the clinic becomes a place where good things happen
- Your written questions
Choose the clinic and visit it first
Check location, opening hours and whether the vet knows your pet's breed. If you can, stop by beforehand to meet the team, and ask what happens when a pet needs help outside opening hours.
Questions worth asking
- Breed-specific health issues
- Puppy or kitten classes and how to socialise your pet
- Basic training and common behaviour problems
- Year-round parasite prevention
- Pet insurance
Our veterinary services page lists what we offer.
What Happens at the Exam
The vet checks your pet from head to tail: eyes, ears, teeth and gums, heart and lungs, belly and joints. They'll also watch how your pet moves.
Beyond the physical exam, the visit usually covers:
- Vaccinations, with a booster schedule and a talk about optional vaccines
- Parasites: flea and tick prevention, and a faecal sample to check for worms, with deworming if needed
- Microchipping, a quick procedure that gives permanent ID. Keep your contact details in the registry up to date
- Food and weight: what to feed at this age, portion sizes and a plan for tracking weight
- Teeth: a look at teeth and gums, and how to care for them at home
Findings go into the record as a baseline, and the next appointments get booked.
Vaccinations
Which vaccines your pet needs depends on age, lifestyle and where you live, so let your vet set the schedule.
Puppies
- Distemper, hepatitis and parvovirus, usually given together (often with parainfluenza)
- Leptospirosis
- Kennel cough (Bordetella), if your dog will be around other dogs
Kittens
- Cat flu (feline viral rhinotracheitis and calicivirus) and feline panleukopenia
- Feline leukaemia (FeLV), mainly for cats that go outdoors
Rabies vaccination matters if you plan to travel abroad with your pet. If a trip is coming, see our guide to moving or travelling with pets and ask your vet how far ahead to start.
Until the vaccine course is finished, ask your vet when it's safe to meet other dogs. The same goes for classes and dog daycare.
Feeding
Puppies
- Puppy food made for growth
- Three to four meals a day until about six months
- Switch to adult food at around 12 months, though this varies by breed
- Keep chocolate, grapes and onions well out of reach
Kittens
- Kitten food, in three to four small meals a day
- Fresh water at all times
- Switch to adult food at around 12 months
For both: feed at the same times each day, measure portions, check weight and body condition regularly, and change food gradually. Keep treats under 10 percent of daily calories.
Settling In
Routines, trust and manners get set in the first months. Keep a steady daily rhythm, introduce people and other animals calmly, and decide early which behaviours you want. If something worries you, call the clinic.
Written by
Dana Abu Sham
Veterinary specialist at MyPeterinarian in Copenhagen. Passionate about sharing knowledge and helping pet owners provide the best care.
