Puppies should ideally have their first veterinary appointment around six weeks of age, and kittens around eight weeks.
During this initial visit, your pet will receive a complete physical examination to assess their overall health, look for signs of any congenital defects, and check for external parasites.
We will also administer deworming medications for roundworms and hookworms, and the first round of puppy or kitten vaccinations.
Finally, for kittens, we will perform a blood test to check for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus.
Puppies and kittens should attend 3 to 4 veterinary appointments between the ages of 6 and 16 weeks. These visits allow our vets to assess your pet's overall health and to administer vaccines on schedule.
Because the immune system is still developing, puppies and kittens must receive a series of vaccines including boosters. We tailor our vaccine recommendations based on your pet’s individual lifestyle and breed using guidelines established by the American Veterinary Medical Association(AVMA) and the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA).
Visit our preventative care page for more information on pet vaccinations.
Both puppies and kittens should have certain diagnostic tests over the course of their first year. Puppies should be tested for heartworm by 12 months of age, if not before. Kittens, on the other hand, should be tested for feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) during their first exam.
Our veterinarians are happy to answer any questions you may have about caring for your puppy or kitten. We want to make sure you have all the information you need to help your pet thrive. Call us at 479-385-2038 to schedule your pet’s first physical exam.
Phone: 479-385-2038
