Thinking about adopting a puppy or kitten soon? Here are the basics you need to know! Brought to you by Alicia Pet Care Center.

Bringing a new puppy or kitten into your home is an exciting journey filled with joy and new experiences. As a responsible pet parent, one of the first and most crucial steps you should take is finding a primary veterinarian. A primary vet plays a pivotal role in ensuring the long-term health and well-being of your new furry friend.

Why a Primary Vet is Important:

Consistent Care: A primary vet gets to know your pet personally, understanding their health history and behavior, which aids in accurate diagnoses and personalized care.

Vaccination Guidance: They provide tailored advice on vaccinations, crucial for protecting your pet from various diseases.

Nutritional Counseling: As your pet grows, nutritional needs change. A primary vet guides you through these changes.

The list goes on! At Alicia Pet Care Center, our veterinarians also offer surgical care, acupuncture, laser therapy, internal medicine, ultrasound, dentistry… having a primary care vet gets you ease of access to these treatments.

Typical Schedule & Types of Vaccines

Puppies and kittens require a series of vaccinations in their first year of life to protect them against serious diseases.

• For Puppies: The core vaccines include Canine Parvovirus, Distemper, Canine Hepatitis, (the vaccine that covers these illnesses is called “DHP”), Bordetella (used to prevent “Kennel Cough”) and Rabies. Non-core vaccines are given depending on your puppy’s exposure risk including canine influenza and Leptospirosis. 
• For Kittens: Core vaccines cover Feline Herpesvirus, Feline Calicivirus, Feline Panleukopenia (the vaccine that covers these illnesses is “FVRCP”), and Rabies. Non-core vaccines are given based on risk and include Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV).

The vaccination schedule typically starts around 6-8 weeks of age and continues every 3-4 weeks until they are about 16 weeks old.

Internal and External Parasite Preventions:

It is important for all dogs to be protected against internal worms, many of which are microscopic and not seen by the naked eye, and external parasites such as fleas and ticks. Many of these internal and external parasites are zoonotic, meaning the parasite and the disease it causes can be transmitted to people. For this reason, our goal is to not only protect our patients against these parasites by preventing them, but to also protect their human family members.

Here in Orange County, we see fleas year-round. We also see internal parasites very commonly (such as giardia) and have even noticed an increase in ticks as well. While heartworm disease has not yet become endemic here in Southern California, we have seen an increase in the incidence of this initially uncommon parasite infection.

Because risks vary for each patient, your puppy’s veterinarian will recommend a tailor-made parasite prevention protocol that will best protect her as well as your family.

Sterilization:

Spaying or neutering your pet is advised to prevent unwanted litters, reduce the risk of certain cancers, avoid some behavioral issues and prevent infections such as pyometra. You can listen to our podcast for an episode from Dr. Wheaton to learn more about the importance of spaying and neutering your pets (and it has two parts so be sure to listen to both!)

Timing of your pet’s spay or neuter varies on size, gender, breed and more but will be discussed with your veterinarian during their visits.

There are different ways to spay your pet, and we do recommend a laparoscopic spay for the vast majority of our female patients. For a little information on that you can watch this video by our Dr. Ashbran!

Puppy/Kitten Proofing Your Home:

• Secure Hazardous Items: Keep medications, toxic foods (for a complete list please review the ASPCA website), and small objects out of reach. Make sure you have lids on trash cans. You will learn quickly how curious your pet is! 
• Electrical Safety: Hide or cover electrical cords to prevent chewing.
• Create a Safe Space: Have a comfortable, secure area where your pet can relax.

Your veterinarian will provide more tips on expected things to look out for during your appointments.

Pet Insurance:

If there is one piece of advice that we can offer to every one of our families, it is to obtain pet insurance as soon as possible. The majority of families will benefit greatly in both savings and peace of mind knowing that their pets will be able to have the best care possible in the event of a major illness or emergency. Pet insurance can help by offsetting most of the cost of diagnosing, treating and managing your pet’s illness or injury.

One thing to note, Pet insurance does not cover pre-existing conditions, which is why it’s really important to get your pet started on pet insurance as soon as you possibly can. You can go to the website www.petinsurancereview.com to find the right plan for your budget and pet.

Registering your pet:

Some counties or cities may require you to register your pet and show proof of rabies vaccines. We are located in Mission Viejo and you can find pet registration here.

Conclusion:

Choosing a primary vet for your new puppy or kitten is a decision that will shape their health for years to come. Regular check-ups, vaccinations, and preventive care are key to a long, happy life together. This article touches on just the basics, but if you become a client of ours we have a series of 3 new puppy/kitten appointments with our veterinarians where they discuss all this and more including microchipping, behavioral training, deworming, as well as answering any questions you may have. We will also provide you with a New Puppy/Kitten Packet containing detailed information as a resource for you.

If you are in Orange county and looking for a primary vet, we have 9 wonderful doctors who would love to be a part of your care team. You can book an appointment by calling us at 949-768-1313. We are open 7 am to 7 pm Monday through Friday and 7 am to 3 pm on Saturdays.

*Our Recommendations are based on the current recommendations of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC), and the American Heartworm Society (AHS).*

What Makes us the Best for your Pets?

APCC is skilled in emergency care, integrated medicine, preventative care and offer luxury pet boarding. We are leaders in Southern California in laparoscopic spays; a low-risk spay procedure that uses high tech operating equipment to enable a faster, more comfortable recovery. Our staff is highly trained and educated in animal care and truly care about providing the best service to you and your pet. In 2023, we were voted Best Veterinary Hospital in Orange County by readers of the Orange County Register.

• Pet Boarding
• Grooming
• Laboratory Facilities