Puppy and Kitten Care

The right start in life ensures that your pet will be a happy kitten or puppy that grows into a happy, healthy adult. Along with love, good nutrition and play, this includes making sure your puppy or kitten receives a series of vaccinations to develop the protective function of their immune system.

Normal puppies and kittens acquire protective maternal antibodies to protect against disease when born and when nursing their mother’s mild. These maternal antibodies begin to disappear over time and vaccinations are given in a series of spaced injections to create new antibodies, the immune system’s memory to be able to respond to and fight off a given disease is challenged by exposure. These repeated vaccinations, usually given three to four weeks apart beginning around eight weeks of age, are given two to three times depending on the age of the pet. These vaccinations are repeated for two reasons. One, the maternal antibodies when still present interfere with the development of antibodies from the vaccine. Two, repeated vaccination ensures that a high level of antibodies are formed, creating the rapid respond needed when exposed to a disease such as parvo or feline rhinotracheitis.

Here at Park Hill Veterinary Medical Center, our health care team will also help you to learn about wellness care, including house training, behavior, obedience training, proper nutrition and much more over your visits with your new puppy or kitten. We’ll also discuss your pet’s spay or neuter surgery and can install a microchip for permanent identification of your pet.

After the initial series of vaccinations, your pet will be due to be updated in one year and, then based on vaccine, disease risk, age, lifestyle and location, your pet will be updated annually to once every three years.

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