New Pets Need Comprehensive Veterinary Care

Welcoming a new pet to your home involves many things, from picking out your puppy or kitten to buying the proper accessories. Gibson Veterinary Clinic helps you give your pet a great start and supports you during that first crucial year of life. We offer guidance and services in a variety of pet care areas, including:

• Choosing a healthy puppy or kitten
• Proper nutrition
• Socializing your pet

• Housebreaking
• Training
• Veterinary care and vaccines

• Initiating home dental care
• Deciding to spay or neuter your pet

While our vaccination and parasite prevention protocols follow current veterinary guidelines, each pet is unique. We tailor your veterinary care to meet the needs and requirements for your special pet, considering pet type–such as a working dog or house pet–as well as breed, size, overall condition, and lifestyle issues. The following is a general guideline for puppies and kittens:

Kitten Program

We recommend:

• 3 doses of panleukopenia, calcivirus, feline viral rhinotracheitis, and chlamydia between 8 and 16 weeks of age
• Testing for feline leukemia and feline infectious virus at 4 months of age
• 2 doses of feline leukemia during this time frame
• Rabies vaccine at 12-16 weeks of age
• Deworm 3 times during this stage and then start on Revolution for ongoing parasite and heartworm prevention

Spay & Neuter Surgery

We will advise you as to when you should schedule your pet’s spay or neuter surgery. There are many advantages to this common surgical procedure, and spayed or neutered pets typically experience many of the following benefits:

• Less likely to roam
• Display less aggressive behaviors
• Live longer

• Less marking of territory, inside and out
• Develop less tumors, cysts, uterine infections, and testicular cancer
• Easier to train

Additional Information

Pet nutrition is critical, especially for the youngsters. Your Gibson Veterinary Clinic veterinarian will advise you about the proper food and treats for your pet at this important stage of life, when growth is so rapid–inside and out.

Home dental care for puppies and kittens is best begun immediately upon bringing your new pet home as an enjoyable part of the socialization process. We are happy to share techniques and recommend products for this often overlooked part of basic pet care.

Housebreaking and training your pet is a process, and there are many techniques for making it relatively simple. See us for guidance and tips about your particular circumstances. A well-trained pet is a happy pet, and that makes the pet owner happy, too!

 

We encourage you to discuss any pet care issues and medical concerns with us at every visit and hope the following tips will help you get off to a good start.

• Pet-proof your home, providing a safe environment for your inquisitive kitten or puppy.
• Use high-quality food for the proper stage in your pet’s life. Never feed human food!
• Always have fresh, clean water available.
• Initiate a regular home dental care regime.
• Groom your pet regularly for healthy skin and coat.
• Obtain only vet-approved products such as collars, play toys, bedding, chew bones, and scratching posts.
• Provide a sanitary litter box or safe outdoor elimination area, and never leave your puppy or kitten unattended outdoors.
• Play with your pet every day for socialization and to enhance the human–animal bond.

 

For a comprehensive and informative look at pet care and enjoyment, visit the AAHA’s website for dog lovers or the AAHA’s website for cat lovers. And the American Association for Feline Practitioners (AAFP) website offers more information to educate and guide cat owners.

 

CANINE WELLNESS PLAN

PUPPY BASIC

VISIT #1  
8-11 weeks
Comprehensive Exam
DA2P Vaccination
Deworm with Pyrantel
Intestinal Parasite Screen
Heartworm Prevention
Flea Prevention*
Nail Trim

VISIT #2  
12-14 weeks
Technician Visit
DA2LP Vaccination
Deworm with Pyrantel
Heartworm Prevention
Nail Trim

VISIT #3  
16-19 weeks
Wellness Exam
DA2LP Vaccination
Rabies Vaccination
Deworm with Pyrantel
ProHeart 6 – 6 months of Heartworm Prevention
Intestinal Parasite Screen
Nail Trim

VISIT #4  
20-39 weeks – come visit us monthly for socialization & nail trims
Technician Visit x6
Nail Trim x6

*Flea prevention recommended – first dose included in plan

TOTAL SAVINGS ~$125

 

FELINE WELLNESS PLAN

KITTEN BASIC