Puppies
Your Puppy's First Vet Visit: What Happens and How to Ace It
What the vet will do
Full nose-to-tail exam, weight, heart and lungs, teeth and bite alignment, joints, coat and skin, plus a deworming plan, vaccine schedule mapped out, parasite prevention suited to your region, and microchipping if not done. Bring any paperwork from the breeder or rescue and a stool sample if asked.
Your question list
Ask about: feeding amounts and food choice, sterilization timing for the breed, socialization-vs-vaccination balance, pet insurance timing, dental care start, and anything odd you've noticed. No question is too small at this appointment — that's what it's for.
Make it a party
Bring irresistible treats and feed them throughout — on the scale, on the table, during handling. Ask staff to say hello and treat too. A puppy whose first visit was a buffet walks in happily for life; fear-free starts at visit one.
Between-visit homework
Practice handling paws, ears, mouth and tail daily at home for treats, and drop by the clinic occasionally just for a biscuit and a hello. You're not just raising a healthy puppy — you're raising a good patient.
If the day is coming
Ease The Paw coordinates in-home pet euthanasia across South Africa — we find and book the vet, arrange the cremation and handle the keepsakes, so you can simply be present. A flat R950 covers the coordination and your keepsake memorial; the vet and cremation are billed separately at their own rates.
Join the community
Celebrate your pet every day
A gentle, private community for pet lovers: share photos, track their care with our breed-aware coach, and lean on us when the time comes.
Join Ease The Paw