Puppy & Kitten Care

Every puppy and kitten patient receives comprehensive, age-appropriate care that covers all the essentials of a healthy start:

• Thorough nose-to-tail physical exam: at every visit we check the heart (listening for congenital murmurs), lungs, abdomen, eyes, ears, bite alignment, coat, and musculoskeletal development. Early identification of issues like umbilical hernias, retained testicles (cryptorchidism), heart murmurs, or luxating patellas shapes the long-term plan
• Core vaccine series: puppies receive DA2PP (distemper, adenovirus, parvovirus, parainfluenza) every 3–4 weeks from 8 weeks of age until at least 16 weeks, followed by rabies after 12 weeks. Kittens receive FVRCP (feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia) on the same interval, plus rabies. Both species are evaluated for Bordetella and other lifestyle vaccines at the first visit
• Fecal testing and deworming: intestinal parasites (roundworms, hookworms, Giardia) are extremely common in young pets, even from responsible breeders. A fecal exam and appropriate deworming are routine at every early visit
• Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention: Southern California's year-round flea pressure and the presence of heartworm in our region make starting prevention early important. Safe, appropriately sized products are selected for each patient
• Nutrition and feeding guidance: we discuss species-appropriate diets, feeding frequency and amounts for growth, and how to evaluate body condition as your pet matures — avoiding both underfeeding and the excess calories that set the stage for adult obesity
• Microchipping: a permanent, safe form of identification highly recommended before your pet has full outdoor access. Registration guidance is included
• Spay and neuter planning: the timing of spay and neuter is more nuanced than many owners realize, particularly in larger dog breeds where early neutering can affect musculoskeletal development. We discuss the evidence-based approach specific to your pet's breed and size
• Behavior, socialization, and house-training advice: the socialization window for puppies and kittens closes early. We help you make the most of it with practical, owner-friendly guidance on building positive associations, preventing fear-based behavior, and establishing house rules

Puppy and kitten care is not a single visit — it is a series of connected appointments that build on each other. The first visit, ideally within a week of bringing your new pet home, focuses on the baseline physical exam, identifying any immediate health concerns, starting the vaccine and parasite-control plan, and establishing nutrition guidance. Each subsequent visit (roughly every 3–4 weeks) advances the vaccine series, rechecks growth and development, addresses new questions, and catches any issues that may have appeared since the last appointment. The final visit in the series — typically around 16 weeks of age — completes the core vaccines, finalizes the prevention plan, and sets the schedule for the first adult wellness exam and heartworm test. Throughout all of these visits, the focus is on low-stress, calm handling so that your pet builds a positive association with the veterinary clinic from the very beginning — an investment that pays dividends for years to come.

Here is a general guide to the key milestones in a puppy or kitten's first year of life. Your individual plan may vary based on your pet's age at adoption, vaccine history from the breeder or shelter, and health findings at the exam:

• 8 weeks (first visit, if adopted at 8 weeks): baseline exam, first DA2PP or FVRCP, fecal test and deworming, start flea/tick prevention, microchip, nutrition counseling
• 11–12 weeks: second DA2PP or FVRCP, recheck physical development, follow-up deworming if needed, Bordetella vaccine for dogs with boarding or dog-park exposure
• 14–16 weeks: third DA2PP or FVRCP, rabies vaccine, leukemia vaccine for cats at risk, final deworming, heartworm prevention started in dogs
• 6 months (approximate): discuss spay/neuter timing — for many pets this is the recommended window, though breed and size can shift it later
• 12–14 months: first adult wellness exam, DA2PP or FVRCP booster (often given as a 1-year booster after the puppy/kitten series), rabies booster per local regulations, first heartworm test for dogs, body-condition assessment as growth concludes

Some kittens received from shelters or breeders may already have one or two vaccines on record — bring any vaccination paperwork to the first visit so we can build the most appropriate schedule without unnecessary repetition.