Start Them Right with New Pet Wellness Care

Puppies Kittens Photo

New pets are a delight and our goal is to provide whole pet care that starts them off on a path of healthy vigor. Initial exams begin at 6–8 weeks of age and continue on a wellness program of vaccines and preventive care throughout the first year.

While every pet is different, the following is a basic outline of services performed at a typical wellness visit:

Puppy Wellness Kitten Wellness
Comprehensive physical exam Comprehensive physical exam
Vaccinations Vaccinations
Stool Exam Stool Exam
Deworming Deworming
Hip laxity screening Feline leukemia and feline AIDS test
Bloodwork and urinalysis Bloodwork and urinalysis
Parasite prevention Parasite prevention
Oral care Oral care

The following handouts detail these Wellness Plans for you, explaining each area and veterinary need:

Pet Vaccination

Vaccines are the most important preventive measure you can take for the health of your pet. Serious, contagious, and deadly diseases are prevented through these vaccines and, in some cases, they are required by law. We offer various vaccination programs depending upon your needs and lifestyle:

  • Puppies may be immunized against distemper, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, bordetella, rabies, and Lyme disease.
  • Kittens may be immunized against feline panleukopenia (distemper), rabies, feline rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and feline leukemia.

Which vaccines you will require and how frequently depends on many factors, and your veterinarian will make recommendations for your pet’s unique environment and lifestyle. Read this article about Vaccinations for more about vaccines and the diseases they prevent.

Spay and Neuter

Most veterinarians suggest spaying or neutering your pet shortly after the completion of puppy or kitten vaccines, around 6 months of age. In the case of male pets, it may be an especially good idea to neuter them at this time before they develop bad habits, such as marking, spraying, and aggression.

Advantages of spaying and neutering are numerous and include the following:

  • Less aggression, fighting, and biting
  • Less territoriality, reduces risk of roaming and being hit by a car
  • Reduces marking of furniture and rugs with urine
  • Eliminates heat cycles and reduces shedding in females
  • Focuses more of a pet’s attention on the caregiver, aiding in training

Neutered males do not develop testicular tumors, the second most common malignancy in males, and they have a lower incidence of prostate problems. Spayed females stay healthier and live longer, and they have a lower incidence of mammary tumors and no uterine or ovarian cancers. They also are prevented from getting pyometra, a life-threatening uterine infection. These benefits mean lower medical bills for pet owners and happier, healthier pets overall.

Visit the Humane Society of the United States website for more on this important subject

WebMD Healthy Pet offers these great tips for Bonding with Your New Kitten.

For articles about whole pet care topics ranging from puppy training to puppy health, visit the WebMD Healthy Dog Guide.