Three Questions To Ask Your Vet For After Buying A Puppy From A Pet Shop

If you are interested in getting a puppy for your family, one of the venues that you may turn to is a pet shop. Pet shops often have a variety of animals, especially desirable breeds all available for purchase or adoption. Getting a puppy from a pet shop also means that you need to be a little more careful. Once you buy a dog from a pet shop, you should take the dog to the veterinary hospital immediately. Here are some things to ask of your vet when you get a dog from a pet shop. 

Check for a cough, cold, and illness

Dogs can catch colds just like humans can. Sometimes these can be difficult to catch when they are first developing, but allowing them to get worse can lead to health issues with the dog. Dogs that are within close proximity of other animals, especially young puppies with new immune systems, may catch illnesses more easily. Make sure that your veterinarian does a proper check up for colds, communicable diseases, and a regular check up for your new dog. If there are health issues, ask them to be specific about what the issue is and if being in a pet shop was likely the cause. 

Dog's ability to be sold

If a dog is sick or has a number of health issues, the dog may not have been in the proper health to be sold. Your vet is the one person who can tell you whether or not you received a healthy puppy who has a regular lifespan or if the dog has issues that make them not fit for sale. In the event that your dog has major issues and should not have been sold, a statement from your vet may be all that you need in order to receive a refund for the cost of the dog. 

True age of the dog

Though most pet shops keep records on the animals that they have for sale, there is always the possibility that there was a mix-up or that the age is incorrect. You want to know the correct age of your dog so that you can get them the proper shots on time, plus start with adult and senior food when the time is necessary. Knowing the age of your dog will also give you some idea on the lifespan that your dog has left. Be sure to ask your vet to look for all of the markers of age and give you their best estimation of how old your dog is. 


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