A puppy or kitten needs lots of care and attention during their critical first year of life. Our vets in Timmins offer guidance, advice and a suite of veterinary services to get them off to a good start.
Care for Puppies & Kittens
It's an exciting day when you finally get to bring your new puppy or kitten home! You can look forward to a lifetime of memories as you and your cute, cuddly new family member begin to form a bond.
As fun as this time may be, you'll also have some serious healthcare business to take care of during your new pet's first year of life, including vaccinations and medical care and parasite protection.
First-time pet owners will also likely have many questions for their vet about training, behavioural issues and safety.
Your veterinarian will create a custom healthcare 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
Ideally, puppies should have their first veterinary appointment at around six weeks of age, and kittens around eight weeks.
Your pet will receive a complete physical examination during their initial visit to assess their overall health. The vet will check for external parasites and look for signs of any congenital defects.
We will also administer deworming medications for roundworms and hookworms, and the first round of puppy or kitten vaccinations.
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 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.
Guidance on Puppy & Kitten Care
When you bring a new puppy or kitten into your life, you're also taking on many new responsibilities.
To help you navigate your puppy or kitten's first year, our team will offer plenty of guidance, support, and helpful information.
Specifically, we can dedicate time during your pet's routine checkups to sharing everything you'll need to know about your pet's early development, including:
- A schedule for vaccination and medical care, based on your pet's age and development
- 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 will be 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 puppy or kitten have everything you need to begin a wonderful life together!