Veterinary Care for Puppies & Kittens at Queens Animal Hospital
Bringing a new puppy or kitten home is always an exciting time for your family and your new companion! This cute, cuddly new member of the family can't help but put a smile on everyone's face, so you want nothing more than to make sure they stay in good health and live a long and happy life.
There are, however, some serious health care steps to be taken during your new pet's first year of life. Our Queens vets will develop a custom health care plan to meet your pet's needs during their first year while providing you with plenty of support and guidance.
Our veterinary team will examine your new kitten or puppy, run a few tests, and plan or administer any necessary vaccinations.
Your Pet’s First Appointment at Queens Animal Hospital
Kittens should ideally have their first veterinary appointment around eight weeks of age, and puppies around six weeks.
During this 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 in addition to the first round of puppy or kitten vaccinations. Some forms of worms are especially dangerous for puppies and kittens so these preventive measures are very important.
More About Vaccines & Prevention
Finally, for kittens, we will perform a blood test to check for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.
Followup Appointments
Puppies and kittens should attend 3 to 4 veterinary appointments between the ages of 6 and 16 weeks. These regular visits will allow our vets to continuously monitor your pet's overall health and administer vaccines on schedule.
Guidance on Puppy & Kitten Vet Care
There are a lot of new responsibilities associated with bringing home a new puppy or kitten.
To help you navigate your puppy or kitten's first year, our team will provide plenty of guidance, support, and helpful information.
Specifically, we can take time during your pet's routine checkups to educate you on your puppy or kitten's early development.
Our Kitten and Puppy information packs contain everything you'll need to know about your pet’s early development, including:
- A schedule for vaccinations 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 are happy to answer any questions you may have to eliminate any concerns or worries you may have. We want to ensure that you and your puppy or kitten have everything you need to begin a wonderful life together!