Puppy & Kitten Care in Morris, IL

First of all—congratulations! It is important to begin your four-legged family member’s life with health and happiness in mind. Puppies and kittens require examinations, vaccinations, and diagnostics specialized for early and critical years of life. We will also discuss services such as spay-neuter and microchipping to benefit your new loved one.

Caring For Your New Puppy or Kitten

Physical Examinations

Between 8-16 weeks of age, we recommend that your puppy or kitten have 3-4 physical exams. These exams provide a base line of health and allows your veterinarian to assess overall wellness and administer necessary vaccinations.

Vaccinations

Puppies and kittens have immature immune systems, making them more susceptible to illness and disease. Vaccinations are administered in a properly staged series. Each puppy and kitten is different, therefore our recommendations are tailored to lifestyle and breed.

Diagnostics

At 6 months of age, puppies should be tested for Heartworm. During a kitten’s first visit, we recommend Feline Leukemia and Feline AIDS testing if not previously done.

Spay/Neuter Procedure

Spay-neuter is a minor procedure that will benefit you as well as your pet. Over time, the procedure has become much safer as veterinarians are no longer generalizing and instead are treating each animal as an individual who deserves a unique, clinical decision in terms of breed, age, size, and lifestyle.

This procedure allows your pet to live a longer and healthier life. Meanwhile, you will experience less troubles associated with natural sexual instinct, pregnancy, and heat periods. At Lakewood Animal Hospital, we are highly experienced to perform spay- neuter procedure and ensure your pet is safe and comfortable from beginning to end.

Spaying: a surgical removal of the ovaries and uterus

Prevents unwanted pregnancies
Eliminates messy, problematic bleeding and heat cycles
Decreases the urge to roam
Eliminates mammary problems and uterine complications such as cancer, pyometra, and infection.
Decreases aggressive behaviors
Spaying lessens mood changes
Better companion for you and your family

Neutering: surgical removal of the testicles

Decreases aggressive behaviors
Avoids issues such as testicular cancer and an enlarged prostate, which can be fatal and uncomfortable
Decreases the urge to roam
Encourages longevity
Better companion for you and your family

Microchipping

Microchipping provides a lifetime of identification if you and your pet are ever separated. With your contact information embedded in the microchip, you and your pet can be reunited! While collars and ID tags are helpful and encouraged, they are not foolproof. These forms of identification commonly fall off, get lost, or removed. For the protection of your pet, we recommend using both forms of identification.

The process is inexpensive and fast! The microchip is implanted between the shoulder blades, much like a routine vaccination. This procedure is so simple it is often performed at the same time as vaccinations or another procedure.