Puppy And Kitten Wellness

New Pet Wellness: Puppy & Kitten Care with Vaccinations & Parasite Prevention

Give your puppy or kitten a great start: contact The Maywood Veterinary Clinic for a wellness exam as soon as your new pet arrives. We develop a health and prevention plan for every young pet that is custom-made to address their needs. Our wellness program provides the best possible care for your new companion at every stage of life.

Puppy Protocols

Vaccinations for disease prevention are included in every wellness plan. While tailored to your new pup’s specific needs, vaccines may include the following:

  • DHPP/Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, & Parovirus: Given beginning at eight weeks of age, in a series of three vaccinations, three weeks apart.
  • Leptospirosis: Can be given as early as six weeks of age, repeated two-four weeks later as a booster; we recommend repeating every six months due to the dangers of Lepto in our area and its potential to infect humans.
  • Lyme: Can be given as early as seven weeks of age, then a booster in two-four weeks; after the series is completed, given annually.
  • Bordatella (Kennel Cough): Administered either orally or through an injection, given ten days prior to possible risk of exposure and repeated every six months.
  • Rabies: Given after twelve weeks of age and one year later, then boostered every three years.
Additionally, puppies receive the following:
  • Fecal Testing: A fresh stool sample should be brought in at your first visit to test for intestinal parasites.
  • Deworming: At the first and second visits, your puppy is dewormed.

Given the vast number of puppies who test positive for intestinal parasites, we choose to be proactive and deworm all new pets. Your puppy will most likely receive a pill called Drontal, a very safe treatment for roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.

Kitten Protocols

Vaccinations for disease prevention are included in every wellness plan. While tailored to your new kitten’s specific needs, vaccines may include the following:

  • FVRCP/Feline Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, & Chlamydia Psittaci: Given as a series, every three weeks beginning from six weeks of age until the kitten is twelve weeks old, boostered annually.
  • Rabies: Given at three months of age or older, boostered annually; we use Purevax because it is gentler for kittens.
  • Feline Leukemia (FELV): Recommended for all cats that go outdoors; kittens are tested via a blood sample then given two vaccinations, three-four weeks apart beginning at nine weeks of age.
Additionally, kittens should receive the following:
  • Fecal Testing: A fresh stool sample should be brought in at your first visit to test for intestinal parasites.
  • Deworming: At the first and second visits, your kitten is dewormed. Given the vast number of kittens who test positive for intestinal parasites, we choose to be proactive and deworm all new pets. Your kitten will most likely receive a pill called Drontal, a very safe treatment for roundworms, hookworms, and tapeworms.
  • FELV/FIV testing: All new kittens are tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline Aids in their first visit. These viruses are very dangerous to cats and contagious to other felines. With the outcome of a positive result, our veterinarians will instruct you as to the next step.
  • Revolution: We recommend all our new feline friends be put on Revolution, a once a month application that rids your kitten of fleas, ear mites, heartworms, hookworms, and roundworms. Please call our office to learn more about Revolution.

Pets, Worms & Children

Dogs and cats are born with worms contracted in the mother’s uterus and should first be dewormed at three weeks of age. Puppies and kittens also are infected from their mother’s milk and need to be dewormed after they are weaned. Kittens and pups should be dewormed at least four times between seven and sixteen weeks of age and then rechecked at six months and one year of age.

This intestinal parasite control program is the one recommended by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) due to the incidence of hookworm and roundworm infections in humans. Under normal situations it is rare for children to become infected with worms from animals. However, we strongly recommend good sanitation and parasite control to keep you family’s risk at a minimum.

Visit the CDC Healthy Pets, Healthy People webpage for more information and guidance on this topic.

Spaying & Neutering

If you are not a breeder, we recommend you to spay or neuter your pet in the first six months of age.

  • Spaying: A surgical procedure that renders your female dog or cat infertile. This procedure involves the removal of your pet’s ovaries and uterus, and is performed under a general anesthetic.
  • Neutering: A surgical procedure that renders your male dog or cat infertile. This procedure involves the removal of your pet’s testicles, and is performed under a general anesthetic.
Spay or neuter benefits:
  • Prevents overpopulation: Since many pets are euthanized for lack of a good home, spaying and neutering is insurance against this practice.

  • Promotes health: The procedure is safe for your pet and helps prevent cancer, uterine infections, prostate problems and more.
  • Controls behavior: Spaying and neutering reduces or eliminates many problem behaviors such as urine marking, aggression, and roaming.

The Maywood Veterinary Clinic veterinarians discuss this procedure with you at your first visit. Learn more reasons to spay and neuter from the ASPCA and The Humane Society.

Microchips

We encourage every pet owner to insert a microchip in their new pet. This very simple procedure may be performed either during spay or neuter surgery or at any wellness visit.

Pet microchips have helped reunite thousands of pets with their families. We offer the most widely used microchip products to increase the chance of a safe recovery.