Overview

Every puppy or kitten will need tender love and routine veterinary care during their first year. Our veterinarians at Roseville Animal Hospital can work with you to give your furry friend a happy and healthy start to their life by developing a customized care plan depending on their breed, care and nutritional needs.

What should my pet’s first year look like?

During their first year, your kitten or puppy will require regular visits with their veterinarian. These visits consist of physical exams, vaccinations, and diagnostic testing – all of which allow us to keep tabs on your pet’s health as they grow and develop.

• Physical Exams
  A lifetime of wellness starts with your pet’s very first physical exam. Unlike adult pets, puppies and kittens require approximately 3-4 exams during their first 8-16 weeks. At those exams, your pet will receive important vaccines and assessments of their overall health.
• Vaccines
  Because the immune system is still developing, puppies and kittens must receive a series of properly staged vaccines including boosters. We tailor our vaccine recommendations based on your pet’s individual lifestyle and breed using guidelines established by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association(AAHA).
• Diagnostic Testing
  Both puppies and kittens should have certain diagnostic tests over the course of their first year. Puppies should be tested for heartworm by 12 months of age, if not before. Kittens, on the other hand, should be tested for feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) during their first exam.
• Brush your pet’s teeth—You can perform this very important task at home. We’ll show you how! Brushing at home combined with regular teeth cleanings, can help keep your pet healthy.

Year-round prevention

Heartworm disease, fleas and ticks can be a danger to your pet all year round. We recommend keeping your pet on preventive medication throughout the year. In addition to examining your new pet and providing them with vaccines and diagnostics, your veterinarian will discuss other services that could help them live a longer, healthier life, such as spaying and neutering.

What do Puppies and Kittens Need?

It is also important to puppy proof your house before you bring your puppy home.. With puppies it may be essential to keep them in a partitioned off area to prevent them from getting hurt or from ingesting things that might make a trip to the veterinarian necessary. Talk to our veterinarian to determine proper food and nutritional needs of your puppy.

With kittens it is more important to take the time to find places that they might get stuck or things that they might get hurt with. They also need special food to make sure that their digestive tracts are working properly and that they are going to be safe and healthy. After getting your home ready, you do need to find a veterinarian in your area and start the process of getting them ready for vet care.