The Health of Your New Pet: Care, Safety, and Important Protocol
Adopting a new pet is wonderful, but don’t forget about your new addition’s health and safety amidst all the excitement. Sure, you want to get to know one another and start having fun together, but you also have a responsibility to protect and care for your pet in all the right ways.
New to Us
If you’re a new client at Beverly Hills Veterinary Associates, we welcome you with open arms. Giving your new pet a head start is an excellent plan for long-term health. We recommend scheduling your first wellness exam directly following the adoption process. We can address potty training, behavior, nutrition, and other important issues to help you care for your new puppy or kitten.
Other Important Needs
Vaccinations and parasite prevention (think fleas, ticks, heartworm, and intestinal parasites) lie at the core of your new pet’s wellness. We make tailored recommendations based on expected or anticipated exposure to numerous diseases and lifestyle factors.
Your dog will likely receive the following core vaccines:
- Rabies (16 weeks old)
- Distemper/hepatitis/parainfluenza/parvovirus (DHPP)
- LEPTO vaccine (12 weeks old)
- Bordetella (if risk to infected animals)
A kitten will typically receive the following core vaccines:
- Rabies (16 weeks old)
- Rhinotracheitis/calicivirus/panleukopenia (FVRCP)
- Feline leukemia (after screening comes back negative)
Please keep in mind that some vaccines should be boostered annually, while others can be administered every 3 years for adult or senior pets. We may also recommend additional vaccines based on your pet’s lifestyle and risk of exposure.
Preventing Overpopulation
Spaying or neutering is critical to reducing our community’s unwanted pet population. Surgical sterilization can also impact your pet’s future health by eliminating the risk of serious problems, such as breast or testicular cancer. It may even stop certain behaviors associated with the instinct to breed (e.g., roaming).
It was previously thought that female pets should wait to be spayed until after the first heat, but new research indicates this may not be in the best interest of your new pet. We typically schedule this simple surgery after the 6-month wellness visit, taking into account your pet’s breed and physical health.
The Best Idea
Your new pet may have been microchipped prior to adoption. If not, we can perform this minor procedure during a wellness exam or during your pet’s spay/neuter surgery. Placed between the shoulder blades, a microchip offers security and peace of mind if your new pet ever gets lost.
The Future of Health
You may be curious as to whether or not pet insurance is right for you. When making this decision, please let us know if you need any help. We also recommend learning basic pet first aid and reading up on emergency practices.
Your New Pet
Getting to know your pet is a special process, and we’re here to help you care for your new companion. Please contact us with any questions or concerns. Congratulations on your new addition!