The first veterinary visit sets the tone for your new pet's whole relationship with the vet, and it is mostly a friendly, information-gathering appointment rather than a scary one. The American Kennel Club recommends scheduling it within the first few days of bringing a new puppy or kitten home, both to catch any early health concerns and to start building a care plan. Knowing what to bring, what will happen, and what to ask makes the visit smoother for you and calmer for your pet.
What to bring
A little preparation makes the appointment far more useful.
- Any paperwork you have. Adoption records, and any vaccination or deworming history from the breeder, shelter, or rescue, tell the vet what has already been done so nothing is repeated or missed.
- A fresh stool sample. The AKC notes that many first visits include a check for intestinal parasites, and a small, recent stool sample lets your vet run that test without needing to collect one at the clinic.
- The food you are currently feeding. Knowing the brand and formula helps your vet advise on whether the diet suits your pet's age, size, and needs.
- A secure carrier or leash. A small puppy or kitten is safest arriving in a carrier, and a leash and harness give you control for a puppy that gets overwhelmed by the new sights and smells.
- A written list of questions. It is easy to forget them in the moment, so jot them down beforehand.
What the vet checks
The core of the visit is a nose-to-tail physical exam. Your veterinarian will generally:
- Weigh your pet and note it as a growth baseline.
- Listen to the heart and lungs.
- Look at the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, and gums.
- Feel the abdomen and check the skin, coat, and legs.
- Look for signs of parasites, and often test the stool sample.
Beyond the hands-on exam, the AKC explains that this visit is where your vet builds a vaccination plan appropriate to your pet's age and starts the conversation about parasite prevention (fleas, ticks, and heartworm), spay or neuter timing, nutrition, and, for puppies especially, socialization. Depending on your pet's age and what records you bring, the vet may also give the first or next vaccines in the series. As the American Veterinary Medical Association notes, establishing this baseline early is one of the most valuable parts of preventive care.
Questions worth asking
This appointment is your chance to get expert answers tailored to your specific animal. Good questions to bring include:
- What vaccines does my pet need, and when is the next one due?
- What parasite prevention do you recommend, and when should it start?
- Is my pet's weight and growth on track, and how much should I be feeding?
- When should we plan for spaying or neutering?
- What socialization or training should I be focusing on now?
- What are the signs of a problem that mean I should call you before the next visit?
What it might cost
Costs vary quite a bit by region and by what the visit includes, so treat any figure as a rough guide and ask your clinic directly. A first visit that includes the exam, initial vaccines, and a parasite check commonly falls somewhere in the range of roughly $100–$350, with more if additional tests or treatments are needed. It is reasonable to call ahead and ask what the first appointment typically covers and costs, and this is also a good moment to ask about pet insurance or wellness plans if you are considering them, since some are most useful when started early.
After the visit
You will usually leave with a schedule for the next appointments, especially the remaining puppy or kitten vaccine doses, plus prevention products and any care instructions. Keep the records somewhere easy to find, since you will reference them for boarding, grooming, and future visits. From here, care settles into a routine of periodic wellness checkups, covered in our guide to how often your pet should see the vet.
The bottom line
Come prepared, ask everything on your mind, and treat this appointment as the start of a partnership rather than a one-off. The more your vet learns about your pet now, the better they can spot changes later. For more on settling a new pet in, see our new puppy checklist and new kitten checklist for the first week.