Care for Puppies & Kittens
Bringing a new puppy or kitten home is an exciting time! This cute, cuddly new family member can't help but make everyone who interacts with them smile.
As enjoyable as it is, there is some serious healthcare business to attend to during your new pet's first year of life. The first months of a puppy or kitten's life are some of the most critical to setting them up for lifelong health.
During your pet's first year, your veterinarian will create a personalized health care plan to meet their specific needs, as well as provide you with plenty of support and guidance!
Your Pet’s First Appointment
Dogs should ideally have their first puppy vet appointment around six weeks of age, and kittens around eight weeks.
During this initial visit, your pet will be given a thorough physical examination to assess its overall health, look for signs of congenital defects, and check for external parasites.
We will also administer deworming medications for roundworms and hookworms, and the first round of vaccinations.
More About Vaccines & Prevention
Finally, for kittens, we will perform a blood test to check for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.
Followup Appointments
Between the ages of 6 and 16 weeks, puppies and kittens should have 3 to 4 veterinary appointments. These visits enable our veterinarians to assess your pet's overall health and administer vaccines on time.
Guidance on Puppy & Kitten Care
Bringing home a puppy or kitten comes with new responsibilities.
To help you navigate your puppy or kitten's first year, our team will provide plenty of guidance, support, and helpful information.
Specifically, we can take time during your pet's routine checkups to share everything you need to know about your puppy or kitten's early development.
Our puppy and kitten vet information packs contain everything you'll need to know about your pet’s early development, including:
- A schedule for vaccinations and medical care, based on your pet's age and development
- Information on spaying and neutering your pet
- Information on common medical problems such as heartworm disease, feline leukemia, and zoonosis
- Tips for socializing your puppy or kitten with other animals and people, including pets already in your home.
- Basic puppy training guidelines
- Nutrition information
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 begin a wonderful life together!