A new puppy or kitten opens the door to new adventures in your life. It can be hard to figure out what to do next. In the first couple of days, you should take your new furry friend to a veterinarian for a pet exam. Our veterinarians at Westside Veterinary Hospital in Statesboro have a few preventative pet care tips to make sure your puppy or kitten has a long, healthy life.
Wellness Exams
Wellness exams, or check-ups, help make sure your new pet is healthy, does not show any birth defects, and sets a baseline of comparison for future visits. Your pet may look perfect, but there could be problems that cannot be easily seen. Bring a stool sample to your visit, because puppies and kittens often have worms. Your pet will need a blood test to make sure all of the organs are functioning properly, and that there are no early signs of infection or disease.
Set Up a Vaccine Schedule
In Georgia, all puppies and kittens are required by law to have the rabies vaccine. Even though that is the only vaccine the law requires your pet to have, it is highly recommended to get the core vaccines for kittens and puppies. The vaccines are a proven and cost-effective way to protect your new pet from the potentially deadly diseases that he or she will be exposed to. Most of the vaccines need three doses to work, so you need to set up a vaccination schedule during your first visit.
Parasite Prevention
Having fleas and ticks is miserable enough, but these parasites can also pass on diseases. Mosquitoes pass lethal heartworms. It is impossible to entirely stop these parasites from reaching your home. However, you can make sure that the parasites die if they bite your pet. Our veterinarians have medication in chewable tablets or lotions that prevent fleas, ticks, and heartworms.
Spaying and Neutering
One of the best preventative pet care steps you can take for your new pet is to get your pet spayed or neutered. Many studies have come out showing that spayed and neutered pets live longer. If female puppies are spayed before they come into season for the first time, they have virtually no chance of developing breast cancer. Your pets also will not be as prone to running away, because they will not have the drive to search for mates. If healthy enough, puppies and kittens can be safely neutered when they are six weeks old.
Contact Our Veterinarians in Statesboro, GA
Whether you have a puppy, kitten, dog, or cat, a yearly pet exam is important to keep your pet healthy. If you live in the Statesboro area, call Westside Veterinary Hospital at (912) 489-1998 to schedule an appointment with one of our veterinarians.
