Puppy & Kitten Care You Can Trust
Acacia Animal Hospital loves helping new owners out with their latest editions, whether they be of the feline or canine variety. Puppies and kittens need special care and attention to ensure they grow up healthy and strong, which is why our veterinarians are dedicated to taking care of your newest fluffy companions.
Puppy Care
We recommend puppy wellness exams are scheduled every 3 weeks, until 16-18 weeks old. This schedule allows our veterinarians to properly track the growth of your puppy, as well as safeguard them against illness and prevent parasites. Your veterinarian will perform a comprehensive examination of your newest family member during each scheduled visit. They will also administer the proper vaccinations, as well as provide their expertise by answering any questions or concerns you might have about the health of your puppy, such as their training, physical health, or behavioral issues.
It’s critical that your puppy receives the proper vaccinations early in its life. This shields them from life-threatening conditions that are dangerous to a puppy who is growing. Until your puppy is fully vaccinated, Acacia Animal Hospital recommends that you forego dog-friendly locations like dog parks, boarding facilities, and daycares.
Core vaccines are recommended for all puppies, regardless of lifestyle considerations or health status. These include Rabies, Distemper, Parvo, and Leptospirosis.
Non-core vaccines are recommended on a case-by-case basis, typically based on life-style or individual needs. These include Canine Influenza, Bordetella, and Lyme.
Pet fecal testing is strongly recommended because many intestinal parasites are invisible, contagious, and can harm both pets and people. Even pets that appear healthy can carry parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, giardia, or coccidia, which may cause diarrhea, weight loss, anemia, and intestinal damage — and some can be transmitted to humans. Routine fecal exams allow us to detect parasites early, often before symptoms develop, confirm that prevention programs are working, and protect other pets and family members in your home. Annual testing is recommended for most adult pets, with more frequent screening for puppies.
Kitten Care
We recommend kitten wellness exams are scheduled every 3 weeks, until 16-18 weeks old. This schedule allows our veterinarians to properly track the growth of your kitten, as well as safeguard them against illness and prevent parasites. Your veterinarian will perform a comprehensive examination and test for any common causes of concern. They will also administer the proper vaccinations, as well as provide their expertise by answering any questions or concerns you might have about the health of your kitten.
It’s critical that your kitten receives the proper vaccinations early in its life .in order to protect their growing bodies and weak immune systems from dangerous conditions. Please ensure your kitten stays safely at home and is not exposed to other cats until they are fully vaccinated.
Core vaccines are recommended for all kittens include Rabies, Distemper, Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Feline Leukemia.
If you have a multi-cat household, Acacia Animal Hospital highly recommends you take the following steps when bringing home a new kitten.
- Feline Leukemia testing is highly recommended for all kittens that will be living in a multi-cat household.
- Cats are naturally territorial animals, so it’s important for everyone’s safety that you are patient when introducing a new kitten and do so slowly. Keep your kitten separate from other cats and allow them to smell each other through the door, but do not allow them to see each other yet. After some time, introduce your kitten slowly. It is recommended that you keep your kitten in a carrier upon first interaction.
Spay/Neuter Surgery
Spaying or neutering refers to the removal of an animal’s reproductive organs. Spaying is used to refer to the removal of female reproductive organs, while neuter refers to a male. Spaying and neutering is a surgical procedure that is conducted under general anesthetic and is highly recommended for all pets. Spay or neuter surgery is a relatively straightforward procedure and is integral to improving the quality of your pet’s life, as well as their behavior, and prevention of unwanted litters. If you intend to breed your pet responsibly, or if there is a medical reason why your pet cannot be spayed or neutered, please speak with your veterinarian to discuss your options and the proper care routine for your animal.
Our veterinarians typically recommend that pets be spayed or neutered between 5 and 12 months of age, or before they reach sexual maturity.
Microchipping
Unfortunately, no matter how responsible you are as an owner, one in three pets will get lost at some point in their lifetime. Losing an animal can be devastating, which is why it’s critical to give your pet the best chance at finding their way home. Collars with tags can be easily lost or removed, which is why a microchip is the best way to ensure you can be reunited with your pet if they go missing. Implantation of a microchip by a skilled veterinarian is quick, simple, and relatively pain-free. Not to mention, it will stay with your pet for life, sitting just under the skin between the shoulder blades. Register your pet’s microchip in the national pet-finding database, HomeAgain, so that you can easily be reunited with a lost pet.
