Vet Care for Puppies & Kittens
Congratulations on adding a new puppy or kitten to your family! This cute, cuddly new companion will be a beloved member of the household, and we're here to get you off to a great start.
A kitten or puppy can be a lot of fun, but there is also some serious health care business to see to during your new pet's first year of life.
Your vet will develop 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 Pet’s First Appointment
Puppies should ideally have their first veterinary appointment around six weeks of age. A kitten's first vet appointment should be at around eight weeks of age.
During the first visit, your pet will receive a complete physical examination to assess their overall health, look for signs of any congenital defects, and check for external parasites.
We will also administer deworming medications for roundworms and hookworms, and the first round of puppy or kitten vaccinations.
More About Vaccines & Prevention
For kittens, we will also perform a blood test to check for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.
Follow-up 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 Resources
Bringing home a new puppy or kitten can come with a lot of new responsibilities.
To help you navigate your puppy or kitten's first year, our team will provide plenty of guidance, support, and helpful information.
Our Kitten and Puppy information packs contain resources about your pet’s early development, including:
- A vaccination and medical care schedule
- Information on spaying and neutering your pet
- Information on common medical problems such as heartworm disease, feline leukemia, and zoonosis
- Tips for how to socialize your puppy or kitten with animals and people, including pets already living in your home
- Basic puppy training guidelines
- Nutrition information
Our vets are 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 new pet have everything you need to begin a wonderful life together!