Puppy and Kitten Care

Care for Proper Growth and Optimum Health

(703) 971-2127

Get Your Puppy and Kitten off to a Great Start at Hayfield Animal Hospital

Puppies and kittens require special care for proper growth and healthy development. The veterinarians of Hayfield Animal Hospital offer years of experience in caring for your youngest pets. Our progressive approach is all-inclusive, addressing your pet care needs from disease prevention to proper pet behavior.

Before You Bring Your New Puppy or Kitten Home

There are certain basic pet care needs that you should address before you even bring your new puppy or kitten home.


 puppies and kittens

  • A Sturdy Pet Carrier - A pet carrier can prevent a stressed pet from creating a dangerous situation in a moving vehicle.

 puppies and kittens

  • Collars and Bedding - make sure these items are suitable for your pet's size and needs.

  • Safe and Appropriate Toys - When it comes to toys, be certain that toys are properly sized for your pet.

  • Health Care Services

    Regardless of your young pet’s needs, at Perinton we will provide first-class services to keep them healthy and playful. Some of the other services we provide are:

    • Wellness and preventative care
    • Vaccination and parasite prevention
    • Spaying and neutering
    • Nutrition
    • Dental and oral care
    • Disease and illness screening

  • Scheduling an Appointment

    It is important to schedule your new pet’s first check-up as soon as possible. During this appointment, we will perform a complete head-to-toe physical examination to check for any potential health care issues.


    In addition, we will create a course of disease and parasite prevention protocols which we will tailor to your pet’s needs. We will also provide nutritional counseling and advice regarding socialization, behavior, and house training.


    You will need to schedule several visits during your puppy or kitten’s first year of life, to ensure they get proper monitoring, vaccinations, and preventative care. Here is a typical schedule for a puppy or kitten’s first year, though each pet is unique and your schedule will be tailored specifically to your pet.

  • Fear Free Hospital Visit

    We need your help to make your pet's visit as Fear Free as possible. One thing you can do is to ensure that your pet gets to the veterinary hospital in a calm state of mind. The following tips will help you and your pet arrive in one piece and in peace.


    • When transporting your cat or small dog in a carrier, minimize movement. Support carrier from the bottom, and carry like a fragile gift.
    • Prepare the car so it promotes a calming enviroment.
    • Play calming music
    • Use calming pheromones or scents like lavnder
    • Properly secure carrier/crate
    • Avoid feeling rushed. If you are stressed, your pet will sense this and may become stressed
    • To prevent carsickness, accelerate slowly from a stop, allow extra distance between other vehicles to prevent sudden braking, and take turns slow.
    • Cats need 5-10 minutes to adjust to their new surroundings and feel safe.  make sure your cat's carrier is on an elevated surface and cover with a towel. Depening on your dog's preference, you might wait in the vehicle, take a short walk, or wait in the lobby.


    ** Talk to your veterinarian anout carsickness and anxiety.  We may be able to prescripe anti-nausea or anti-anxiety supplements or medications. **

  • Kitten Vaccine Schedule

    8 Weeks

    • RTCP #1 (feline viral rhinotracheitis/calicivirus/panleukopenia)
    • Feline leukemia vaccine (FeLV) #1 (non-core vaccine)
    • Stool exam and deworming
    • Feline leukemia testing
    • Begin parasite prevention protocol
    • Nutritional counseling
    • Litter training guidance

    12 weeks

    • RTCP #2
    • Feline leukemia vaccine #2
    • Stool exam and deworming

    16 weeks

    • FVRCP#3
    • Rabies vaccine

    6 months

    • Stool exam and deworming
    • Spay/neuter

  • Puppy Vaccine Schedule

    8 weeks 

    • Distemper/Hepatitis/Parvovirus/Parainfluenza (DHPP) vaccine #1/3
    • Fecal test
    • Deworm with Drontal
    • Start heartworm/flea/tick prevention

    10 weeks 

    • Lyme vaccine #1/2
    • Bordetella vaccine (effective for 6 months)
    • Deworm with Panacur

    12 weeks

    • DHPP vaccine #2/3 plus Leptospirosis vaccine #1/2 (DHLPP)
    • Deworm with Drontal
    • Next dose of heartworm/flea/tick prevention

    14 weeks

    • Lyme vaccine #2/2 (effective for 1 year)
    • Deworm with Panacur

    16 weeks 

    • DHLPP vaccine (#3/3 DHPP, effective for 1 year; #2/2 Lepto, effective for 1 year)
    • Rabies vaccine (effective for 1 year)
    • Fecal test
    • Deworm with Drontal
    • Next dose of heartworm/flea/tick prevention
    • Schedule ovariohysterectomy (spay) for female dogs or orchidectomy (neuter) for male dogs
    • Bordetella vaccine

    6 months-2 years 

    • Schedule ovariohysterectomy (spay) for female dogs or orchidectomy (neuter) for male dogs (if not already)
    • Bordetella vaccine

    16 months 

    • DHLPP vaccine (DHPP effective for 3 years, Lepto effective for 1 year)
    • Rabies vaccine (effective for 3 years)
    • Lyme vaccine (effective for 1 year)
    • Fecal test (performed annually)
    • Heartworm/Tick-borne disease test (performed annually)