Pet Care
Puppy & Kitten Care
Bringing home a new puppy or kitten is exciting, sweet, and sometimes a little overwhelming.
There is so much to learn in the first year, from vaccines and parasite prevention to food, behavior, training, and healthy routines.
A Healthy Start for Your New Pet
Start this new chapter with confidence.
At Hometown Pet Vet, we are here to help you start this new chapter with confidence. Our team takes time to answer your questions, explain each step, and help your puppy or kitten get the care they need as they grow.
The first year of life is full of important milestones. Puppies and kittens grow quickly, and early veterinary visits help us monitor their health, complete their vaccine series, check for parasites, and talk through the everyday questions that come with a new pet.
Positive First Experiences
These early visits are also a chance for your puppy or kitten to begin building comfort with our clinic. We want your pet’s first experiences with veterinary care to feel as calm, positive, and welcoming as possible.
What Puppy & Kitten Care May Include
Care recommendations for your pet’s age, lifestyle, and needs
Every puppy and kitten is different, so care recommendations may vary based on age, lifestyle, breed, health history, and risk of exposure.
Vaccine planning
Parasite screening
Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
Deworming recommendations
Nutrition guidance
Growth and weight monitoring
Behavior and training conversations
Litter box or potty-training guidance
Socialization tips
Microchip discussion
Spay or neuter planning
Our team will help you understand what your pet needs now and what to expect next.
Your Puppy or Kitten’s First Visit
Schedule soon after bringing them home.
We recommend scheduling your puppy or kitten’s first visit soon after bringing them home. This gives us a chance to check their overall health, review any records you received, and create a care plan for the months ahead.
Please bring any adoption, rescue, breeder, vaccine, or medical records you have. A fresh stool sample may also be helpful if your pet is due for parasite screening.
- Review vaccine and medical records
- Perform a full physical exam
- Check weight and growth
- Discuss vaccines and preventives
- Talk about food, treats, and feeding schedules
- Discuss potty training or litter box habits
- Answer behavior and socialization questions
- Review signs to watch for at home
Puppy Care
Puppyhood comes with a lot of questions.
Puppies need frequent care during their first months of life as they grow, explore, and build immunity. Early veterinary visits help protect your puppy while giving you a place to ask questions about daily routines.
- Puppy vaccines
- Heartworm prevention
- Flea and tick prevention
- Intestinal parasite screening
- Deworming
- Nutrition and feeding amounts
- Chewing and teething
- Potty training
- Crate training
- Socialization
- Spay or neuter timing
Whether you are dealing with chewing, accidents, new noises, or a wiggly puppy who will not sit still, we are happy to help you sort through what is normal and what may need extra attention.
Kitten Care
A strong start for growing kittens.
Kittens also need a strong start, especially during their first months at home. Early visits help us monitor growth, complete vaccines, check for parasites, and talk through litter box habits, nutrition, play, and behavior.
- Kitten vaccines
- Parasite screening
- Flea prevention
- Deworming
- Nutrition and feeding routines
- Litter box habits
- Scratching behavior
- Safe indoor enrichment
- Introducing a kitten to other pets
- Spay or neuter timing
Cats can be very good at hiding discomfort, so early care helps us build a health history and support your kitten as they grow into adulthood.
Vaccines and Preventive Care
Clear protection for growing pets
Vaccines are an important part of protecting puppies and kittens as their immune systems develop. Vaccine recommendations can vary based on your pet’s age, lifestyle, health, and exposure risk.
At your visit, we will review your pet’s history and recommend a vaccine plan that fits their needs. We will also talk through parasite prevention, including protection against fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites.
Our goal is to make preventive care feel clear and manageable, not confusing.
Nutrition, Growth, and Everyday Questions
Growing pets have different nutritional needs than adult pets.
The right food, feeding amount, and routine can support healthy growth and development.
- What food should I feed?
- How much should my puppy or kitten eat?
- How often should I feed them?
- Is my pet growing at a healthy rate?
- What treats are safe?
- When should I switch to adult food?
Behavior and Training Support
Puppies and kittens are learning about the world every day.
Early behavior conversations can help prevent frustration and build healthy routines at home. No question is too small during this stage. We want you to feel supported as your new pet settles into your family.
Crate training
Chewing and teething
Scratching
Litter box habits
Play biting
Socialization
Introducing other pets
Building positive handling habits
Puppy & Kitten Care FAQs
Puppy & Kitten Care FAQs
When should I schedule my puppy or kitten’s first veterinary visit?
We recommend scheduling your puppy or kitten’s first visit soon after bringing them home. This gives our team a chance to check their overall health, review any previous vaccine or medical records, talk through nutrition and parasite prevention, and answer your early questions.
What should I bring to my puppy or kitten’s first appointment?
Please bring any medical records, vaccine history, adoption or breeder paperwork, and a fresh stool sample if possible. It is also helpful to bring a list of questions about feeding, behavior, training, litter box habits, socialization, or anything you have noticed at home.
How often will my puppy or kitten need to come in during the first year?
Puppies and kittens usually need several visits during their first months of life so we can complete their vaccine series, monitor growth, check for parasites, and make sure they are developing well. Our team will help you understand the schedule that is right for your pet based on their age, lifestyle, and health needs.
What vaccines does my puppy or kitten need?
Vaccine needs can vary based on your pet’s age, health, lifestyle, and risk of exposure. At your visit, we will review your pet’s history and recommend a vaccine plan designed to help protect them as they grow.
When should my puppy or kitten start parasite prevention?
Parasite prevention is an important part of early pet care. Puppies and kittens can be vulnerable to fleas, ticks, heartworms, and intestinal parasites, so our team will help you choose prevention that is appropriate for your pet’s age, weight, and lifestyle.
What food should I feed my puppy or kitten?
Growing pets have different nutritional needs than adult pets. We can help you choose a diet that supports healthy growth and fits your pet’s size, breed, age, and individual needs. If you are unsure what to feed or how much to offer, we are happy to talk through it with you.
When should I talk to the veterinarian about spaying or neutering?
Spay and neuter timing can depend on your pet’s age, breed, size, health, and lifestyle. We will discuss the best timing for your puppy or kitten and help you understand what to expect before and after the procedure.
What signs should I watch for after bringing home a new puppy or kitten?
Please contact us if your puppy or kitten is not eating, seems very tired, has vomiting or diarrhea, is coughing or sneezing frequently, has trouble breathing, has pale gums, or just does not seem like themselves. Young pets can change quickly, so it is always okay to call or text us with concerns.
Start Your Puppy or Kitten Off with Hometown Care
You do not have to figure it all out alone.
The first year with a new pet is full of special moments, new routines, and important decisions. At Hometown Pet Vet, our team is here to provide thoughtful care, helpful guidance, and a welcoming place for your puppy or kitten to grow.