Puppy and Kitten Care

Just like children, young puppies and kittens require extra medical care during their first year of life. A combination of wellness visits with a veterinarian and vaccinations can help ensure that your furry new friend gets off to the best possible start.

Belleview West Animal Hospital in Littleton, CO, has experience caring for even the youngest, tiniest puppies and kittens, and we want to help you both start healthy habits right off the bat.

Your Puppy or Kitten's Initial Visit with Our Veterinarian

We recommend that you schedule your pet's first appointment with our veterinarian as soon as possible to get an overall health assessment. Our vet will conduct a thorough physical exam and go over healthcare basics for your new friend. Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention, as well as vaccinations, will be discussed, and our doctor may recommend that you start those right away. Our experienced team members will also offer nutrition and housetraining advice, and give you the opportunity to ask questions.

Ongoing Visits

Pets need several wellness visits during their first year to ensure preventive care and monitoring. Our veterinarian will go over a recommended schedule during your pet’s first appointment, with the frequency of visits tailored to your pet's individual needs. Some visits will entail physical exams, while others will involve a vaccination(s). Belleview West Animal Hospital recommends that pets be microchipped and spayed or neutered before the age of one, and our animal hospital provides those services.

After your pet's first year, you'll transition to annual visits, unless your pet has an issue you're concerned about. At your pet's annual wellness exam, we check several things, including weight, vision, ears, teeth and gums, signs of fleas or ticks in your pet's coat, and abnormalities in the heart, lungs, or abdomen. Recommended vaccines may also be administered, and we'll discuss renewing flea, tick, and heartworm prevention methods.

Vaccinations

All pets, regardless of age and whether or not they have any other conditions, should be regularly vaccinated to prevent diseases. In a pet's first year, there are more vaccines, and typically after that, there are boosters given every one or three years. The vaccines for dogs and cats are different, but the recommended first-year schedule is the same, with visits advised at eight, twelve, and sixteen weeks, then at six months and one year.