Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM • Chief Executive Officer, RexVet • 2026-06-22 • 11 min read
Puppy Care Checklist: First 6 Months — FL, NY & VA Vet Guide
Your puppy's first 6 months — vaccines, deworming, food, socialization, and what NOT to do. A licensed DVM walks Florida, New York, and Virginia puppy parents through it.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM
Bringing a new puppy home is one of the most joyful — and most consequential — events in your pet parent life. The first 6 months set health and behavior patterns for the next 10-15 years. This guide is written for puppy parents in Florida, New York, and Virginia. It covers vaccines, deworming, food, socialization, common puppy emergencies, and state-specific risks.
Week 1: bringing puppy home
Most puppies come home at 8-9 weeks (do NOT take a puppy younger than 8 weeks — they need mom for socialization and immune transfer). First-day priorities:
- Schedule the first vet visit within the first week — physical exam, vaccine history check, deworming
- Quiet room with crate, food/water, toys for the first few days
- Start crate training (the crate is the safe space, not punishment)
- Start housebreaking — out every 1-2 hours, after eating, after naps, after play
- Identify any pre-existing health issues (umbilical hernia, heart murmur, undescended testicles)
Vaccine schedule (core)
Most puppies get the following series:
- DAPP #1 at 6-8 weeks (often given by breeder/shelter before adoption)
- DAPP #2 at 10-12 weeks
- DAPP #3 at 14-16 weeks
- Rabies at 12-16 weeks (legally required in all 3 states)
- Bordetella (kennel cough) at 8-12 weeks if going to puppy class, daycare, boarding
- Lepto if at risk (outdoor exposure, especially urban NYC)
- Lyme if VA outdoors, NY hiking, or significant tick exposure
- Influenza if dog daycare planned
Deworming schedule
Most puppies are born with roundworms — even healthy-looking ones. Standard schedule:
- Deworm at 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 weeks of age (pyrantel covers roundworms + hookworms)
- Fecal float at first vet visit to identify other parasites (giardia, coccidia, whipworms)
- Tapeworm requires praziquantel — not in standard puppy dewormer
Heartworm + flea/tick prevention
Start at 8 weeks of age in most preventives:
- Florida — start year-round prevention immediately. Heartworm prevalence is the highest in the country.
- New York — start heartworm prevention May through October (or year-round, increasingly the standard). Flea/tick prevention April-November.
- Virginia — year-round combination (Simparica Trio, NexGard combo, Sentinel + topical). Tick exposure is high.
Food and feeding
- Puppy-specific food (look for AAFCO 'growth' or 'all life stages')
- Large breeds (40+ lbs adult expected): LARGE breed puppy formula — controlled calcium for joint development
- Feed 3-4 small meals daily until 4 months, then 2-3 meals
- Transition foods slowly (over 7-10 days)
- Do NOT free-feed large breeds — risk of overgrowth
- Avoid treats with xylitol (artificial sweetener — fatal to dogs)
Socialization — the critical 3-14 week window
This is the single most important predictor of adult behavior. What your puppy is exposed to in this window shapes lifetime behavior:
- Quality over quantity — controlled positive exposures, not overwhelming experiences
- Different surfaces (carpet, tile, grass, sand, metal grates)
- Different sounds (vacuum, hairdryer, doorbell, traffic)
- Different people (children, men with beards, people in hats, people in wheelchairs)
- Other healthy vaccinated dogs (puppy class is ideal — but DO NOT take unvaccinated puppies to dog parks)
- Handling — paws, ears, mouth, tail — for grooming and vet care
- Car rides
- Carrier / crate time
Common puppy emergencies
Drive to ER for:
- Parvo signs — bloody diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy in unvaccinated/under-vaccinated puppy. Often fatal without treatment.
- Hypoglycemia in toy breeds — wobbly, weak, seizure. Give corn syrup or honey on gums en route.
- Foreign body — swallowed sock, toy, chew. Especially if vomiting and not eating.
- Toxin exposure — chocolate, grapes, xylitol, human meds, certain plants
- Trauma — fall, hit, attacked by another animal
- Fading puppy — sudden lethargy, refusing to eat, gum color changes
Spay/neuter timing
- Small breeds (under 25 lbs adult): 5-6 months is standard
- Medium breeds (25-50 lbs adult): 6-9 months
- Large/giant breeds (50+ lbs adult): 12-18 months — later is better for joint and hormone development
- Working/sport dogs: discuss with vet — may delay further
- Females: spay BEFORE first heat to reduce mammary cancer risk by ~95%
Florida-specific: parvo + heat + sago palm
Florida has high parvo prevalence — keep unvaccinated puppies AWAY from dog parks, pet stores, and public surfaces until 2 weeks after the final puppy vaccine. Florida heat is dangerous to puppies — never leave in cars, never long walks on hot pavement. Sago palm (common in Florida landscaping) is fatal to dogs from even a small amount.
New York-specific: socialization in NYC + apartment training
NYC puppies actually have GREAT socialization opportunities — they're exposed to crowds, sounds, surfaces, and dogs constantly. The challenge is housebreaking in an apartment (no quick yard access). Pee pads are a transitional tool; bell-training to the door works well. Elevator training matters. Watch for hot summer pavement and winter rock salt on paws.
Virginia-specific: tick exposure + outdoor opportunities
Virginia puppies often have more outdoor adventure (suburban yards, hiking) — which is great for socialization but means earlier tick exposure. Start tick prevention at 8 weeks. Virginia's tick load is the highest in the eastern US; Lyme is a real risk. The Lyme vaccine is reasonable for high-exposure dogs.
How telehealth fits in
$64.99 RexVet video visits in FL/NY/VA can: review the vaccine and deworming schedule, prescribe between-vaccine dewormer, triage post-vaccine reactions, coach on housebreaking and crate training, refer for behavior consults, prescribe parasite preventives once heartworm test is done (at 7 months or later). Vaccines, spay/neuter, dental, and emergencies require in-person.
Emergency signals
When to contact a veterinarian
- Bloody diarrhea + vomiting + lethargy — possible parvo, drive to ER
- Wobbly, weak toy-breed puppy — possible hypoglycemia, give honey en route
- Suspected toxin exposure (chocolate, xylitol, grapes, human meds)
- Swallowed foreign object (sock, toy, chew)
- Trauma — fall, hit, attacked
- Severe lethargy + refusing food in any puppy
- First-ever seizure
Frequently asked questions
When can my puppy go to the dog park or pet store?
Two weeks after the final puppy vaccine — typically 18-20 weeks of age. Before that, parvo exposure is real and often fatal. Puppy classes (where all puppies are vaccinated and the floor is disinfected) are appropriate earlier — they're how you socialize safely.
What vaccines does my puppy need in Florida, New York, or Virginia?
Core: DAPP (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza) at 8, 12, 16 weeks + rabies at 12-16 weeks. Add Bordetella for puppy class/daycare/boarding. Lepto for outdoor exposure. Lyme for VA outdoors and tick-exposed NY puppies. Influenza for daycare. RexVet FL/NY/VA-licensed vets can plan the right schedule for your puppy.
Can a RexVet online vet help with my puppy in Florida, New York, or Virginia?
Yes for non-vaccine care. RexVet's FL/NY/VA-licensed veterinarians can review the schedule, prescribe between-vaccine dewormer, triage post-vaccine reactions, coach on housebreaking and behavior, and refer for in-person vaccine visits — all by $64.99 video visit. Vaccines and spay/neuter themselves are in-person.
When should I spay or neuter my puppy?
Depends on breed size. Small breeds: 5-6 months. Medium: 6-9 months. Large/giant breeds: 12-18 months (later is better for joints). Females ideally before first heat (~6 months for small breeds) to reduce mammary cancer risk by ~95%.
What food should I feed my puppy?
Puppy-specific food (AAFCO 'growth' or 'all life stages') until 12 months for most breeds, longer for giant breeds. Large breeds need LARGE breed puppy formula specifically (controlled calcium for joint development). Quality matters more than brand — look for named meat as first ingredient.
Is my puppy getting enough socialization?
Quality over quantity. The critical window is 3-14 weeks. Focus on controlled positive exposures: different surfaces, sounds, people types, healthy vaccinated dogs, handling, car rides, vet experience. Puppy class is the gold standard. RexVet veterinarians can review your socialization plan by video.
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About the author
Dr. Tiffany Delacruz, DVM
Chief Executive Officer, RexVet
Licensed veterinarian and CEO of RexVet (Rex Vets Inc.). Practicing across Florida, New York, and Virginia via licensed telehealth. Reviews every clinical article on RexVet before publication.