Puppy & Kitten Care
Inviting a new puppy or kitten into your home can be an exciting and challenging time. If you are considering adopting or purchasing a puppy or kitten, or if you’ve recently brought one home, At Home Animal Clinic's veterinary professionals are here to support and guide you.
Make a Healthy Start
Schedule an initial veterinary visit for your new pet within a few days of them joining your family. The first appointment is a good time to discuss nutrition, immunizations, intestinal parasite screenings, and other preventive health care concerns. Please bring any prior veterinary, rescue, or breeder records and pet health information to the first appointment. If you have adopted your pet from a local shelter or rescue, At Home Animal Clinic offers a free exam for your adopted pet’s first visit, when done within the first 14 days.
Physical Exams
Your puppy or kitten’s lifetime of wellness starts with its first comprehensive physical exam. Puppies and kittens should have monthly exams between the ages of 8-16 weeks. These visits are important because they give our veterinarians an opportunity to assess your pet's overall health as they grow.
Vaccinations
Puppies and kittens receive natural immunity against many diseases from their mother, but this protection only lasts for a few weeks. It is recommended that your new puppy or kitten’s vaccination series begins by 8 weeks of age. It is important to vaccinate your new pet against the many serious and life-threatening diseases to which young animals are susceptible.
Diagnostic Testing
We recommend that all puppies and kittens are tested for intestinal parasites. These infectious parasites steal nutrients that are essential for your pet’s growth and cause discomfort and disease. We ask that you bring a sample of your new pet’s feces to the first appointment. If present, parasites are best treated with prescription medications. We also suggest testing kittens for feline leukemia and FIV during the first appointment. These infections can be transmitted from Mom to kittens, during mating, or bites.
Spay & Neuter
Spaying or neutering your new puppy or kitten is an option to be discussed with your veterinarian during early pet wellness checks. Unless you are planning to breed your dog or cat, there are numerous reasons to consider spaying if you have a female or neutering if you have a male pet. A spayed or neutered pet will generally have a better temperament, fewer health problems, and will not contribute to overpopulation. We recommend that you consider spaying or neutering your pet by 12 months of age for positive health and behavior benefits.
Microchipping
Each year, thousands of pets go missing, and many don’t ever make it home. Collars and tags are important, but they can be lost and damaged. Your pet needs identification that is reliable and can’t get lost, stolen, or damaged. We recommend that all pets be microchipped. Microchip implantation takes only a few minutes, and can be inserted during a regular appointment, or at the time of their spay or neuter. A microchip is a safe, simple form of identification that can significantly increase the chance that your beloved pet will return home safely.
Preventatives
Remember to begin monthly prevention. As your puppy or kitten grows, they may need to be weighed monthly to assure they are receiving the correct dose for their ever-changing size.
We know you have committed to the lifelong care of your new pet and that your love will grow as more time passes and your bond deepens. Lake Animal Hospital is your ready partner, equipped to meet the challenges of caring for your pet from infancy to old age.
