When should I take my puppy to the vet for the first time?

Within the first week of bringing them home — even if they came with paperwork from the breeder or shelter.

Why: the breeder/shelter exam is a snapshot of one moment. Your vet wants to:
1. Establish a baseline weight and check overall health
2. Confirm the vaccination schedule and start the next round
3. Discuss deworming, flea/tick prevention, microchipping
4. Talk about spay/neuter timing (varies by breed and size)
5. Get your specific dog's history into their system, so future emergencies have context

If you got them from a shelter that did basic vetting (vaccines, deworming, microchip), your first appointment is mostly orientation. If they came from a private seller or breeder without records, the vet may want to redo basic tests.

Cost expectation (US, 2026): $80–$200 for the first visit, plus vaccines (~$40–80 each, several over the next 12 weeks). Some shelters and chain clinics have lower-cost packages. Pet insurance, if you're going to get any, is much cheaper if signed up while the puppy is healthy with no existing conditions.