195 San Marco Ave
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Setting Your Pet Up for a Healthy Life
Bringing a new pet home is always exciting, and scheduling a wellness exam as soon as possible helps ensure your puppy or kitten is on the path to a long, happy, and healthy life. Some pets may feel fear or anxiety during their first veterinary visits, and that’s completely normal. Early visits can help them become more comfortable and less stressed over time.
For new puppies and kittens, we highly recommend two essential services: the spay/neuter procedure and microchipping. These preventive measures not only support your pet’s health and safety but also provide peace of mind for you as a responsible pet owner.
The Importance of Veterinary Care for Puppies & Kittens
Regular veterinary check-ups and vaccinations are essential for keeping puppies and kittens healthy. These visits allow our veterinarians to identify potential health issues early, preventing them from becoming more serious. Young pets are also more vulnerable to certain diseases and parasites, making timely vaccinations and preventative care crucial for their overall well-being.
Essential Puppy Health Visits
Puppy wellness exams are essential for monitoring your puppy’s growth and ensuring a healthy start to life. We recommend scheduling visits at 8, 12, and 16 weeks. During these exams, our veterinarians perform a thorough physical examination, conduct a fecal test, and administer the appropriate core and non-core vaccinations to protect your puppy’s health.
Puppy Vaccinations
Vaccinations are crucial for protecting your puppy from life-threatening illnesses, especially while their immune system is still developing. Until your puppy is fully vaccinated, it’s important to avoid places where other dogs congregate, such as dog parks, kennels, and grooming facilities, to minimize the risk of disease.
Core vaccines recommended for all puppies include Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, Rabies, and Leptospirosis. Non-core vaccines, such as Bordetella (kennel cough) and Canine Influenza, are suggested based on your puppy’s lifestyle, exposure risk, and health. Proper vaccination ensures your puppy stays safe and healthy as they grow.
Essential Kitten Health Visits
Kitten wellness exams are typically scheduled at 8, 12, and 16 weeks to monitor growth, prevent illness, and detect parasites early. These appointments allow our veterinarians to ensure your kitten is developing healthily and staying protected from common health issues.
During a wellness exam, your kitten will receive a thorough physical examination, a fecal test, vaccine recommendations, and screenings for conditions common in young cats.
Kitten Vaccinations
Until your kitten is fully vaccinated, it’s important to keep them away from other cats and pets to reduce the risk of disease.
Core vaccines, recommended for all kittens, include Distemper, Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, and Rabies. Non-core vaccines may be suggested based on your kitten’s lifestyle, health condition, and potential exposure risks. Proper vaccination helps ensure your kitten stays healthy and safe as they grow.
Introducing a New Kitten to a Multi-Cat Household
Health Precautions Before Introduction
Before introducing a new kitten to your cats, ensure everyone’s safety by testing for Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV). These tests help protect your resident cats and give peace of mind during introductions.
Steps for a Smooth Introduction
Introduce a new kitten gradually: start with separate rooms to share scents, then supervised meetings through a barrier, and finally short interactions in a neutral space. Our team can help ensure a safe, stress-free introduction.
Health Benefits of Spay/Neuter
Having your pet spayed or neutered provides numerous health and behavioral benefits. At Antigua Veterinary Practice, our experienced doctors and veterinary team strongly recommend this procedure for all pets to promote a longer, healthier, and happier life.
Because this is such an important surgery, we take every precaution to ensure your pet’s safety and comfort. Our skilled medical team follows strict protocols and uses advanced technology to deliver the highest standard of care. Each procedure includes:
- Pre-surgical bloodwork
- Properly dosed anesthesia
- Pain management
- Advanced surgical monitoring equipment
- Dedicated technician monitoring
- IV fluids for hydration and support
What is a Spay/Neuter Procedure?
Spaying is a surgical procedure performed on female pets to remove the ovaries and uterus (ovariohysterectomy). Neutering, or castration, is performed on male pets and involves the removal of the testicles. While it may sound intimidating, both procedures are routine, safe, and performed under anesthesia by our experienced veterinary team.
Benefits of Spay/Neuter
Spaying or neutering helps prevent serious health issues, reduces unwanted behaviors, and stops unplanned litters—promoting a longer, healthier life for your pet.
Benefits of Spaying Female Pets
- Reduces the urge to roam
- Minimizes aggressive behaviors
- Eliminates messy heat cycles
- Prevents urine marking
- Lowers the risk of uterine and mammary cancers or infections
- Prevents unwanted litters
- Decreases excessive howling
Benefits of Neutering Male Pets
- Reduces the urge to roam
- Minimizes aggressive behaviors
- Prevents urine marking
- Lowers the risk of testicular cancer and prostate disease
- Prevents unwanted litters
Spaying and neutering also benefit the overall pet population. By preventing litters, these procedures help reduce overcrowding in shelters, giving more pets a chance to be adopted into loving homes.
Understanding the Truth About Pet Sterilization
Many pet owners worry that their pet will gain weight after being spayed or neutered. This is not true—weight gain is linked to growth and diet, not the procedure itself. Similarly, some believe female pets must complete a heat cycle before being spayed. In most cases, there is no clinical evidence to support this, and delaying the procedure can actually increase the risk of mammary tumors.
Another common myth is that neutering changes a male pet’s personality. While your pet’s core personality remains the same, neutering can reduce aggressive behaviors and decrease urine marking, making them easier to manage and more comfortable at home.
Keep Your Pet Safe With Microchipping
At Antigua Veterinary Practice, we understand that accidents can happen—every year, one in three pets goes missing, lost, or stolen, totaling around ten million pets annually. To help ensure your furry friend returns home safely, we highly recommend reliable pet identification through microchipping.
Microchipping is a modern, effective way to identify lost or stolen pets and significantly increases the chances of being reunited with them. Microchips can be inserted at any age, and the sooner, the better. The procedure is quick, easy, and painless, and can even be performed alongside other services like dental cleanings or routine wellness visits.
Once your pet is microchipped, you can upload your current contact information to a national online database. If you move or change phone numbers, simply update your information to keep your pet’s records accurate. Each microchip has a unique serial number, and when a lost pet is scanned at a shelter or clinic, the registered owner can be quickly contacted.
In addition to microchipping, we also recommend using collars and ID tags. While not as foolproof, these provide an extra layer of security to help your pet be identified and returned safely.
