It’s a very exciting time when you welcome and new furry friend into your home. Alongside the excitement and inevitable cuddles, there are a few things that are important to consider at this time, in order to ensure that your puppy or kitten has the best start with you.
Diet
It is recommended that up until 4 months, a puppy or kitten should receive 4 small meals a day. Up until 6 months they should receive 3 meals a day, and then 2 after this. What you choose to feed your pet is an entirely personal decision, but make sure it’s fully balanced for their needs – and please do ask us if you need advice regarding your pet’s nutrition.
Exercise
It is certainly important to keep your pets active, but young animals should not strenuously exercise while they are still growing.
Encourage play and mental stimulation by providing plenty of toys, playing games and using puzzle feeders. Towers and scratching posts for kittens are also great.
On the other end of the spectrum, they also need to get lots of rest! Try and give them space to take themselves off for a nap during the day, away from the hustle and bustle of your household.
Socialisation
This is important for both puppies and kittens to ensure that they are confident and have the skills to communicate well with others in their environment, that being both people and other animals.
Puppies can be introduced to fully vaccinated dogs early on – ideally the earlier the better. It may also be wise to get them used to different environmental situations, such as busy areas, loud noises and travelling in the car. Kittens should get used to being handled and should be introduced to a few different people.
Dental care
Start cleaning your puppy or kitten’s teeth while they’re young to reduce the risk of needing dental treatment further down the line. By starting them off early, they’re much more likely to be receptive to it, making your life as an owner much easier!
Insurance
We recommend that you take out insurance for your pet, as you never know what kind of trouble they may get into! There are many different policies out there, so work out which one will be best for you and your pet.
Vaccinations
Prevention is certainly better than a cure, which is why we recommend that you vaccinate your new pet. These will greatly reduce the risk of them becoming ill from certain diseases. The primary course of vaccinations normally involves 2 injections 2-4 weeks apart, but sometimes a third is needed.
Puppies can have their first vaccine from 8 weeks old. These vaccines will help to protect against parvovirus, canine distemper virus, canine hepatitis and leptospirosis.
Kittens can be vaccinated from 9 weeks old, and will be covered for cat flu (feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus), feline leukaemia virus, and feline panleukopenia virus.
It is important to remember that young animals are much more susceptible to disease and in some cases these diseases can be fatal. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have further questions regarding vaccinations.
Parasite control
Puppies and kittens can be affected by parasites, so we recommend treating them from an early age. They should have already received some treatment from their breeders, but it is important to continue this once they come home with you. Please ask us for more information on products we recommend.
Come in and see us!
We love welcoming new puppies and kittens to our practice! It’s a great opportunity for one of our vets to check them from nose to tail, and for you to ask any questions you may have. It also allows your new pet to become accustomed to visiting us while they are well, making future visits less stressful.
We are also happy to answer any questions about our pet care plans, which look after your pet’s preventative health care, health checks, as well as discounts on neutering and dental treatment. Please see our website for more information (https://castlevets.ie/pet-care-plans/).
