Coming home with a brand new kitten or puppy can be so magical. This adorable, cuddly new member of the family knows how to make everyone smile.
As exciting as it can be, there is also some serious health care business to take care of during your new pet's first year of life.
Your vet will develop a custom health care plan to meet your pet's specific needs during their first year, and provide you with plenty of support and guidance along the way!
Puppies should have their initial veterinary appointment around six weeks of age, and kittens around eight weeks.
During their primary visit, your pet will receive a complete physical assessment to check their health, look for signs of any congenital defects, and look for any external parasites.
We will also administer deworming medications for roundworms and hookworms, and the first round of puppy or kitten vaccinations.
More About Vaccines & Prevention
Finally, for kittens, we will perform a blood test to check for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.
Puppies and kittens should attend 3 to 4 veterinary appointments between the ages of 6 and 16 weeks. These visits allow our vets to assess your pet's overall health and to administer vaccines on schedule.
Bringing home a new puppy or kitten comes with a lot of important responsibilities.
To help you navigate your puppy or kitten's first year, our team will provide plenty of guidance, support, and helpful information.
Our Kitten and Puppy information packs contain everything you'll need to know about your pet’s early development, including:
Our vets will happily answer any questions you may have, and put any concerns or worries to rest. We want to make sure that you and your puppy or kitten have everything you need to begin a wonderful life together!
Gentle Doctor Animal Hospital is accepting new patients! Our experienced vets are passionate about the health of companion animals in O’Fallon and surrounding communities. Get in touch today to book your pet's first appointment.
Saturday Appointments Available