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Kitten & Puppy Care

If you’re the proud “pet parent” of a new puppy or kitten, we congratulate you on the latest addition to your family! We want to help your new companion down the road to wellness, and we believe that road begins with the first kitten/puppy wellness exam. We recommend that you bring your puppy or kitten to Fox Animal Hospital for their initial wellness exam within the first week of adoption. This allows your pet to get familiar with a trip to the veterinarian and for us to meet your pet.

During your pet’s first visit with us, we perform a comprehensive wellness exam, which includes an evaluation of their weight, skin/coat, and fecal sample (to test for internal parasites). We look for any abnormalities that may indicate an illness so we can treat them in their earliest stages and set up a prevention plan. Based on our findings, we create a wellness profile to enable us to check your pet’s progress during future exams.

We also use this first visit to discuss diet/nutrition, training, microchipping, spaying/neutering, pet insurance, and several other kitten/puppy wellness topics to help you be the best possible pet owner. Please feel free to ask any additional questions about your pet’s care during this time. At the end of the visit, we send home a complimentary new puppy/kitten informational kit, a toy, and a free dose of heartworm prevention for puppies.

Ready to book your pet’s wellness exam? Call us at 847-869-4900

Puppy and Kitten Vaccinations

We recommend that all puppies and kittens have a vaccine schedule established as soon as possible to protect them from viruses and diseases. After conducting your pet’s wellness exam, we can customize a protocol to meet their specific needs. Below is a list of a typical vaccine schedule for both puppies and kittens.

Puppy Vaccine Schedule

8-9 weeks – *DAPP #1 of 3 and Bordetella (kennel cough)
11-12 weeks – DAPP #2 of 3
16 weeks – DAPP #3 of 3 and rabies

* DAPP: Distemper / Adenovirus /  Parainfluenza / Parvovirus

The Leptospirosis vaccine series is also recommended and usually starts when your pet is of age for spaying/neutering.

Kitten Vaccine Schedule

8-9 weeks – * FVRCP #1 of 3
11-12 weeks – FVRCP #2 of 3
16 weeks – FVRCP #3 of 3 and rabies

* FVRCP: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis / Calicivirus / Panleukopenia

The leukemia vaccine series is recommended only for cats that will be going outdoors.