New Puppy or Kitten? Essential Care for Your Furry Family Member
Did you just bring home a brand new puppy or kitten? There are few things more rewarding and exciting than adding a furry family member to your home, but keeping them healthy and happy can seem like a full-time job. At Cainhoy Veterinary Hospital, we’re here to help.
Puppy Care
Congratulations on the addition of a new furry friend to your home! Puppies are some of the most magical creatures on earth, with everything a new discovery or opportunity for fun and play.
Caring for a new puppy is the first job for many new dog owners, and it can require a lot of time and attention. Your very first step, even before you bring your pup home, should be to schedule their first wellness appointment at Cainhoy Veterinary Hospital. At this appointment, we’ll conduct a nose-to-tail exam and assess your puppy’s overall health. We may also recommend a fecal analysis to check for parasites, and we’ll also begin their vaccination schedule to start the process of getting them up-to-date on vaccinations so they can safely interact with other dogs and animals.
Other puppy-related topics of discussion at your first appointment with Cainhoy Veterinary Hospital regarding your puppy may include microchipping, planning the best time to conduct a spay/neuter procedure, and nutritional or behavioral counseling to help you give your pup the best possible start to life.
Kitten Care
Is there anything more precious than a new kitten snuggling into your lap with a soft pur? At Cainhoy Veterinary Hospital, we love our kitten patients— and we want to help their owners provide the best possible homes for them.
Generally, we recommend you set up your first appointment as soon as possible so that we can assess your kitten’s health, identify any signs of sickness or parasites, and begin their vaccination schedules. We’ll also discuss our recommendation for spay/neuter procedures and answer any questions you have about keeping your kitten happy and healthy.
Owners who are bringing their kittens into homes where there is already one or more cats should be especially careful. If possible, we recommend bringing your kitten to us before bringing them home so that we can catch any potential diseases or parasites that could be spread to your other cats.
It’s also important to exercise care when introducing your kitten to your existing cats. Start by keeping them in a separate room, letting the cats get used to each other’s scents. Then, introduce them with your new kitten safely inside a carrier. Once they all get used to each other, you can release your kitten into the home freely. This will help reduce the stress that can occur when new cats are introduced to a multi-cat household, as cats can be territorial creatures who are resistant to change
Spay/Neuter Surgery
One of the most common procedures we perform at Cainhoy Veterinary Hospital is the spay/neuter procedure. The primary purpose of this procedure is to prevent reproduction by removing the reproductive organs in males (neutering) and females (spaying). This helps prevent unwanted pregnancies and helps prevent pet homelessness due to unwanted kittens and puppies in the community.
However, spaying and neutering also carry other health benefits. Spayed females have longer lifespans on average, as it reduces the risk of infection, breast cancer, and other diseases. As for males, those who have been neutered also enjoy a decreased cancer risk and reduced behaviors such as roaming and aggression that can lead to dangerous situations.
We recommend that all companion pets should be neutered or spayed. If you have any questions at all about this routine, minimally invasive procedure, please feel free to contact us.
Microchipping
As much as an ID tag and collar can help identify your pet in the event that they’re lost, these can be easily removed or simply fall off. That’s where microchipping comes in - the most secure and permanent way to ensure that your pet can always be returned to you in the event that they’re lost.
Microchipping involves the insertion of a small chip just beneath your pet’s skin. The procedure is fast, minimally invasive, and no more painful or uncomfortable for your pet than a routine vaccination shot. This chip stores information about you and your pet, including contact info, address, and more. Additionally, we offer HomeAgain chips that are Temp Scan enabled which can help reduce stress during your pet's future visits! The chip can later be updated for changes of address or phone number, and now your pet will be able to be identified and returned to you if it’s picked up by a shelter or other facility.
Keep your pet with you forever by having them microchipped and ensuring they’re always able to find their way home to you.