For many pet lovers, there’s nothing more exciting than welcoming a new puppy or kitten home. The veterinarians at Hayfield Animal Hospital are your partners in giving them the best possible start, and our puppy and kitten care is designed to do exactly that. The first few months of a young pet’s life are critical to their development, future health, and lifelong well-being — so the sooner we meet your new friend, the better.
Your Puppy or Kitten’s First Visit
You should schedule your puppy or kitten to see the veterinarian as soon as possible after you adopt. At that first visit, we’ll perform a complete head-to-tail physical exam to answer the big questions: Is your pet’s growth on track? Are there any early signs of health issues? How big will they get? From there, we’ll build a course of vaccinations and parasite prevention tailored to your pet, along with guidance on nutrition, socialization, and house training. You’ll schedule several visits over your pet’s first year so we can keep them on track every step of the way.
What Puppy and Kitten Care Includes
Comprehensive Physical Exams
Every visit starts with a thorough exam to make sure your young pet is growing and developing exactly as they should.
Vaccinations
Just like newborn babies, young pets have immune systems that aren’t fully developed yet, which leaves them more vulnerable to disease. That’s why puppies and kittens need a series of vaccinations given at monthly intervals.
- Puppies receive rabies (often required by law), canine distemper series, Lyme series, leptospirosis, and Bordetella series.
- Kittens receive rabies (often required by law), FVRCP, and FeLV vaccines. Beyond core vaccines, we evaluate your pet’s lifestyle and likely exposure before recommending anything additional.
Intestinal Parasite Screening
Worms are very common in young pets and can make them seriously ill — and some can even infect human family members. Fecal testing is a must, and if your pet tests positive for hookworms, whipworms, roundworms, or tapeworms, we’re ready to help.
Microchipping
Microchipping is one of the most important things you can do for your pet. Unlike a collar, a microchip stays with them for life and dramatically improves the odds of a lost pet making it home to you.
First Doses of Heartworm, Flea, and Tick Preventative
Fleas and ticks aren’t just unpleasant — they carry disease and can seriously harm a young pet. Heartworm can be deadly, and while treatment exists for dogs (it’s expensive and hard on them), there is no heartworm treatment available for cats, which makes prevention essential. We’ll get your puppy or kitten started on their first doses.
Behavior and Nutrition Counseling
Puppies and kittens don’t come with instruction manuals, so we’re here to help. We’ll talk through house training and litterbox training, the importance of socialization, and basic training, plus advise you on feeding schedules and the best nutrition options for healthy growth.
Puppy Vaccine Schedule
Every pet is unique, so we’ll tailor this to your puppy — but here’s a typical first-year-and-beyond schedule:
- 8 weeks: DHPP vaccine #1/3; fecal test; deworm with Drontal; start heartworm/flea/tick prevention
- 10 weeks: Lyme vaccine #1/2; Bordetella vaccine (effective 6 months); deworm with Panacur
- 12 weeks: DHPP #2/3 plus Leptospirosis #1/2 (DHLPP); deworm with Drontal; next heartworm/flea/tick dose
- 14 weeks: Lyme vaccine #2/2 (effective 1 year); deworm with Panacur
- 16 weeks: DHLPP (#3/3 DHPP and #2/2 Lepto, both effective 1 year); rabies (1 year); fecal test; deworm with Drontal; next heartworm/flea/tick dose; Bordetella; schedule spay/neuter
- 6 months–2 years: spay/neuter if not already done; Bordetella
- 16 months: DHLPP (DHPP effective 3 years, Lepto 1 year); rabies (3 years); Lyme (1 year); annual fecal test; annual heartworm/tick-borne disease test
Kitten Vaccine Schedule
- 8 weeks: FVRCP #1; feline leukemia (FeLV) #1; feline leukemia testing; stool exam and deworming; begin parasite prevention; nutritional counseling; litter training guidance
- 12 weeks: FVRCP #2; FeLV #2; stool exam and deworming
- 16 weeks: FVRCP #3; rabies vaccine
- 6 months: stool exam and deworming; spay/neuter
Before You Bring Your New Pet Home
A little preparation goes a long way. Before the big day, make sure you have:
- A sturdy pet carrier — keeps a nervous pet safe and secure in the car
- Collar and bedding — sized appropriately for your pet
- Safe, appropriately sized toys — the right size prevents choking hazards
Fear Free Resources
As a Fear Free certified practice, we want your pet’s visits to be as calm as possible. These handouts can help:
- Preparing for Your Fear Free Visit (PDF)
- Making the Trip to the Hospital Fear Free (PDF)
- Fear Free Puppy Socialization (PDF)
- Fear Free Kitten Socialization (PDF)
Give your new best friend the healthiest possible start. To schedule your puppy or kitten’s wellness visit, call us at 703-971-2127 today.