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Getting a puppy is an exciting time! You've introduced them to your home, got everything on your puppy checklist and enjoyed the first few days or weeks together.
But it's also a time to get important stuff done, like your puppy's first check-up. Check-ups are an essential part of a puppy's life, helping to iron out any issues early and providing a key step in your puppy's confidence and health.
Find out all you need to know about your puppy's first health check below.
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Why the first puppy health check matters
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Importantly, it allows your vet to spot any early health issues in your pup and helps them establish a health record. It's essential to get your puppy off to the right start, and it gets them on the path to long-term, sustainable health.
But another part of it is socialisation. A cornerstone of good socialisation is exposing your puppy to as many new experiences, people and pets as possible in a gradual, positive way. The vet is a fantastic place to do that, and the right approach should give your puppy confidence to tackle new things with a good attitude.
It's also beneficial should your dog ever need medical care. If they're used to the vet, they're less likely to experience anxiety and fear when they need to visit in the future for treatment.
Choosing a vet
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Picking the right vet depends on you, your location and your puppy.
Generally, we'd recommend looking online and checking reviews before seeing if they have things like:
A communication style and booking system that suits you
Accessibility
Extra services, like nurse clinics, behaviour support, complementary therapies, nutrition expertise or puppy classes
Local location
Out-of-hours support
Payment options that work for you including health care plans
Modern equipment and facilities
Qualified and experienced staff, with clear credentials, experience and specialisations
Our guide on how to choose the right vet can give you more detailed advice.
When do puppies have their first injections?
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Typically, a puppy's first vaccination happens from eight weeks onwards.
They'll get their second round of injections at around 10-12 weeks, but check the exact timings with your vet.
You mustn't miss vaccines. They keep your puppy protected from potentially fatal disease, and you can't access things like insurance without a vaccinated dog.
Your vet will set out an appropriate vaccination schedule with you when you first see them. They'll work this out based on your puppy's age, needs and risks.
Here's an overview of the diseases commonly vaccinated against from eight weeks onwards:
| Vaccine | Core/non-core | Initial vaccination age | Booster schedule | Average vaccine cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distemper, Parvovirus, Adenovirus (DAP) | Core | First dose: 6-8 weeks. Second dose: 4 weeks later | First booster 1 year after initial course, then every 3 years | Part of initial puppy course. Average cost of £102 for full course (two injections) |
| Leptospirosis | Core | From 6 - 8 weeks for first dose Booster 2 - 4 weeks later depending on vaccine type (ideally 2nd booster given from 10 weeks of age, but varies by product type) | Annual | Part of initial puppy course. Average cost of £102 for full course (two injections) |
| Kennel cough (bordetella) | Non-core | From 6-8 weeks | Annual, although can be given every 6 months for high risk pets | £54 as a standalone vaccine |
| Rabies | Non-core | From 12 weeks | First booster given 1 year after initial vaccination, then every 1-3 years based on product type. | £50-100. May be incorporated into the cost of your puppy’s Animal Health Certificate for travel |
| Lyme Disease | Non-core | From 12 weeks Booster 2 weeks later | Annual | Rarely offered in the UK – check with your vet |
| Leishmania | Non-core | From 24 weeks | Annual | Rarely offered in the UK – check with your vet |
We have an in-depth guide to puppy vaccinations, including average costs across the UK.
What to expect at your puppy’s first vet visit
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You can expect:
A physical exam
This will be a basic physical examination. Your vet will look at your puppy's:
Eyes and ears
Heart and lungs
Joints
Skin
Teeth
It's a basic, top-level look to see if everything's okay.
Lab tests and diagnostics
If your puppy is showing signs of ill health, then your vet may perform lab tests or diagnostics. It may involve things like:
Blood tests
Parasite screening
Urine analysis
Behaviour discussion
Your vet will ask about your puppy's behaviour and how they're getting on. This helps to discuss and act on any behavioural symptoms early.
Microchipping and vaccination scheduling
Puppies should be microchipped by the breeder before 8 weeks of age. But if this hasn’t taken place your vet will be able to do this for you. They will also discuss the vaccination schedule with you.
Can you train your puppy for a vet visit?
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There are a few things you can do to help your puppy with their vet visits:
Body language
You should take some time to learn your dog's body language cues, so you can recognise if they're becoming aggressive, anxious or stressed.
Desensitisation
You can do this as part of your general desensitisation training at home. It's getting your puppy used to:
Examination - You can simulate vet physical procedures like touching the ears, looking in your dog's mouth or handling their paws, praising them throughout.
Handling - Practice lifting your puppy gently and putting them on a non-slip table surface. Reward them when they're calm.
Touch - Get your puppy used to being touched, and reward them when they're calm.
Gradual introductions and patience
Keep any training sessions gradual and short, making sure your puppy feels comfortable.
Positive association and reinforcement
It's important to build up a positive association with your vet. You should make sure your puppy visits them regularly to socialise with different animals, staff members and items at their own pace. Regular weight checks and opportunities to sniff around reception can help.
You should follow positive reinforcement training principles here and reward your dog with praise or treats when they're calm. Bring toys and treats with the vet to make the experience fun for them.
Try not to fuss over your pup if they're not acting calmly. Simply take them away from whatever is stressing them out. Attention can accidentally positively reinforce unwanted behaviour in dogs.
And never punish or shout at your dog for expressing anxiety or fear at the vet's. This doesn't help things, and negative reinforcement isn't a viable way to get your puppy to learn; it'll just worsen their perception of the vet.
When to get help
If your pet has extreme or consistently bad emotional reactions to the vet, then we recommend seeing a certified dog behaviourist.
Your vet can help you with this.
How to prepare for the visit
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What you should bring
Comforting items for your puppy, like a blanket which smells of home or a toy
Vaccination records (if you have them)
Your puppy’s favourite treats
Calming down your pet
Most young puppies are absolutely fine at their first vet visits, but there are some things you can do to make sure things go smoothly.
We recommend bringing your puppy's favourite blanket or toy. Use treats and reward your puppy when they're calm. Speak in a soothing voice to them, and never express frustration or shout.
Remember: if your puppy is nervous, then your vet is on hand to help. They will have seen this behaviour before and be able to make some recommendations.
You may need to introduce different strategies as your pup ages, especially if they don't get over vet anxiety. For example, some dogs experience aggression at the vet, so you may need to use a muzzle, and let your vet know in advance to prepare.
It's also important for you to keep calm and let your puppy deal with the experience however they see fit (assuming they don't get too scared or aggressive). If they want to hide while they get used to things, that's okay.
Questions to ask
We recommend asking about:
Any early symptoms you've noticed
Dietary recommendations
Spay/neutering schedule
What can you do to prevent parasites
When your pup's vaccination schedule is
What about the cost of a new puppy vet visit?
It varies. We surveyed 76 vets in January 2025 and found the average cost for a vet consultation in the UK was £58.29.
Get the full costings and trends behind vet visit costs here.
After the appointment
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It depends on what happened at the check-up. For example, if your puppy had their vaccinations, it’s sensible to monitor them for side effects. Though rare, they can happen occasionally.
Mild side effects include:
Decreased appetite
Discomfort, with soreness and swelling on the injection site
Mild fever
Lethargy
Sneezing (if your puppy had an intranasal vaccine)
Severe side effects, which usually happen very shortly after vaccination administration and need immediate veterinary attention, include:
Collapse
Difficulty breathing
Hives
Severe diarrhoea and vomiting
Swollen, puffy face, eyes or muzzle
Generally, just monitor your puppy, make sure they get plenty of rest and contact your vet immediately if you have any concerns or notice severe, troubling symptoms.
After your appointment, don’t forget to schedule your dog’s next routine check-up or vaccination. We recommend your dog get one to two health check-ups a year which might coincide with vaccination appointments.
Follow-up appointments are essential to maintain your puppy's health, and they can help spot potential issues early. Plus, regular weight checks will make sure your pup is growing well and receiving the right dose of their anti-parasite treatments.
What to do if your pup needs emergency care
Contact your vet as soon as possible. You can still get emergency care out-of-hours, although when your practice is closed this may be with a dedicated provider at an alternative location.
All surgeries in the UK must have some form of 24-hour emergency support. This doesn't mean they're open 24/7, but it means there is a provision in place to care for your puppy should something happen.
"Closed", veterinary practices will usually have one of the following:
Their own on-call vet and reduced overnight team
Directions to another 24-hour or out-of-hours vet
Phoning a vet out-of-hours will either put you in contact with your vet, or there should be quick, clear instructions on how to contact an emergency vet near you.
Protecting your pup from day one
Puppy insurance doesn't cover routine care. But it is there for when you need it most: unexpected health issues.
Plus, with ManyPets, you get some of the most comprehensive cover on the market, with Complete Care covering vet-referred behavioural treatment up to your vet fee limit to treat a condition.
And you'll get 24/7 video vet access and a host of ManyPets Perks, giving you more than just insurance.
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