Probably our staff favorite! This is a crucial time for your new pet. Excellent medical care, healthy pet education, and arguably most importantly – behavior and training tips.
What makes a puppy or kitten visit different at Acorn Hill Animal Hospital? Read on below to see some of the “value adds” that come standard at Acorn Hill Animal Hospital. Or save time and schedule an appointment!
Did you know? The most common reason for pet abandonment is behavior issues.
How do you prevent unacceptable behaviors? Start young!
You must properly socialize your pet the first few months of her life. Our veterinarians and experienced staff will work with you to identify behavioral concerns early and help you and your new pet improve at each visit.
Is it okay for your children to nibble on your fingers? Then why is it acceptable for your puppy or kitten to chew on your fingers? If your kitten thinks it’s permissible now, how can you be upset with her when she does it when she’s an adult?
Do you let your kids knock over grandma when she walks in the front door? No way! You corrected that behavior the first time and you don’t let them do it again. This is the same as with a puppy. It’s cute when he’s 5lbs, but not so cute when he’s 50lbs.
Potty training? That’s a conversation. At every puppy/kitten visit, we will discuss this and ensure you are making positive progress.
Don’t read the above and go straight to the dog park to make new furry friends. Proper socialization is of course within the confines of healthy environments and proper puppy/kitten immunizations. If your pet has not had the proper administration of vaccines at the proper age and time intervals, then you are taking a significant risk exposing him to sources of disease. We will discuss vaccine intervals later on this page.
Did you know? Over 90% of puppies and kittens have intestinal parasites. And those parasites are almost always contagious to you and/or your other pets. We will perform the best testing and prescribe the best treatment regimens for your new puppy or kitten.
What is the Vaccination Series?
Obviously there is a difference for puppies and kitties. For kittens, we follow the guidelines established by the the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP). These vaccinations will be protective for feline upper respiratory diseases, Feline Leukemia, and of course, Rabies.
For puppies, we will always want to protect them against the usual concerns - Distemper, Parvo, Leptospirosis, and Rabies. Ultimately, we will customize a vaccine protocol just for your pup, based on his age, weight, and particular risk factors. When appropriate, we can discuss Bordetella (Kennel Cough), Canine Influenza, and the Rattlesnake vaccine.