The first vet visit
Schedule a vet visit within the first few days of bringing your puppy home. Bring all the paperwork we send, including vaccine and deworming records. The vet will do a nose-to-tail exam, check heart, eyes, ears and hips, weigh your puppy and set up the schedule that fits your area.
Many sales contracts, including ours, ask for a vet check soon after pickup. It protects you and your puppy. Ask us if you have questions about your puppy's record.
The usual vaccine series
Puppies get protection from their mother's milk for a while, but it fades unpredictably. That is why vaccines are given in a series, typically every three to four weeks, until around 16 weeks of age. Your vet will confirm the exact timing, but a common pattern looks like this:
- 6 to 8 weeks: first distemper/parvovirus combination (often called DHPP)
- 10 to 12 weeks: second round of the combination vaccine
- 14 to 16 weeks: final puppy round, plus rabies as required by law
- About 1 year: boosters
Your vet may also suggest lifestyle vaccines, such as Bordetella (kennel cough), leptospirosis or Lyme, depending on your puppy's activities and where you live. Lepto and tick-borne diseases are worth discussing in North Carolina.
Deworming and parasite prevention
Puppies are routinely dewormed from a young age because roundworms are common. Your vet will check a stool sample and keep deworming on schedule. Start monthly heartworm prevention and flea and tick control as soon as your vet advises. Mosquitoes, fleas and ticks are active for most of the year here, so we recommend year-round protection.
Microchip
Every puppy goes home microchipped. Remember to register the chip with your own contact information and update it if you move. A chip is useless without current details.
When can my puppy go out in public?
Puppies are most vulnerable until the vaccine series is complete. Until your vet gives the green light, avoid dog parks, pet-store floors and places with lots of unfamiliar dogs. That does not mean you have to isolate your puppy. Safe socialization with healthy, vaccinated dogs, carrying your puppy through new places and having visitors at home all help. See our guide on socializing your Lab puppy.
Spay and neuter timing
This is a conversation to have with your vet. Many vets now suggest waiting until large-breed dogs are at least a year old, sometimes longer, so growth plates and joints can mature. The best timing depends on your dog and your situation. If you purchase a puppy with limited registration, our contract will outline what we expect.
Keep a simple health folder
Create one folder, paper or digital, with your puppy's registration, microchip number, vaccine records, vet notes and weight at each visit. It makes boarding, grooming and travel easier, and it is gold if you ever need emergency care.
Pet insurance and a care fund
Labs are generally healthy, but they swallow socks, get ear infections and can face joint issues later in life. Whether you choose insurance or a dedicated savings fund, plan for surprises. Compare policies while your puppy is young and healthy.
Signs to call the vet right away
- Vomiting or diarrhea lasting more than a day, or any blood
- Refusing food, lethargy or collapse
- Swollen, tight belly or unproductive retching
- Swallowing something non-food
- Trouble breathing
Read more about what we test before breeding in our health testing guide.
What a typical vet visit costs
Costs vary by clinic and area, so ask for a puppy wellness estimate when you book. Plan for an exam fee, vaccines for each visit, a stool test, parasite prevention and later a rabies tag and licensing. Many clinics offer puppy packages that bundle these visits at a lower price. It helps to budget a few hundred dollars for the first four months and more if there are surprises.
Questions to ask at your first appointment
- Which vaccines are needed in our area, and on what schedule?
- When can my puppy safely meet other dogs?
- Which flea, tick and heartworm products do you recommend?
- What food and portions do you recommend?
- When should we talk about spay or neuter timing?
- What after-hours emergency options are nearby?
Vaccine reactions
Most puppies feel a little tired after shots and may be slightly sore. Call your vet right away if you see facial swelling, hives, repeated vomiting, difficulty breathing or collapse. These are rare, but they need prompt care. Scheduling vaccines early in the day, rather than right before a weekend, lets you watch your puppy and reach your clinic if needed.
Making vet visits positive
Bring treats, a favorite toy and a calm attitude. Ask the staff for a few happy visits where nothing happens, just treats and greetings. Practice handling at home: touching paws, ears and mouth. A puppy who learns that the vet is a good place becomes a calmer adult patient, which makes every future visit easier for everyone.
Questions? Talk to a real person
We stay in touch with our families after pickup and are glad to answer questions about your puppy. Call or text (919) 899-8917, browse our available puppies, or send us a note. There's no cost and no pressure in asking.