If you haven’t had a pet from infanthood before, you are going to be in for a learning curve. Like human infants, the care that your new puppy or kitten will need will be significantly different to that of an adult of the same species. There are also a couple of key responsibilities that you have as her owner, to ensure that she is as healthy and strong as possible.
Here are some of the key things that you will need to consider when it comes to puppy and kitten care, and the services that we can provide to help you ensure that your furriest family member grows and develops into a healthy, happy adult pet.
Vaccinations
Unfortunately, infectious diseases don’t just pose a risk to humans. There are plenty of pet varieties that can put the health of your new puppy or kitten under threat. Vaccinations are widely used to protect animals from infectious diseases, but while your furbaby is so small, she isn’t able to have the full dose immediately. Instead, you will need to bring her in for regular small doses, at the times explained by our veterinary team, to build up her immunity to these diseases slowly. Exactly what vaccinations your pet will need and when they should be administered will be explained to you by your veterinarian, as will the importance of sticking to the schedule of vaccinations and preventative care that will be created for your puppy or kitten by our team.
Parasite Prevention
Infectious diseases aren’t the only issue that you will need to worry about. Parasites are a common problem amongst furry pets, with ticks, fleas, mites, and worms all posing a risk to those that aren’t properly protected. Many people mistakenly believe that parasites aren’t a big deal, but they can have serious consequences for your pet and even your whole family. Fleas are notoriously hard to get rid of and will bite humans as well as animals, while ticks carry a range of unpleasant diseases including Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease. There are many types of worm that can affect your pet, including heartworms, which are nearly always deadly if not treated. The best thing you can do for your pet is to protect her using effective parasite prevention products. Our experienced veterinary team can guide you towards the best products for your pet and give you all the advice and support you need regarding their application.
Spaying and Neutering
You may already be aware that America is facing an overpopulation crisis when it comes to pets. Shelters across the country are at capacity, and countless animals are being euthanized every year as there simply isn’t the resources to care for them. You can eliminate your pet’s risk of adding to this burden by getting her spayed/neutered at a young age. The procedure involves removing the reproductive organs so that she can no longer bear offspring – or in the case of a male, get another pregnant. There is also a range of health and behavior benefits associated with spaying/neutering including the eliminated risk of cancers of the reproductive organs and less/no urine spraying. The sooner that you arrange for your puppy or kitten to be spayed/neutered, the greater the benefits for her health.
Nutrition
The nutritional requirements of animals change during their lifetime. When your puppy or kitten is still growing, it is essential that she gets the right nutrition to be able to develop probably and mature into a healthy, strong adult. However, with so many different products to choose from, identifying the right food can be a little overwhelming. Her eating habits will be different from an adult pet too since her stomach is still very small. Our experienced veterinary team can tell you everything you need to know about finding the right diet for your pet, and how and when you will need to consider amending it.
Behavior and Training
When you take on a puppy or kitten, she will almost certainly have had little to no training beforehand. As her owner, it is your responsibility to help her develop into a well-rounded, capable and confident adult. This means undertaking things such as obedience training, toilet training, socialization and more. Failure to take these responsibilities seriously can make life with your pet stressful and unpleasant. A harmonious home is one where your pet knows and understands what the rules are and is able to abide by them the majority of the time. Our knowledgeable veterinarians can offer advice and support regarding puppy and kitten behavior and training.
If you would like more information on puppy and kitten services, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our veterinary clinic in Jefferson, OH, where our capable and compassionate veterinarians will be delighted to assist you.
