Yawning white puppy lounging in a brown basket outdoors on grass

Puppy & Kitten Care: Promoting a Lifetime of Health

At The Pet Hospital of Madison, we enjoy meeting your new pet and helping you provide a path of ongoing good health. There is much excitement in owning a new puppy or kitten, and we look forward to watching your young pet grow into being an integral part of your family.

Pet Parasite Prevention

Young puppies and kittens often have parasites such as ear mites, fleas, intestinal worms, and other issues. We recommend your new family member have his or her first veterinary appointment within 72 hours of being introduced to your home so we can detect and treat any parasite issues before they affect other members of your family.

Wellness Exams and Vaccinations

Puppies should be seen 4 times and kittens 3 times to complete the young pet preventive care series. At these appointments, we will administer vaccinations and examine your pet’s growth and progress, as well as run any health screenings. Once the puppy and kitten visits are complete, your pet will be scheduled for yearly wellness exams, but we will always be available to you should any concerns arise in between visits.

Puppy Exams and Vaccinations Schedule

We recommend 4 visits for your new puppy to complete their initial preventive series. Explore what is included in each visit below.

  • First visit: About 6 weeks of age

    • Complete physical exam
    • DHP-P vaccination
    • Intestinal parasite screening
    • Deworming medications
    • Heartworm and flea preventives
    • Counseling on nutrition
    • Training tips

  • Second visit: About 9 weeks of age

    • Complete physical exam
    • DHP-P booster vaccination
    • Follow-up intestinal parasite screening, if necessary
    • Deworming medications

  • Third visit: About 12 weeks of age

    • Complete physical exam
    • DHLP-P vaccination
    • Rabies vaccination
    • Follow-up intestinal parasite screening, if necessary
    • Deworming medications
    • Counseling on spaying/neutering

  • Fourth puppy visit: About 15 weeks of age

    • Complete physical exam
    • DHLPP booster
    • Bordetella vaccination
    • Follow-up intestinal parasite screening, if necessary
Papillon sitting

Kitten Exams and Vaccinations Schedule

We recommend 3 visits for your new kitten to complete their initial preventive series. Explore what is included in each visit below.

Tiny ginger-and-white kitten standing on a floor, looking curiously at the camera.
Tabby kitten sitting upright on a sunlit patio, paw raised, with a blurred garden background

First Visit: About 6 weeks of age

Second Visit: About 9 weeks of age

Third Visit: About 12 weeks of age

Microchipping Your Pet

We hope that you never get separated from your pet. Microchipping is an important tool to help reunite you in the event that you do get separated. We can help with implantation and initial registration of your pet.

Spaying and Neutering Your Puppy or Kitten

Spaying or neutering your dog or cat has both medical and behavioral benefits. Different breeds have different age recommendations and our team will work with you to identify the best timeline for your pet.

Get Your New Furry Friend Started on the Right Paw

Whether you are new to The Pet Hospital of Madison or just have a new family member, we can’t wait to meet them! Call us at (256) 232-2289 to book their first appointment.

Happy corgi puppy with tan and white fur, winking and sticking out its tongue on a white background