Guidance For Your Pet’s First Year
As a new pet parent, the team at Pound Ridge Veterinary Center is here to help guide you through your pet’s first year of life. The first thing you should do after bringing your new pet home is to call us to schedule their first wellness visit.
Caring For Your New Puppy or Kitten
Welcoming a new puppy or kitten into your family is an exciting time. As a new pet owner, one of the first things you should do is schedule an initial wellness visit with us. Since puppies and kittens do not have fully developed immune systems, it’s important for us to perform an exam, administer necessary vaccinations, and perform various tests to rule out disease, illness, and the presence of parasites.
We’re here to set your new pet up for a lifetime of health and happiness. At your pet’s first visit, you can expect to discuss the importance of routine preventative care, required and lifestyle dependent vaccinations, parasite control, spay/neuter procedure, microchip insertion, proper nutrition, and coat care. Finally, we’ll help you plan for training and socialization, which is crucial in making your new pet a wonderful companion and member of your family.
Spay/Neuter procedure is recommended for all dogs and cats we see to:
- Prevent unwanted litters
- Prevent medical risks associated with giving birth
- Reduce your pet’s risk of certain cancers and diseases
- Prevent pet overpopulation
Spay/Neuter Procedure
At Pound Ridge Veterinary Center, the spay/neuter procedure is a key component of wellness care. Let us help you be a conscientious caretaker to your canine or feline companion by providing key information on the procedure itself, and the health and behavioral benefits it provides.
- Spaying is a complete ovariohysterectomy of female dogs or cats, or the surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus.
- Neutering is the surgical removal of both testicles in male dogs and cats. Do not fret – it sounds scarier than it is. Your dog won’t miss them!
Spaying and neutering can help prevent things like the urge to roam, aggressive behaviors, messy heat cycles or urine marking, gender-specific cancers, unwanted litters, and more. Talk to your veterinarian to learn more about this procedure and if it is the right choice for you and your pet.
Microchipping
If your pet is ever lost, microchips increase the likelihood of a happy reunion. That’s why we recommend all pets be microchipped—even indoor pets! Accidents happen. It’s best to be prepared.
Microchipping your pet is virtually painless and similar to a routine vaccination. A microchip the size of a grain of rice will be inserted beneath the skin and between the shoulder blades, and will provide a lifetime of unique identification that can never fall off or be removed. Be sure to update your pet’s microchip identification if you ever move or change your phone number.
