Puppy & kitten care
There are many things to consider when taking on a new furry friend.
Vaccinations are important as part of preventative care. Until your pet’s initial course is complete you should avoid contact with animals of unknown vaccination history. You can take your puppy out and about with you so he or she can start to get used to the sights, sounds and smells of the wider world, but he or she should be carried rather than allowed to walk around where unvaccinated dogs may have been. See our ‘routine healthcare’ page for details of vaccinations for dogs, cats and rabbits.
Neutering is advised for cats and dogs from 6 months of age. Until this age it is recommended to keep cats indoors to prevent unplanned pregnancies. If you wish to discuss the benefits of neutering, or the best time to carry out the procedure, feel free to speak to one of our vets. We sometimes neuter dogs and cats earlier or later than six months for behavioural reasons so if you have any concerns, do get in touch.
Insurance may be useful for large, unplanned medical expenses or on-going conditions. We can offer 4 weeks free cover with Petplan for animals aged under 1 year following a check up.
Worm and flea treatments are necessary to keep your pet comfortable and parasite free. During the first 6 months of their life animals should be wormed more frequently (normally once per month). After this age treatments can last between 1-3 months.
Socialising puppies is strongly encouraged and can help with their behaviour and temperament later in life. A well run puppy class is a great way of letting your puppy interact with puppies of a similar age and to start to learn basic commands.
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Micro-chipping is a legal requirement for dogs and compulsory micro-chipping for cats is coming into force in June 2024. We would recommend having all cats and dogs micro-chipped as early as possible. The chip is about the size of a grain of rice, and is injected under the skin between the shoulder blades. The microchip number and owner details are recorded in an online database, which helps reunite pets with their owners should they get lost.
Booking a health check for your pet as soon as possible after picking them up can be very useful, as it allows the vet to do a thorough physical examination, check for parasites, and give you some general advice on feeding, exercise and wellbeing.
