Care for Puppies & Kittens
It's an exciting day for you and your new puppy or kitten when you get to bring them home for the first time! Your cute, cuddly new family member is a joy to interact with as they grow.
Fun as this time of discovery may be, you've also got some serious healthcare business to take care of during your new pet's first year.
Your vet will create a custom healthcare plan to meet your pet's specific needs throughout their first year, and offer you plenty of guidance and support along the way.
Your Pet’s First Appointment
Ideally, puppies should have their first veterinary appointment at about six weeks of age, and kittens around eight weeks.
At their initial visit, your pet will receive a comprehensive physical examination to evaluate their overall health, identify any signs of congenital defects, and look for external parasites.
We will also administer deworming medications for hookworms and roundworms, along with the first round of puppy or kitten vaccinations.
More About Vaccines & Prevention
Finally, for kittens, we will conduct a blood test to check for feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia.
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
You take on a lot of responsibilities when you bring home a new puppy or kitten.
Our team is here to help you navigate your puppy or kitten's first year, and to provide plenty of support, guidance, and helpful advice.
Our Kitten and Puppy information packs contain everything you'll need to know about your pet’s early development, including:
- Nutrition information
- Basic puppy training guidelines
- Information on common medical problems such as heartworm disease, feline leukemia, and zoonosis
- Information on spaying and neutering your pet
- Tips for how to socialize your puppy or kitten with animals and people, including pets already living in your home
- A vaccination and medical care schedule
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!