Veterinary Services
Pet Puppy and Kitten Care
in Rolling Meadows, IL
Give Your Puppy or Kitten The Right Start In Life!
At Arlington Park Veterinary Hospital, each pet’s first year of care is customized based on its specific needs to help your puppy or kitten get the right start in life. Just like human children, puppies and kittens require additional physical exams and vaccine boosters to ensure that they get the very best start in life.
Below are our recommendations for your puppy’s or kitten’s first year:
Physical Exams: Your puppy’s or kitten’s lifetime of wellness starts with its first comprehensive physical exam. Puppies and kittens should have 3-4 exams between the ages of 8-16 weeks. These visits are important because they give our veterinarians an opportunity to assess your pet’s overall health and administer vaccines.
Vaccinations: Due to their immature immune systems, puppies and kittens must receive a series of properly staged vaccines. Since every puppy and kitten is unique, we tailor our vaccination recommendations based on their lifestyle and/or breed and according to the suggested guidelines.
Diagnostic Testing: We recommend that puppies are tested for Heartworm at 6 months of age if not done previously and that kittens are tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline AIDS at their first visit if not done previously. Fecal testing helps identify parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, tapeworms, and giardia. Because a large percentage are born with parasites (transferred from the parents), we recommend deworming every puppy or kitten.
Additional Recommendations: Your veterinarian will also discuss and recommend other services, such as spaying, neutering, nutritional guidelines, behavioral issues (including house training), obedience training, or microchipping* that can lead to a longer and healthier life for your dog or cat.
*We use American Veterinary Identification Devices (AVID).