New puppies can be exciting and fun. While it is certainly easy to get caught up in how cute they are and all of the joy they add to our homes, it is important to remember the practical side of becoming a new pet owner. If you set your new animal up for success in their health and wellness journey while they are young, you can avoid a lot of unnecessary stress, pain, or complications for them later in life. We recommend making their initial appointment no later than within their first 8 weeks of life. The benefit to having them seen so early on is that it allows for early detection of any type of health concerns, it creates a strong foundation to build upon through our their lifetime, and serves as an environment for you to learn and ask questions on how to best support your new pet.
Your new puppy could come into your life with preexisting medical conditions without your knowing. It is not uncommon for young animals to be suffering from medical issues like parasitic infection. If left untreated, parasites can lead to severe and even life-threatening circumstances. If we discover that your new puppy or kitten requires medication, we can eliminate their parasitic infection while also providing preventative treatments to avoid future infestation. Your animal will need to receive core vaccinations and, depending on their lifestyle, maybe certain non-core vaccinations to prevent illness. These early steps can make huge differences in an animal's life.
New kittens can light up a room with their naturally curious and mischievous personalities. Just like with a new puppy, a young feline addition to the family can bring with them some medical issues that need to be looked for or potentially addressed, like parasitic infections. It is our recommendation to bring your kitten in for their first appointment by the time they reach 8 weeks old. Vaccinations for your new pet will be an important step towards keeping them healthy for the years to come, particularly if your cat likes to spend their time outside. Core vaccinations for cats include rabies, herpesvirus, calcivirus, and panleukopenia. We strongly urge you to get your kitten tested for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) and Feline Leukemia (FeLV) as soon as possible, especially if you have a multi-cat household. These diseases are relatively contagious and are spread between cats relatively easily. While both FIV and FeLV can be spread through bites, FeLV can be transferred by urine, feces, saliva, nasal secretions, and other bodily fluids as well.
If you are introducing a new kitten into a home that already has a cat or cats living there, we suggest doing so in stages. Cats are territorial, and their instincts can result in aggression towards one another. The cats that have already been living at your house will need time to adjust to the new kitten's scent. Allowing them to smell one other via a closed door for the first few days is a good idea.
Phone: 718-387-0541
