Absolut Bullmarket Puppy Owner's Survival Manual -
Your New Vet

French Bulldog Veterinarians - Finding One Near You

Frenchies require a more specialized form of veterinary care than the average vet might be prepared to provide. Their aneasthetic needs are unique, as are the congenital health conditions they are prone to. It is vital to choose a veterinarian who will be able to provide the best possible care for your new pet.

Whenever possible, we will search out and recommend a Frenchie experienced vet who is in your area. When it's not possible for us to find one, we urge you to ask prospective vets the following questions:

- how experienced are you with brachycephalic breeds? How many brachy breed clients do you have?
- what kinds of brachy specific health conditions have you treated?
- are you experienced with anaesthetizing brachy breeds?
- what form of aneasthetic do you use? (the answer you want to hear is 'isoflourine')
- do you have any brachycephalic breeders as regular clients?

A 'yes' answer to a majority of these questions is what you're looking for. If you are forced to choose a less brachy experienced vet, we will always be happy to request that our vet do consultations with yours if major issues arise.

Puppy's First Visit

In order to ensure a new puppy's health, it is important to schedule an examination with a veterinarian during the first days that he is in your care.

"We prefer that vet involvement starts early," said Dr. Marty Becker, DVM, and author of Becoming Your Dog's Best Friend, "Our goal is to prevent problems. In that first visit we are forging out a lifetime of care."

During that first visit the vet will check the puppy for obvious congenital defects. We prefer this to be done within 72 hours after the puppy has left us. The vet will ask about the pet's health history, perform a thorough physical examination, give any vaccinations that may be due and look for internal and external parasites.

Preparing for the first vet visit

As soon as you set a date for picking up your puppy, call your veterinarian's office and schedule an appointment for a "new puppy" visit.

For that visit to the vet, bring:

* Medical records, including vaccination history, and health care instructions that came with the puppy;
* Any medications the puppy is currently taking;
* A fresh stool sample;
* The name of or ingredients found in puppy's food;
* Information on where and how your puppy was born and raised;
* A list of questions to ask or issues to discuss.