Bringing a puppy home is pure joy and a significant responsibility. Here is a clear, vet-approved plan from Ocean Avenue Veterinary Hospital to give your pup the healthiest start. We keep visits calm and positive, and tailor timing to your puppy’s lifestyle. Because one size does not fit all, we will personalize timing and treatments after we examine your puppy and discuss options that align with your situation, priorities, and budget.
At-a-Glance Schedule
This is our usual schedule. If your puppy is starting late or has missed a dose, we will design a catch-up plan by age. We also offer split vaccine visits for low-stress appointments.
8 to 10 weeks
• DHPP #1 (distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis, parainfluenza, parvovirus)
• Fresh stool sample test available for screening
• Deworming
• Flea/tick prevention
12 weeks
• DHPP #2
• Lifestyle vaccines (Bordetella/kennel cough, Leptospirosis) #1
• Stool sample or follow-up test available to check efficacy and safety
• Deworming/parasite prevention
16 weeks
• DHPP #3 (final puppy booster)
• Lifestyle vaccines (Bordetella/kennel cough, Leptospirosis) #2
• Rabies (required by California law, CA Food and Agricultural Code Section 9001, for all dogs 3 months and older)
• Deworming/parasite prevention as needed
12 months after the 16-week visit
• DHPP booster
• Rabies booster (1-year or 3-year product per California law)
• Annual Leptospirosis and Bordetella based on lifestyle
Important Note: Vaccine choices depend on your puppy’s lifestyle including travel, boarding, daycare, and hikes in Bay Area parks. Lifestyle vaccines such as Bordetella/kennel cough and Leptospirosis may adjust the 12- and 16-week visit schedules. We follow current AVMA and AAHA canine vaccine guidelines and will personalize timing and product type for your dog.
Note on Lyme Vaccine: Lyme disease is present in the Bay Area via the Western black-legged tick (Ixodes pacificus). We will discuss Lyme vaccination based on your puppy’s outdoor exposure and risk level. Ask us at your first visit.
Spay/Neuter
Recommendations are based on breed and expected adult size (especially large/giant breeds), sex and heat status, behavior and household goals, and current health including umbilical hernia, retained baby teeth/malocclusion, cryptorchid testicle, orthopedic risk, and endocrine/neoplasia considerations.
San Francisco Municipal Code (Chapter 41B) requires all dogs and cats over 4 months to be spayed or neutered unless an unaltered animal permit is obtained from SF Animal Care and Control. We can help you understand your options and obligations.
For predisposed breeds we can combine surgery with OFA/PennHIP radiographs and, in deep-chested dogs, discuss prophylactic gastropexy. We offer pre-anesthetic bloodwork to identify hidden issues early and improve recovery. Ask about a microchip if not already placed. Your pet goes home with a tailored pain-control and recovery plan. Home care includes an e-collar and restricted activity for 10 to 14 days.
Spay Timing (Female)
Best practice is to spay your pet before the first heat to prevent occurrence of mammary gland tumors later in life.
Typical windows:
• Small/medium breeds: 6 to 9 months
• Large/giant breeds: 12 to 18 months
Neuter Timing (Male)
In a healthy male dog, delaying neutering until your pet has reached adult size supports proper growth and musculoskeletal development. This is particularly important in large-breed dogs, where joint maturity plays a significant role in long-term health. The ideal timing varies for each pet, so your veterinarian will consider factors such as breed, age, size, and overall health to determine the most appropriate neutering schedule.
Parasites: What to Know
Intestinal parasites are common in puppies. Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, coccidia, and Giardia can cause diarrhea, vomiting, poor growth, and a pot-bellied appearance. Puppies become infected from their mother before or after birth, or from the environment.
Can parasites affect people?
Yes. Some are zoonotic and can infect humans. Good hygiene, regular deworming, and prompt clean-up protect the whole family.
Deworming and Stool Checks
• Deworming plan: every 2 weeks until approximately 12 weeks, then again around 16 weeks. In higher-risk homes we may continue monthly until 6 months.
• Why stool tests? They detect parasites before signs appear and confirm that treatment worked.
• First-year fecals: plan 1 to 4 tests at intake, after deworming, and again by 6 to 12 months.
• Adult dogs: yearly fecal for most; every 3 to 6 months if they hunt, eat wildlife, or visit dog parks very frequently.
Fleas and Ticks
San Francisco’s mild climate means fleas are active year-round. The Western black-legged tick is the primary Lyme disease vector in the Bay Area and is commonly found in parks, trails, and green spaces including Golden Gate Park, the Marin Headlands, and Mount Tamalpais. Most modern preventives cover both fleas and ticks. Consistent use helps prevent tapeworm via flea control and reduces the risk of tick-borne diseases. Use vet-recommended flea/tick prevention year-round. Do thorough tick checks after hikes or extended outdoor activity.
Heartworm
Heartworm is spread by mosquitoes. While California has historically lower heartworm rates than other parts of the US, cases are rising statewide and year-round prevention is the recommended standard of care. Regional risk varies, and travel changes risk. If your puppy came from or will travel to a heartworm-endemic area, ask us about testing and prevention before you go.
Family Safety
Submit a stool sample yearly, follow deworming schedules, pick up stools promptly, wash hands after handling pets or soil, and 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.
• Cues and routine: Use a cue such as “Outside.” Take your puppy directly to the toilet spot and do not rely only on walks. Reward on the spot.
• Watch for signals: Sniffing, circling, heading to the door. If an accident starts, gently interrupt and guide outside. Never punish.
• Timing guide: Rule of thumb is a maximum of 2 to 3 hours at 8 weeks and 4 to 5 hours at 16 weeks. Most puppies need to go after sleep, play, eating or drinking, before crate time, and at bedtime.
• Communication: Teach a signal such as a sit, bark, or bell-ring. Reward the signal and the outdoor success.
• If accidents persist: Rule out medical issues, refresh cues consistently, and ensure rewards happen at the outdoor location.
Socialization: Building Confidence
Early positive exposure builds resilience. Aim for daily, low-stress experiences:
• Clinic happy visits: Build your puppy’s trust and reduce vet-visit anxiety. No procedures, no charge.
• People variety: Hats, sunglasses, uniforms, mobility aids.
• Environments: San Francisco parks, sidewalks, different floors and surfaces, Muni stops, busy street corners.
• Dogs: For safety, limit play to known, well-mannered, fully vaccinated dogs. Avoid large dog-park groups until the puppy vaccine series is complete.
• Classes: Enroll in positive-reinforcement puppy classes, typically around 12 weeks once your vet approves. Ensure your puppy has been examined and vaccines have been started. Some facilities may require Bordetella vaccination.
Let your puppy set the pace. Never force interactions. Avoid harsh corrections.
Puppy Gentling (Cooperative Care)
Help your puppy get comfortable with everyday handling so vet and groomer visits are easier.
• Short sessions of 60 to 90 seconds, once or twice per day: gently touch ears, lift lips and peek at teeth and gums, touch paws and toes and briefly tap nail clippers, lift the tail, and do quick collar grabs. Reward after each.
• Pair touch with rewards: touch then treat or calm praise. Stop before your puppy pulls away and build up slowly.
• Practice exam positions: brief stand, sit, and side-lie with a treat on the nose or a chin-rest on your palm.
• Sounds and surfaces: introduce a soft towel on tables and low-volume clinic sounds such as clippers near paws.
• Goal: a puppy who opts in to handling, making nail trims, ear checks, and exams low-stress.
Textures and Confidence
Let your puppy explore grass, gravel, sand, carpet, ramps, and shallow water at their own pace. Build a mini confidence course at home using broom handles, boxes, umbrellas, and crinkly bags. Go one obstacle at a time and reward curiosity and calm.
Children and Other Pets
Children
Always supervise. Let the puppy approach first. Coach gentle petting along the back and shoulders and quiet voices. Introduce one child at a time.
Existing Dogs
Start with parallel walks and leashed, short sessions. Reward calm look-aways from the resident dog. No chasing. Use gates or pens to create space.
Cats
Begin with scent swaps and feeding on opposite sides of a door. Use baby gates or a carrier for first looks. Provide the cat with vertical space and ensure separate resources including beds, litter, and food and water bowls.
Short, positive sessions beat long, stressful ones. If tension persists, we can help with a tailored plan.
Consistency in the Family
Keep words, rules, and rewards the same for everyone.
• Daily needs: Regular meals and clean water, frequent toilet breaks and naps, play, exercise, mental enrichment, and safe rest spaces.
• Assign responsibilities: Feeding, water, bed, toilet and crate training, socialization outings, grooming and dental care, supervision and play.
• Training sessions: Keep them short at 5 to 10 minutes, frequent, and end on a win.
Foreign Body Ingestion: Common Puppy Hazards
Avoid: socks and underwear, corn cobs, cooked bones and skewers, rocks and sticks, string and ribbon, hair ties, squeaker toys with loose parts, batteries, earplugs, and pits and seeds.
Watch for: repeated vomiting especially after eating, drooling, pawing at the mouth, painful or tense belly, lethargy, and no stools.
Do not induce vomiting unless we advise, and never pull visible string from the mouth or rectum. Call us immediately at (415) 586-5327.
Holiday and Household Hazards
Grapes and raisins, chocolate, xylitol (found in sugar-free products), onions and garlic, marijuana and edibles (note: cannabis is legal in California but toxic to pets), human pain medications including ibuprofen, naproxen, and acetaminophen, rodenticides, and compost and garbage.
Puppy Dental and Developmental Notes
• Retained baby teeth: Puppy teeth usually shed between 3 and 6 months. If a baby tooth remains when the adult tooth erupts, especially the canines, it can trap food and crowd alignment. We often extract retained teeth during spay/neuter to protect adult teeth and gums.
• Bite alignment (malocclusion): Narrow lower canines or over/under-bites can injure the palate. We check at 12 to 16 weeks and again before spay/neuter. Options may include training aids, orthodontic appliances, or selective extractions.
• Teething and safe chews: Use the fingernail rule. If you cannot dent it with a fingernail, it is too hard and risks tooth fracture. Avoid cooked bones, antlers, hooves, and hard nylon. Use VOHC-accepted dental chews.
• Home oral care: Start gentle mouth handling now and aim for daily brushing with dog-safe toothpaste. Ask us for our VOHC product list and a juvenile dental check at 6 to 8 months.
Hernias and Cryptorchidism (Undescended Testicles)
• Umbilical hernias: Small, soft hernias often close by 4 to 6 months. Larger ones are typically repaired during spay/neuter. Urgent signs for a strangulating hernia include sudden swelling, firmness, pain, and vomiting.
• Inguinal hernias: Less common. We will plan repair if large or symptomatic.
• Cryptorchidism: By about 6 months, both testicles should be in the scrotum. If one or both are missing, we recommend surgical removal to prevent torsion and future tumors. Do not breed cryptorchid dogs.
Grooming: Bonding Through Care
• Brushing and combing: Choose soft, rounded tools. Pair brief strokes with treats and stop before frustration.
• Ears: Use veterinarian-approved cleaners only. Start with gentle handling and check for odor, redness, or discharge. Call us if concerned.
• Nails: Handle paws daily, trim tiny amounts often, and avoid the quick.
• Teeth: Start early with puppy-safe toothpaste and a soft brush and make it a routine.
San Francisco and Bay Area Health Notes
• Kennel cough (CIRDC): Common in shared-dog areas, condo buildings, dog daycares, and dog parks throughout San Francisco. Vaccines (Bordetella/parainfluenza) reduce risk and severity. Isolate from other dogs if your puppy is ill and call us if you notice a persistent hoarse cough, gagging, fever, or reduced appetite.
• Parvovirus: A serious infection in under-vaccinated pups. Outbreaks have occurred in San Francisco neighborhoods. Avoid high-dog-traffic areas until the vaccine series is complete plus 7 to 10 days. Emergency signs include bloody diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy, and dehydration. Suspected cases are reported to SF Animal Care and Control per local health ordinances.
• Leptospirosis: Exposure occurs via wildlife and standing water in urban parks, creeks, and green spaces throughout San Francisco and the Bay Area. We vaccinate when indicated. Avoid stagnant water and secure food and bins from rodents.
• Giardia and Coccidia: Water-borne parasites causing intermittent diarrhea. Common in Bay Area parks and shared water sources. We test, treat, and recheck stool.
• Ringworm: A zoonotic skin fungus. Look for circular hair loss or scaly patches. Treatable with medication and hygiene.
• Ear mites: Possible in multi-pet or outdoor settings. Itchy ears with dark debris. Easily treated once diagnosed.
• Foxtails: A Bay Area-specific hazard. These grass awns can embed in paws, ears, nose, eyes, and skin. Check your dog thoroughly after any outdoor activity in dry grassy areas, particularly in summer and fall. Embedded foxtails require prompt veterinary removal.
• Tick-borne disease: Lyme disease is endemic in the Bay Area. Additional tick-borne illnesses including Anaplasmosis are present in Northern California. Use year-round tick prevention and perform tick checks after all outdoor activity.
Low-Stress Vet Visits
• Crate and car confidence: Short practice rides, familiar bedding, light meal or none before travel if your puppy is car-queasy.
• Pre-visit options: For anxious travelers, ask us about calming medication such as gabapentin or trazodone. We will advise case-by-case and provide dosing to trial at home before the appointment if needed.
• Arrival choice: Prefer to wait in your car? Let us know on arrival and we will bring you straight to an exam room. Please note we have limited exam rooms and may not always be able to accommodate this immediately, but we will do our best.
• In-clinic: Low-stress, cooperative handling, high-value treats, and extra time if needed. We can split care across shorter happy visits to reduce exposure for pets with fear or anxiety.
When to Contact Us
Call or text (415) 586-5327 if you notice vomiting or diarrhea, repeated coughing, labored breathing, lethargy, pain, loss of appetite, or any change that worries you. Trust your instincts. Puppies can decline quickly. We are open 24/7. For after-hours pick-up (10 PM and later), call (650) 608-0802.
Pet Insurance
Pet insurance can offset surprise costs from accidents or illness. When comparing plans, review waiting periods, pre-existing condition rules, reimbursement percentage, annual and incident limits, and deductibles. Ask whether claims are direct-pay to the clinic or owner reimbursement, and about pre-approval for major procedures.
Examples available in the US include Trupanion, Healthy Paws, Figo, Embrace, and Nationwide. We are happy to discuss what to look for at your first visit. Many families also set aside a small monthly pet-care savings fund for unexpected expenses.
We are here to help every step of the way. Contact Ocean Avenue Veterinary Hospital at (415) 586-5327 or oavhreception@gmail.com to schedule your puppy’s first visit and set the foundation for a healthy, confident life in San Francisco.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute professional veterinary advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every pet is unique. Always consult your veterinarian regarding your animal’s specific health condition before taking any action or changing their care routine. Ocean Avenue Veterinary Hospital is licensed by the California Veterinary Medical Board (CVMB). All vaccine protocols follow current AVMA and AAHA guidelines.