Caring for a puppy or kitten involves some different
challenges than caring for an adult dog or cat. If you're not familiar with
having a baby animal in the house, you may wonder what you need to do to help
this new arrival grow up strong, healthy and happy. Here are four key areas
that merit your special attention.
1. Vaccinations
If you have owned adult dogs or cats, you may already know
that these animals require periodic vaccinations to protect them against
dangerous germs. Every dog and cat should have core vaccinations against the
most common and deadly diseases. Some animals also need non-core vaccinations
against lifestyle-specific threats.
The main difference in puppy/kitten vaccinations and adult
pet vaccinations lies in the number and frequency of shots. Adult animals who
received a full complement of vaccinations in early life need booster shots on
an as-needed basis, while baby animals require multiple rounds of vaccinations
to establish that initial immunization.
Puppies and kittens receive their first vaccinations around
the age of six weeks. Core vaccinations against diseases such as parvovirus,
feline calicivirus, and panleukopenia continue via a series of three or more
additional injections, completed by the age of 16 weeks. Single-dose rabies
vaccinations occur at nine weeks.
Following these initial rounds of vaccinations, puppies and
kittens get their first set of booster shots at one year of age. From that
point forward, they follow the standard vaccination protocol for adult animals.
Your veterinarian will advise you on your pet's particular booster shot needs
and schedule.
2. Parasite Control
Internal parasites can find their way into puppies and
kittens from the very beginning of life, with mothers passing their own worms
to their babies through breast milk. Digestive worms such as hookworms,
whipworms, and roundworms can cause serious illness or even death.
Not all worms invade the digestive system. One of the most
dangerous parasites, the heartworm, invades the bloodstream through mosquito
bites and grows inside the heart and lungs. Heartworm infestations may progress
slowly, but they pose serious challenges to treatment and may eventually cause
death.
You can protect your puppy or kitten against such threats by
scheduling deworming, beginning when your pet is around two
weeks old. As your pet gets older, monthly preventative medications can
keep the danger in check.
3. Diet and Nutrition
Puppies and kittens have different nutritional and caloric
needs than their adult counterparts. Once weaning has occurred, you'll find
that these animals need lots of calorie-dense, protein-rich food to keep up
with their seemingly boundless growth and energy levels. Your veterinarian can
advise you on specific food products.
Your puppy or kitten feeding schedule may feature up to four
meals a day at first. This meal frequency then pares down gradually until
adulthood, when two daily meals suit most canine and feline needs.
4. Socialization
Puppies and kittens must learn how to interact harmoniously
with humans and other animals since this ability only comes with experience. A
puppy or kitten that receives minimal socialization may go on to display
unnatural fear, anxiety, or aggression in social situations.
Make plans to start socializing your puppy or kitten by the
age of three
weeks
, continuing this learning process until the age of 20 weeks.
Socialization classes or the help of a private trainer can make this process
easier and more successful. Daily walks can prove especially useful as part of
the socialization process.
Pet Medical Center of Vero Beach has the right
mix of skills, tools, and expertise to help puppies and kittens thrive.
Contact
our clinic to
schedule preventative services or any other care your pet may need.
