Hospital Hours: Monday-Friday: 8am-6pm | Saturday: 8am-4pm
(519) 896-0532
Welcoming a new puppy or kitten into your home is an exciting time. When it's time for their first vaccinations and check-up, our Kitchener veterinary clinic will set up a customized schedule to keep them healthy from day one.
We recommend scheduling your puppy or kitten's first vet visit within a few days of bringing them home. This initial visit lets us establish a baseline for their health and gives you a chance to ask any questions about feeding, behaviour, or general care.
During the first exam, we perform a complete nose-to-tail physical check. These early visits are also a good time to discuss the safety measures and anesthetic monitoring we use when it's time to spay or neuter your pet.
Weight & Growth
Checking that bone development and muscle tone are on track for their breed.
Skin & Coat
Looking for early signs of fleas, mites, lice, ticks, or underlying skin infections or allergies.
Eyes, Ears & Mouth
Checking for ear mites and making sure adult teeth are coming in properly.
Heart & Lungs
Listening closely for murmurs or any early breathing irregularities.
Puppies and kittens have immature immune systems, which makes them highly vulnerable to contagious and potentially dangerous illnesses. At Kingsdale Animal Hospital, we don't use a one-size-fits-all approach to vaccinations. A puppy visiting busy Kitchener dog parks has completely different risks than a kitten living strictly indoors. We'll assess your pet's specific lifestyle to recommend the exact protection they need.
Core vaccines begin
This is when we start building your pet's foundational immune protection.
Booster doses
Administered on a staggered schedule to keep immunity building safely.
Initial series complete
The initial series typically wraps up here. From this point, we move to an annual schedule.
Bringing a new pet home comes with a lot of questions. We're here to give you practical, straightforward guidance so you feel confident from day one.
Diet
Choosing the right high-quality food and determining proper portion sizes to support joint and brain development.
Parasite Prevention
Ticks are especially prevalent in Kitchener. Early and consistent parasite prevention against worms, fleas, and ticks is a necessity.
Behaviour
Proven tips for house training, litter box habits, and safe socialization during those early developmental weeks.
Routine Care
We'll show you how to safely trim nails, clean ears, and introduce early toothbrushing to prevent future dental disease.
As your pet finishes their initial vaccine series, we'll discuss the next steps in their lifelong care plan.
We'll review the medical and behavioural benefits of the procedure and determine the best timing based on your pet's breed and size.
A simple, quick procedure that provides permanent identification. We can perform this at any visit, often during the same appointment as a vaccine booster.
We're excited to meet the newest addition to your family. Schedule online or give us a call.
Book an Appointment