Welcoming a new puppy or kitten into your home is an exciting time. Capeway Veterinary Hospital’s staff and veterinarians enjoy seeing young pets grow into well-developed and bonded members of their families. We will help you ensure your pet is off on the right paw and is set up for a long and full life in your family.
Wellness Pet Checkups
Puppies and kittens are growing rapidly and go from infancy to young adult within just one year’s time. This rapid growth and development make their first wellness exams very important to watch for, catch, and correct any developing issues. At your new pet’s exams, our veterinarians will check your pet from nose to tail. They will provide you with information on nutrition, behavioral training, prevention of parasites, and will get your pet started on the initial vaccination series according to your pet’s risk factors.
Intestinal Parasites
Puppies and kittens are curious by nature and will often come in contact with intestinal worms. At his or her first wellness checkup, your pet will be checked for worms through a stool sample screening. We recommend annual stool sample checks to make sure your pet remains free of worms.
Heartworm
The heartworm, as its name implies, is a worm that lodges in the heart of the animal and causes damage to both the heart and the lungs. Capeway Veterinary Hospital recommends that all puppies begin heartworm preventive medications early and remain on preventive medications year round.
Spaying and Neutering
Capeway Veterinary Hospital recommends puppies and kittens are spayed or neutered between the ages of five and six months. Our surgical suite and procedures are designed with the safety of your pet as our focus, and your pet will be carefully attended to by a surgical technician from the time you are greeted at our door through the procedure and post-operative recovery in our hospital.
Spaying and neutering pets not only helps reduce the number of strays and unwanted pets in our area, but it also is the best choice for the long-term health of your pet.
Dogs and cats that have been spayed and neutered have a decreased risk of reproductive system cancers and hormonally associated infections like pyometra.
Neutering also reduces aggression in males and will likely eliminate territorial behavior. The number one reason unneutered male pets die is from being hit by cars due to wandering in search of females.
Starting your puppy or kitten off with excellent veterinary care is an important step to ensuring your pet lives a long and healthy life. Capeway Veterinary Hospital will partner with you to provide your pet with the best care in our area.