Vet Care for Puppies & Kittens
Bringing home a new furry friend can be incredibly exciting! Watching your new friend grow and play can be very rewarding, and you'll be able to look forward to many years of companionship.
Of course, there are also some big responsibilities. Being a good 'pet parent' also means taking care of some serious health care business during your new pet's first year of life.
Your veterinarian will help create a custom health care plan to meet your pet's specific needs during their first year and provide you with plenty of support and guidance along the way!
Your Kitten or Puppy's First Appointment
We generally recommend that puppies have their first veterinary appointment at about six weeks old, and kittens at around eight weeks.
During this first checkup, your pet will receive a complete physical examination to assess overall health, identify any congenital defects, and check for external parasites.
Your vet will also administer deworming medications for roundworms and hookworms, as well as first vaccinations for your puppy or kitten.
More About Vaccines & Prevention
Finally, for kittens, we will perform a blood test to check for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.
Follow-up Appointments
Puppies and kittens should attend three to four veterinary appointments between birth and 16 weeks of age. These visits allow our vets to assess your pet's overall health and to administer vaccines on schedule.
Bringing Home Your New Puppy or Kitten
Adding a new puppy or kitten to your home and family can come with a ton of new responsibilities.
Our team is here to provide plenty of guidance, support, and helpful information to help you during the crucial first year.
Some of the ways we can offer support include:
- A vaccination and medical care schedule
- Information on spaying and neutering
- Information on common medical problems (e.g., heartworm disease, feline leukemia, zoonosis)
- Tips for socializing your puppy or kitten with other people and/or animals
- Basic puppy-training guidelines
- Nutrition information
Your vet will happily address any questions, concerns, or worries that you may have. We want to make sure that you and your puppy or kitten have everything you need to begin to enjoy your new companionship.