Puppy & Kitten Care
MEADOWBROOK & BRECKENRIDGE
VETERINARY
MVC - (248) 349-7447
BVC - (248) 344-8649
For all your pets healthcare needs.
Thinking about adopting a puppy or kitten? Here is what you should expect for the first 16 weeks of their lives.
Puppies & kittens start the vaccine regime at 7 weeks of age. They will continue to get vaccine boosters every 3 weeks until they reach 16 weeks of age. At that time they will be introduced to the Rabies vaccine.
Typically vaccines become yearly after that.
Deworming medication is also given at the time of every vaccine appointment. Intestinal parasites are very common in puppies and kittens. A fecal (stool sample) should be tested to be sure of just what type of parasite your pet may have.
At 12 weeks, a puppy is offered optional vaccinations. These include, Bordetella and Lymes. Bordetella protects against kennel cough and is highly recommended and sometimes required if your dog is in training classes, boarding kennels, doggy day care, grooming salons or around other dogs often. Lymes vaccine helps protects your dog against Lyme disease which is transmitted via a tick. If your pet lives near a wooded area or is used for hunting, this vaccine is recommended.
Puppies should be tested for heartworm disease no younger than 6 months of age. Heartworm preventative is recommended monthly and year round. See the heartworm prevention page for more information.
Kittens, especially ones of unknown origin or strays should be tested for FeLV (Feline Leukemia) & FIV (Feline Immuno-deficiency Virus). This is done
with a simple blood test. FeLV vaccines are highly recommended for outdoor cats yearly.
