Puppy and
Kitten Care
At Severna Park Veterinary Hospital, we prioritize expert exams, vaccinations, and wellness checks, delivering comprehensive care for your puppy and kitten’s well-being.
Puppy and Kitten Care in Severna Park, MD
Puppy and kitten exams are a great time for us to discuss and provide you with educational information about your new pet’s health, as well as answering any questions you may have about your new family member.
Puppy and kitten Care starts with collecting a thorough history including any previous records of vaccines/deworming, medications, diet, activity level, and behaviors. Our veterinary team will measure vitals including heart rate, breathing rate, temperature, and weight. Then, a thorough head-to-tail exam will be performed, starting with checking the eyes, ears, and mouth for any abnormalities. We will listen to your pet’s heart and lungs and palpate their entire body, feeling for appropriate organ size and looking for any skin lesions or abnormalities. During the examination, you will be asked additional questions to obtain an overall assessment of your pet’s lifestyle and current health status.
Your pet’s veterinarian is also their dentist, psychiatrist, cardiologist, radiologist, anesthesiologist, surgeon, ophthalmologist, and much more. Together, you and your veterinary team will decide on a treatment plan specific for your puppy or kitten, including an appropriate vaccination schedule, screening for intestinal parasites and/or deworming, preventatives for fleas, ticks, and heartworms, nutrition, recommendations for training/socialization, spaying/neutering, and any other treatments/tests recommended for your pet. We are also happy to demonstrate techniques for trimming your pet’s nails, brushing teeth, cleaning ears, or administering medications at home.
Most puppies and kittens have 3-4 visits with us before they are 6 months of age and we closely monitor their progression and health during these visits, adjusting the treatment plan as needed. After your pet finishes their puppy/kitten vaccines (usually between 4-6 months of age), we recommend wellness exams at least once yearly. Once your pet reaches approximately 7 years of age, we recommend senior wellness visits every 6 months. Routine wellness visits allow us to detect problems earlier and helps ensure the future health and happiness of your new puppy or kitten for years to come!