The first vet visit is a milestone that comes with a mix of excitement and nerves for new puppy and kitten owners — will they cooperate, will something be wrong, will the whole thing be a disaster? In reality, most first visits are calm, routine appointments focused on establishing a baseline and getting your new pet off to a healthy start. Knowing what to expect ahead of time takes a lot of the anxiety out of it.
What Typically Happens During the Visit
A nose-to-tail physical exam
Your vet will typically check eyes, ears, teeth and gums, heart and lungs, abdomen, skin and coat, and joints, looking for anything unusual and establishing a healthy baseline to compare against at future visits.
Weight and growth assessment
Puppies and kittens are weighed and their overall growth and body condition assessed relative to what's expected for their age and breed or size.
A conversation about vaccines and parasite prevention
Your vet will typically review or start a vaccination series and discuss deworming and parasite prevention, since young animals are especially vulnerable to intestinal parasites. Our guides on the puppy vaccination schedule and kitten vaccination schedule explain the general reasoning behind why these come in a series rather than one shot.
Discussion of spay/neuter timing
Many first visits include an initial conversation about spay or neuter timing, which your vet will tailor to your pet's breed, size, and health rather than a one-size-fits-all age.
Nutrition and general care questions
This is a great opportunity to ask about feeding amounts and schedule, and to bring up any questions about behavior, training, or anything that's been on your mind since bringing your new pet home.
How to Prepare Beforehand
- Bring any paperwork from the breeder, shelter, or rescue, including records of vaccines or deworming already given.
- Jot down questions in advance — it's easy to blank on them once you're in the room.
- For cats, bring them in a secure carrier rather than loose or in your arms, for their safety and everyone else's.
- Consider withholding a treat-worthy snack before the visit so you have something high-value to reward calm behavior with during the exam.
Helping a Nervous Puppy or Kitten Cope
It's completely normal for a young animal to be a little anxious in an unfamiliar clinic full of new smells and sounds. Speaking calmly, bringing a familiar blanket or toy, and rewarding calm moments with treats can help. If you've been doing any gentle handling practice at home — touching paws, ears, and mouth in short positive sessions — this is exactly where it pays off, since the vet's exam involves a lot of similar handling. Our guides on puppy socialization and kitten socialization cover how to build this kind of comfort early.
Many clinics are also happy to do a quick "happy visit" separate from an actual exam — just walking in, getting a treat, and leaving again — purely to build a positive association with the building itself. If your puppy or kitten seems especially anxious about car rides or clinics in general, ask your vet's office whether this is something they offer.
What Happens After the First Visit
Most puppies and kittens need several follow-up visits over the following weeks to continue their vaccine series and have their growth rechecked, so don't be surprised if the front desk books your next two or three appointments before you've even left the building. Keeping a simple written or digital record of what's been done and what's still due helps prevent gaps, especially if you end up seeing different vets within the same practice along the way.
It's also a good time to ask about setting up a relationship with the practice going forward — whether they have an after-hours line for urgent questions, how they prefer you to reach them for non-urgent concerns, and what their policy is on same-day appointments if something comes up unexpectedly. Knowing this ahead of time means you're not scrambling to figure it out during an actual emergency.
The Bottom Line
A first vet visit is generally a straightforward, routine appointment centered on a physical exam, a vaccine and parasite prevention discussion, and a chance to ask questions — not something to dread. Coming prepared with records and questions, and having practiced some gentle handling beforehand, sets both you and your new pet up for a smoother experience.