Caring for a New Puppy or Kitten

A new kitten or puppy can be an exciting new addition to your family. However, certain steps need to be taken to ensure your pet lives a happy and healthy life in its new home. To help you care for a new pet and to help you establish healthy habits, Coral Gables Animal Hospital has put together a few helpful tips.

Find a Veterinarian

One of the most important steps when caring for a new pet is to find a good veterinarian and schedule a checkup. During your pet’s initial checkup, our vets at Coral Gables Animal Hospital will check for possible health issues, birth defects, and set up a vaccination plan for your new animal. Our veterinarians will also discuss signs of illness or potential issues you should be aware of. We will make sure you leave your pet’s first appointment with the necessary tools to properly care for him or her.

Provide Quality Food

Your puppy or kitten’s body is still growing, so it’s important to feed them quality, healthy food that is formulated specifically for kittens or puppies. Be sure to read the packaging to ensure the food meets your puppy or kitten’s nutritional requirements. During your visit to our animal hospital, we will discuss the ages in which you should transition to different foods, such as larger breed dog food or wet or dry cat food. It’s essential to always have fresh, clean water available for your pet as well.

Establish a Routine

When establishing bathroom routines, it’s important to take your puppy outside on a regular basis and keep in mind that housetraining a new puppy requires planning, patience, and positive reinforcement. There will be accidents, so be prepared. When housetraining a kitten, it’s important to use litter they like and to place the litter box in an area your kitten is comfortable in.  

When choosing collars for your pet, choose one that is the appropriate size. It’s also vital for any dog or cat owner to microchip their pets. Microchips help you reunite with your animal in the unfortunate cases he or she is lost or stolen.  

Contact Our Veterinary Team in Coral Gables

To schedule a veterinary appointment for your new puppy or kitten, contact our staff at Coral Gables Animal Hospital today.