Caring For New Christmas Pets

You got a new puppy or kitten as a Christmas present.

Now you need some guidance.

Your first concern is to be sure the pet is physically well, and stays well. The only way you can know that is by making an appointment with your veterinarian for a thorough examination and stool test for intestinal parasites.

Your new puppy might be like Bo we saw this week, pictured here. Eight weeks old and still hadn’t been seen by a doctor the first time. Bo was vomiting, thin, and not as playful as an 8-week-old puppy should have been.

The cause?

A thorough case of neglect by the original owners, leading to an infestation of hookworms and roundworms.

One medicine for deworming and another for the vomiting and Bo will be good as new. We began his vaccinations today, too.

Or, maybe your new pet has had a deworming(s) and some vaccinations prior to coming to your house. If those treatments weren’t administered by a veterinarian and accompanied by a veterinarian’s examination, the newest baby in the house still needs to see your pet’s doctor.

Furthermore, puppies and kittens need a series of vaccinations through age 15 weeks. So, don’t stop with a single visit to the veterinarian.

If your new pet is purchased, not rescued, there may be a specified period for you to obtain a warranty examination for your pet. During that period you might be able to return the pet for a refund or replacement if certain abnormalities are found. Failure to have the examination performed during the stated time could void any warranty offering. Allowed time may be as little as 24 hours or as much as seven days.

We have guidelines for keeping your existing pets from experiencing diseases from new pets.  You may access those guidelines by clicking here.

Pet Health Insurance is always a good idea, and the earlier a policy is established, the more opportunities exist for it to help your pet.

Housetraining is a crucial process that needs to begin early. Click this link to read details on training a new puppy.

Crate training can be a valuable part of housetraining. Read all about how it is done by clicking here.

A new Christmas pet is a bundle of joy. Like any bundle of joy, there are responsibilities.

See you tomorrow, Dr. Randolph.