Your dog’s first trip to the vet can be a frightening and traumatic experience, particularly if you aren’t prepared to minimize the stress before, during and after the visit.

Whether the purpose of the trip is to give your dog routine vaccinations or to examine it for a possible injury or illness, it’s important to get your pet accustomed to being handled, poked and prodded well in advance of any veterinary visit. Following these steps for preparing your dog for its first visit to the vet can help to ensure the event is a positive experience for you, your dog and your veterinarian!

Prepare Your Dog for Routine Examinations

On your dog’s first visit, the veterinarian will perform a routine examination of its overall health and well-being. This typically consists