Puppy First-Year Guide — PoCo West Animal Hospital, Port Coquitlam

Bringing home a puppy is an exciting milestone—and a great opportunity to build healthy habits from day one. At PoCo West Animal Hospital, we keep visits calm and positive, and tailor timing and treatments to your puppy’s lifestyle. Because one size does not fit all, we will personalize timing and care after we examine your puppy and discuss options that align with your situation, priorities and budget.

At-a-Glance Schedule

If your puppy is starting late or has missed a dose, we’ll design a catch-up plan by age. We also offer split-visit vaccine appointments for low-stress care.

• 8–10 weeks
  DHPP #1 (distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus)
  • Discuss lifestyle vaccines (Bordetella/kennel cough, Lyme)
  • Fresh stool sample available for screening
  • Deworming
  • Flea/tick prevention
• 12 weeks
  DHPP #2
  • Leptospirosis #1
  • Deworming/parasite prevention
  • Follow-up stool test option
• 16 weeks
  DHPP #3 (final puppy booster)
  • Leptospirosis #2
  • Rabies
  • Deworming/parasite prevention as needed
• 12 months after the 16-week visit:
  DHPP booster
  • Rabies booster
  • Annual Leptospirosis
  • Annual Bordetella/Lyme based on lifestyle

Important note: Vaccine choices depend on your puppy’s lifestyle (travel, boarding, daycare, hiking). We follow current canine vaccine guidelines and will personalize timing and product type for your dog.

Spay/Neuter: Timing & Planning

We individualize timing based on breed & expected adult size (especially large/giant breeds), sex/heat status, behaviour/household goals, and current health (umbilical hernia, retained baby teeth/malocclusion, cryptorchid testicle, orthopaedic risk, endocrine/neoplasia considerations).
Typical windows:

• Small/medium breeds: 6–9 months
• Males: 6–12 months
• Large/giant breeds: 12–18 months
• Females may be timed before or between heats — we’ll advise.

We offer pre-anaesthetic bloodwork, microchip placement (if not already placed) and tailored pain-control/recovery planning.

Parasites: What to Know

Intestinal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, coccidia, Giardia) are common in puppies and can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, poor growth or a pot-bellied appearance. Puppies become infected from their mother (before/after birth) or the environment. Some are zoonotic (can infect humans). Good hygiene, regular deworming, and prompt clean-up protect the whole family.

Deworming & Stool Checks

• Deworming every 2 weeks until ~12 weeks, then again around ~16 weeks. In higher-risk homes, monthly until 6 months.
• Stool tests detect parasites before signs appear and confirm treatment worked.
• First-year fecals: plan 1–4 tests (intake, after deworming, and again by 6–12 months).
• Adult dogs: yearly fecal for most; every 3–6 months if they hunt, eat wildlife, or visit dog parks frequently.

Fleas & Ticks (combined prevention)

Modern preventives cover both fleas and ticks. Consistent use helps prevent tapeworm (via fleas) and reduces tick-borne disease risk. Use vet-recommended flea/tick prevention year-round or seasonally based on exposure. Tip: after walks/hikes, check for ticks.

Heartworm

Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes; adult worms can damage the heart & lungs. Regional risk is lower here, but travel changes risk. If your puppy is coming from or travelling to a heartworm-endemic area, ask us about testing and prevention before you go.

Family Safety

Submit stool sample yearly • follow deworming schedule • pick up stools promptly • wash hands after handling pets/soil • pregnant people should avoid handling feces.

House Training (Toilet Training)

Keys to success: manage the environment, keep a feeding schedule, and reward immediately for outdoor success.

• Use a verbal cue (e.g., “Outside”). Take your puppy directly to the designated spot—don’t rely only on walks. Reward on the spot.
• Watch for signals: sniffing, circling, heading to door. If accident begins, gently interrupt and guide outside—never punish.
• Timing guide: young puppies need shorter intervals—~2–3 hours at 8 weeks; ~4–5 hours at 16 weeks.
• Teach a signal (bell-ring, sit, bark); reward the signal and the outdoor success.
  If accidents persist: rule out medical issues, refresh cues, and ensure rewards happen outdoors.

Socialisation: Building Confidence

Early, positive exposure builds confidence. Aim for daily low-stress experiences:

• Clinic “happy visits”: treats only, no procedures—helps reduce vet-visit anxiety.
• People variety: hats, sunglasses, uniforms, mobility aids.
• Environments: sidewalks, parks, different surfaces/flooring.
• Dogs: limit play to known, fully-vaccinated, well-mannered dogs; avoid large dog-park groups until the vaccine series is complete.
• Enrol in positive-reinforcement puppy classes—typically from ~12 weeks, once your vet clears you.
  Let the puppy set the pace—never force interactions. Avoid harsh corrections.

Puppy Gentling (Cooperative Care)

Help your puppy become comfortable with everyday handling so grooming, vet-exams, and nail trims become low-stress.

• Short sessions (60–90 seconds, 1–2×/day): gently touch ears, lift lips/peek at teeth/gums, touch paws/toes, tap nail-clippers briefly, lift the tail, and do quick collar grabs → treat.
• Pair touch with rewards (treat or calm praise). Stop before the puppy pulls away; build up gradually.
• Practice exam positions: stand, sit, side-lie with treat under chin/palm.
• Introduce surfaces & sounds (ex: towel on table, low volume clipper-sound) at home.
  Goal: A puppy who opts-in to handling—making grooming and vet visits easier.

Textures & Confidence

Allow your puppy to explore grass, gravel, sand, carpet, ramps, shallow water at their own pace.

• Build a mini “confidence course” at home: broom-handle, boxes, umbrellas, crinkly bags.
• Go one obstacle at a time; reward curiosity & calm.

Children & Other Pets

Children: Always supervise. Let the puppy approach first. Teach gentle petting along the back/shoulders and quiet voices.
Dogs: Start with parallel leashed walks and short sessions. Reward calm “look-away” behaviour; no chasing. Use gates/pens to create safe introductions.
Cats: Begin with scent-swaps and feeding on opposite sides of a door. Then baby-gate or carrier introductions. Provide the cat with vertical space and ensure separate resources (beds, litter box, food/water).
Short, positive sessions beat long, stressful ones. If tension persists, talk to us about a tailored plan.

Family Consistency

Keep language, rules, and rewards consistent among all family members.
Daily needs: regular meals & fresh water • frequent toilet breaks & naps • play, exercise & mental enrichment • safe rest spaces.
Assign roles: feeding/water/bed • toilet & crate training • socialisation outings • grooming & dental care • supervision & play.
Training sessions: short (5–10 minutes), frequent, end positively.

Foreign-Body (FB) Ingestion — Common Puppy Hazards

Avoid: socks/underwear, corn cobs, cooked bones/skewers, rocks/sticks, string/ribbon, hair ties, squeaker toys with loose parts, batteries, ear-plugs, pits/seeds.
Watch for: repeated vomiting (especially after eating), drooling, pawing at mouth, painful/tense belly, lethargy, no stool output.
Do not induce vomiting unless advised and never pull visible string from mouth/rectum—call us immediately.

Holiday & Household Hazards

Grapes/raisins, chocolate, xylitol (sugar-free), onions/garlic, marijuana/edibles, human pain-meds (ibuprofen/naproxen/acetaminophen), rodenticides, compost/garbage.

Puppy Dental & Developmental Notes

• Retained baby teeth: puppy teeth usually shed between ~3–6 months. If a baby tooth remains when adult erupts (especially canines), it can trap food and crowd adult teeth/gums. We often extract retained teeth at spay/neuter for protection of adult teeth.
• Bite alignment (malocclusion): narrow lower canines or over/under-bites can injure the palate. We check at ~12–16 weeks and again before spay/neuter. Options may include training aids (ball-exercises), orthodontic appliances, or selective extractions—we’ll advise or refer.
• Teething & safe chews: Use the “fingernail-rule”—if you can’t dent it with a fingernail, it’s too hard (risk of tooth fracture). Avoid cooked bones, antlers, hooves, hard nylon. Use VOHC-accepted dental chews.
• Home oral care: Start gentle mouth-handling now; aim for daily brushing with dog-safe toothpaste. Ask us for our VOHC-product list and plan a juvenile–dental check at ~6–8 months.

Low-Stress Vet Visits (Dogs)

• Crate/car confidence: short practice rides, familiar bedding; avoid heavy meals if car-queasy.
• Pre-visit options: for anxious travellers ask about calming medications (e.g., gabapentin/trazodone) – we’ll advise on dose/trial.
• Arrival: prefer to wait in your car? Let us know—text us and we’ll bring you straight into a dog-friendly room.
• In-clinic: low-stress, cooperative handling, high-value treats, extra time if needed; we can split care across shorter “happy visits” vs bundled visits if your puppy is anxious/fearful.

When to Contact Us

Call if you notice: vomiting/diarrhea, repeated coughing, laboured breathing, lethargy, pain, loss of appetite, or any change in behaviour that worries you. Puppies can decline quickly—trust your instincts.

Pet Insurance

Pet insurance can offset surprise costs from accidents or illness. When comparing plans, review waiting periods, pre-existing condition rules, reimbursement %, annual/incident limits, and deductibles. Ask whether claims are direct-pay to the clinic or reimbursed to you, and about pre-approval for major procedures. Examples in Canada: Trupanion • Pets Plus Us • Fetch. We’re happy to discuss what to look for at your first visit.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every pet is unique. Always consult with your veterinarian regarding your animal’s specific health condition before taking any action or changing its care routine.