Cute, Cuddly, and Healthy
What pet guardians should know about healthcare for puppies and kittens
by Katie Marsico
Few of us can resist a scampering kitten or playful puppy. While pets of all ages can prove invaluable additions to the family, guardianship of a young animal offers exciting rewards—and involves important responsibilities that can’t be ignored.
Critical to dutiful pet guardianship is an understanding of healthcare during this early stage of life, as well as the means to provide an animal with the necessary time commitment, proper diet, and routine veterinary care. How can you adequately prepare your home and family for the furry bundle of joy about to enter your lives? And what steps can you take to ensure that your puppy or kitten grows into a healthy, happy dog or cat?
Preparation, Preparation, Preparation
As hard as it may be to swallow, younger animals aren’t the perfect pets for everyone. Dr. Andrea Ellings, DVM, assistant clinical professor at the University of Minnesota’s College of Veterinary Medicine in Saint Paul, Minnesota agrees that puppies and kitten are adorable, but cautions that there’s undeniably a larger time commitment involved in their care.
“Using children as an analogy, puppies and kittens typically require the most time and effort,” explains Ellings. “Additionally, it’s important to remember that it is a financial investment to raise a puppy or kitten to adulthood. It is not as easy or inexpensive as many people imagine.”
Prospective guardians need to keep in mind that living with puppies and kittens involves distinct responsibilities. Dr. Robin Downing, DVM, is a certified veterinary acupuncturist and a diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management, and has her own practice in Windsor, Colorado. Downing emphasizes that anyone who will potentially be involved in the animal’s care should understand they are making a lifelong commitment to their pet’s ongoing needs.
“For dogs, this means basic grooming, feeding and watering, and exercise—walks, socializing, and visits to the local dog park,” says Downing. “For cats, care involves the same issues regarding food, watering, and grooming, but it also means keeping up the litter pan and providing appropriate interaction. For all the hype about how aloof cats are, they are very social animals and require adequate attention.” Once you’re certain that you and/or your family can meet the expectations of guardianship, be aware that your pet’s initial time at home won’t exclusively be blissful cuddling and excited romps through the house.
“Bringing home a new puppy or kitten is somewhat like bringing home a new baby,” says Ellings. “The first few nights often entail quite a bit of crying and, depending on the age of the puppy or kitten, frequent feedings and poop. Puppies and kittens of any breed are similar in their needs the first weeks of life.”
Diet and Exercise
Nowadays, pet diets are as varied as the colors of the rainbow. Raw, vegetarian, organic, wet, and dry are just a few options available. To complicate matters, feeding a puppy or kitten involves additional considerations. Just as you wouldn’t feed a four-month-old baby an entrée that a forty-year-old man could stomach, kittens and puppies need to consume food appropriate to their age group.
“When it comes to diet, pet guardians should request a specific recommendation from their veterinarians, including information on portions,” says Downing. “Large-breed puppies require rations that are scientifically balanced, or they have a huge risk of developing growth deformities of the skeleton such as hip dysplasia. Puppies can certainly handle a combination of wet and dry food, and I recommend that mixture for kittens, as the canned portion increases their moisture consumption and will help prevent problems with the urinary tract later on.
Dr. Valerie Chadwick, DVM, assistant professor at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan prefers the dry food diet. “Ideally, I personally recommend dry food over wet. Many [guardians] they brush regularly—which they should anyway—this will help ensure a pet’s dental health.” Treats are an acceptable addition to your pet’s menu, but Chadwick cautions to limit them to no more than 10 percent of daily food intake.
“As for exercise,” says Chadwick, “regular physical activity can be
great. Long walks or romping off-leash can be fun for puppies, and so can jogging together or playing fetch with a Frisbee or ball. Kittens frequently enjoy chasing laser lights or feathers on a string.” As with everything else, however, moderation is key.
“Too much exercise can be harmful to growing animals,” explains Ellings. “Taking your dog on a long walk or run should be saved until they are at least approximately one year of age. Anything over one mile is probably too much for a growing puppy. Kittens generally love to climb. A climbing tower is an excellent source of entertainment and exercise. It can also be used as a scratching post for those cats that like to scratch.”
Don’t Forget the Doctor!
Regular veterinary visits are a must once you welcome your puppy or kitten home. Ideally, kittens should be seen between eight and twelve weeks for de-worming and initial vaccinations.
“Depending on where the kitten came from,” says Downing, “a veterinarian may also recommend a test for feline leukemia or feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). We perform spaying and neutering between fourteen and sixteen weeks and schedule a wellness checkup for six months (to be repeated approximately every six months thereafter). These checkups are a chance for us to look at weight and to answer any questions that pet guardians might have. Puppies should follow the same schedule for wellness checkups but should be seen for initial exams, de-worming, and vaccinations at eight, twelve, and sixteen weeks. Spaying and neutering should occur between eighteen and twenty weeks, and monthly parasite prevention should begin at eight weeks.”
Warning signs that you should get your puppy or kitten to the vet
immediately include loss of appetite, coughing, sudden lethargy, runny nose or eyes, vomiting, and diarrhea. Also be aware of kittens that have been hiding for an extensive period of time. This may possibly indicate an injury or illness requiring urgent veterinary care. Additionally, it’s wise to get down on the floor at your pet’s level and make a note of poisonous or sharp objects that often prove enticing but deadly. Mouse traps and antifreeze
are common household hazards that should be made inaccessible to both pets and children.
Ellings encourages pet guardians to develop a comfortable relationship with their veterinarian and to never be afraid to ask questions.
“Puppyhood and kittenhood can be challenging, and your veterinarian is a valuable resource for preventing unwanted behaviors or modifying those already present. New behaviors and challenges occur as puppies and kittens age, so regular visits to the vet can help address these issues, in addition to providing preventive healthcare,” she says. You may also want to consider training or socialization classes. They are commonplace for dogs and are even starting to be offered for cats in the form of kitty kindergarten.
While raising a puppy or kitten involves a lifelong commitment and sometimes entails a few exciting challenges, it also offers the fulfillment and satisfaction of seeing a member of your family develop, grow, and flourish under your care. Knowing the basics of healthcare helps ensure that the cuddly creature you cradle today will still bring you joy as a companion several years down the road.
Peeking into adulthood
Until recently, veterinarians have typically recommended yearly vaccinations for dogs and cats, but that trend is beginning to change. Many experts are now advocating a three-year interval between boosters. Carvel G. Tiekert, DVM, is the Executive Director of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, based out of Bel Air, Maryland. Tiekert says there is no data to support annual vaccinations.
“I instead recommend tittering,” explains Tiekert. Tittering simply entails drawing blood to monitor a patient’s immune system. “The problem is that tittering is more expensive than vaccinating, and some clients don’t want to pay for it. So then the new three-year protocols are much better than a yearly regimen.” Dr. Robin Downing, DVM, is a certified veterinary acupuncturist and a diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management. Based out of Windsor, Colorado, Downing also sees certain benefits to the three-year plan.
“We use a three-year interval because it is reasonable to assume protection for at least that long,” says Downing. “We do not want to over-vaccinate patients. The current recommendations by the American Animal Hospital Association for vaccination intervals suggest that puppies and kittens be vaccinated according to standard vaccine guidelines, and that they receive boosters one year later. Then, their risks for disease should be evaluated by the veterinarian and a long-term vaccine schedule put into place.”
The best plan is to consult your veterinarian early on to see what his or her medical opinions are regarding a vaccination schedule. Together, you should develop a plan that makes both of you comfortable and that best suits your pet’s needs.
