Puppies (Birth to 11 months)
Congratulations on your new puppy!
During the first stage, your puppy is growing rapidly and a well balanced diet formulated especially for puppies is recommended until his or her first birthday. Dry food is an excellent choice and can aid in keeping your puppy’s teeth and gums healthy. It can also help to satisfy your puppy’s need to chew. Bleached rawhide chews should be avoided. Beware of bones!
Select a quality diet and stick to it. Puppies are not like people; their little systems are not suited for variety. Table food is particularly bad. Never give a dog chocolate! We feed and recommend Science Diet.
Vaccinations
Puppy check-ups are done in a series, at intervals of 4 weeks, beginning at 6-8 weeks of age. After a complete physical and stool examination, your puppy will be vaccinated to prevent diseases that you puppy is likely to be exposed to; these vaccinations are chosen based on each pup’s individual risk factors!
At 10-12 weeks old your puppy will be re-examined, a repeat stool check is performed, and booster vaccinations are administered. Your puppy’s visit at 14-16 weeks of age will complete the series of puppy check-ups. Booster vaccinations and rabies vaccination are given at this time. Your puppy will receive a rabies tag with our clinic name and phone number on it so that if your pet wanders off he/she can be returned to you. This as also a good time to have your pet microchipped which is also a great way to help ensure your pets return if he should get lost or stolen and get separated from his collar and tags.
Spay or Neuter
Six months is the ideal age to spay your female or neuter your male dog.
Kittens (Birth to 6 months)
Congratulations on your new kitten!
By 6 to 9 weeks of age kittens are able to eat and drink on their own and are ready to go to their new homes. At this stage your kitten is rapidly growing and a well balanced diet, formulated especially for kittens, is recommended until his or her first birthday. Dry food is an excellent choice and can aid in keeping your kitten’s teeth and gums healthy. Cats love milk and cream, but they should drink water, milk may cause diarrhea. Select a quality diet and stick with it! Kittens are not like people; their little systems are not suited for variety. Table food-especially seafood-is particularly bad. Never give a kitten chocolate!
Litter Boxes
You may have to train your kitten to use a litter box. Dust-free and fragrance free litter is recommended. Daily cleaning can prevent undesirable habits such as urinating or defecating outside the litter box.
Vaccinations
Wellness exams are done in a series are 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. After a complete physical and a stool examination your kitten will be vaccinated for diseases your individual kitten is likely to be exposed to. Rabies vaccination is required by law and is given at the 16 week visit.
Spay or Neuter
6 months is the ideal age to spay your female or neuter your male cat. Neutering males before they begin “spraying” is recommended. Each year thousands of animals are euthanized due to a lack of homes. Others are released only to suffer starvation or fall prey to other animals. Please do your part to control the unwanted pet population.