Puppies and Kittens are vaccinated between 8-18 weeks, because this is the time that their mother’s antibodies are dying off, and their innate immune systems are not yet at full production. Well-timed vaccination can not only keep them safe from infectious disease, but can also cause an amplification of antibodies far beyond any natural levels. Age and prior vaccination can vary greatly when we first get to see your new little baby, so our doctors will work with you on a personalized vaccination plan over multiple visits so that vaccines can be given at the correct age and spaced out appropriately.
Unfortunately we see that deworming prior to adoption is not always done according to the most current recommendations, incomplete, or performed with dewormer obtained from a non-medical source (Tractor-supply, etc.). When you provide us your pets medical records we will look for the deworming history and determine if it was done appropriately with the correct medications. If there are any errors, we will send you home with the correct dewormer at your appointment.
In most cases, deworming is a strategy to target and eliminate two of the most common parasites (Roundworms & Hookworms) transmitted to puppies and kittens from their mother. This does leave other parasites that are easily missed, and still pose a threat to your pet’s health. For this reason we always recommend performing a fecal (if not previously performed) on your new addition to make sure that parasites are not finding their way into your home, surfaces, and sometimes… urgh… bed.
Take one look at the pet store shelves and the diet choices are overwhelming. We are here to help you choose a diet with all the right qualities that suit both your and your new pet’s health and priorities.
Training is a common subject during our multiple puppy and kitten appointments. Our doctors will guide you, with the use of modern positive-reinforcement techniques, to tackle house-training, play-biting, barking, and other common unwanted behaviors. The benefit of a series of appointments is that we can provide you advice, then alter it based on either the success or failure since we saw you last.
For puppy classes, we can provide you with a list of well-respected and highly recommended programs, and help you to meet any vaccine or deworming requirements they may have before your first session.
Mosquito, Fleas, and Ticks will all feed on an animal no matter its age, and young pets are often at greater risk since their grooming habits are not yet developed. Most common preventatives are licensed for 6-8 weeks and older, so our doctors will discuss your preventative options and give their recommendations based on lifestyle. In the case of dogs, because many breeds grow rapidly, we will provide you with single doses of our recommended preventatives until they are closer to their mature weight. At that time, we’ll direct you to the cost-savings of a 6 or 12mo. multi-pack.
Pet insurance is becoming a more and more common tool for families to mitigate the expense of accident and emergency events, and something that we highly recommend. Because of increasing popularity and demand, there are now many companies in the space and we can provide resources and personal advice to help you choose an insurance and policy that suits the protection you are looking for.
Thanks to research studies in the last 10-15 years, the choice of when to spay or neuter your pet is no longer a simple decision. This is also why there is an overwhelming amount of conflicting recommendations out there! In reality, there are many factors to consider including your pet’s breed, physical traits, sex, and behavior. We are happy to have an open conversation, discussing the surgery, timing, and provide you with the information you need to spay or neuter your pet at a time of maximum benefit.