Getting a new puppy or kitten is a time of happiness for the entire house. As a pet parent, it should be your top priority to ensure that your pet stays healthy. Just like humans need regular doctor visits, pets also need health screenings to start their lives right. These early visits are crucial to ensure that they are healthy, which sets a strong foundation for their future health.
When your new pet puppy or kitten becomes 8 weeks old, it is time for their first visit to the vet. During this visit, their health and development is checked. If they have health issues, doctors can point them out early. You will further receive tips about how to care for your pet, like how to brush their teeth and keep them free from parasites.
The warm climate in Murrieta makes it all the more important to make sure your pet gets the right care and treatment. The local vets in Murrieta are aware of the health challenges pets in this area face and can provide the best care. Even if you have had experience with pets before, it is important to find a vet you can trust. Visit a pet clinic in Murrieta, CA today.
Common health screenings for new puppies and kittens
1. Initial screening for growing pets.
One of the first visits of your young friend to the vet involves a full body health checkup where the doctor examines from their head to their tail. They check vital signs, look at the body condition, listen to the heart and lungs, check the lymph nodes, and examine the eyes, ears, and teeth. These exams help the vet see if your pet is healthy and can find any problems early.
This is also a great time to ask any questions that you might have.
2. Important tests and prevention measures.
In addition to checkups, your young pets also require some important tests. For puppies, a fecal test is usually done during their vaccinations to check for parasites in the intestines. This is a common condition in puppies, and it can be passed through the mother’s milk.
Puppies over six months old should also have a heartworm test. This is often done with tests for tick-borne diseases like Lyme disease, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia. Blood tests are also important, especially before spaying or neutering. This ensures that your pet can safely have anesthesia.
3. Vaccinations.
It is very important to protect your new pet from common diseases with the right vaccinations. For puppies, the DHLPP vaccine series is given. It protects against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvo, and parainfluenza. For kittens, the FVRCP vaccine is recommended. It protects against rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, and panleukopenia.
4. Parasite control.
Your pets are vulnerable to parasites as they go outside and get in contact with other animals. Puppies should start deworming when they are two weeks old and continue every two weeks until they are weaned. For kittens, deworming starts at three weeks old and is done every two weeks until they are eight to nine weeks old.
5. Microchipping.
Finally, microchipping can greatly benefit your pet, even though not a lot of people do this. Many vets recommend microchipping your new pet during early checkups. This is a simple procedure where a tiny chip is placed under the skin between the shoulders. It is not a health test, but it gives your pet a permanent ID that cannot be lost or damaged.
If your pet ever gets lost, vets and animal shelters can use a microchip scanner to help bring your pet back to you.
Give your pet the best start to life!
Caring for your pet’s health and safety begins right when you bring them home. Protect their future now with expert care from trusted vets in Murrieta!
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