Care for Puppies & Kittens
It's an exciting day when you get to bring a new puppy or kitten home! Your cute, cuddly new bundle of fur can't help but make everyone who interacts with them smile.
As fun as this time may be, you've also got some serious healthcare business to take care of during your new pet's first year of life.
Your vet will create a custom healthcare plan to address your pet's specific needs during their first year, and offer plenty of support and guidance along the way!
Your Pet’s First Appointment
Ideally, puppies should have their initial veterinary appointment around six weeks of age, and kittens around eight weeks.
During this first visit, your pet will receive a comprehensive physical examination to check their overall health, look for signs of any congenital defects, and detect any external parasites.
Puppy or kitten vaccinations will be administered at our animal hospital, along with the first round of deworming medications for hookworms and roundworms.
More About Vaccines & Prevention
Finally, for kittens, we will perform a blood test to check for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.
Followup Appointments
Puppies and kittens should attend 3 to 4 veterinary appointments between the ages of 6 and 16 weeks. These visits allow our vets to assess your pet's overall health and to administer vaccines on schedule.
Puppy & Kitten Information Packs
From the day you bring your new puppy or kitten home, you're taking on a lot of new responsibilities.
To help guide you through your puppy or kitten's first year, our vets will offer plenty of guidance, support, and helpful information.
In our Kitten and Puppy information facts, you'll find everything you need to know about your pet's early development, including:
- A vaccination and medical care schedule
- Nutrition information
- Information on spaying and neutering your pet
- Information on common medical problems such as heartworm disease, feline leukemia, and zoonosis
- Basic puppy training guidelines
- Tips for how to socialize your puppy or kitten with animals and people, including pets already living in your home
Our vets will be happy to answer any questions you may have, and put any concerns or worries to rest. We want to make sure that you and your puppy or kitten have everything you need to start a wonderful life together!