Your puppy will need more veterinary care in the first year of life than at any other time. Not only are there concerns of immediate importance, there is a lot your vet can do that will help keep your puppy healthy even when it is all grown up.

At the first visit:

You should have selected a vet even before bringing your puppy home. Once your puppy is home, the first meeting of vet and puppy should happen as soon as possible - ideally within 24 hours. In addition to a general check up and examination for parasites, you and the vet should work out a specific schedule at that first meeting.

In the first three months of your puppy's life, your vet will probably want to meet every two or three weeks for vaccinations. Initial vaccinations for many diseases start at about six weeks and are repeated every two to three weeks until 14 weeks of age. Be sure and discuss a vaccination schedule thoroughly with your vet....opinions vary on this subject, so do your homework and if necessary, get a second opinion.

In the first six months:

Rabies vaccinations sometimes are regulated by local laws and often begin between three and six months. Between four and six months, your puppy should be checked again for parasites and your vet may recommend heartworm treatment. Also watch for your puppy's permanent teeth to come in.

Spaying or neutering is recommended between four and six months. The procedure is simple, and males usually recover in a day. Females may take two or three days. This is an important decision. With the number of unwanted dogs born every year, having your puppy sterilized is the responsible thing to do.