Puppy and Kitten Veterinary Care in Dedham, MA
Bringing a new puppy or kitten home is one of life’s great joys — and getting their veterinary care started on the right foot sets the stage for a lifetime of good health. At Castlerock Veterinary Hospital in Dedham, MA, we love welcoming new additions to the family. Our puppy and kitten care program is designed to give your young pet the strongest possible health foundation through vaccinations, parasite prevention, early diagnostics, and personalized guidance for new pet owners. Call (781) 329-5333 to schedule your puppy or kitten’s first visit.
Your Puppy’s First Veterinary Visits
We recommend scheduling your new puppy’s first appointment within a few days to a week of bringing them home. This initial visit accomplishes several important things: it establishes a health baseline, checks for congenital abnormalities or conditions that may have been missed at the breeder or shelter, and starts the vaccine series that will protect your puppy from life-threatening infectious diseases.
Puppy vaccine series: Puppies receive maternal antibodies from their mother that fade over the first weeks of life, leaving a window of vulnerability before their own immune systems are fully developed. A series of core vaccinations — typically given at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age — bridges this gap. Core puppy vaccines include distemper, parvovirus, adenovirus (DAP or DHPP), and rabies. Lifestyle vaccines such as Bordetella (kennel cough), Leptospira, and Lyme may also be recommended based on your puppy’s expected activities.
Parasite prevention and screening: Intestinal parasites are extremely common in puppies, often passed from mother to puppy before birth or through nursing. We’ll perform a fecal exam at the first visit and recommend appropriate deworming. We’ll also discuss and initiate year-round flea, tick, and heartworm prevention tailored to your puppy’s weight and lifestyle.
Spay and neuter counseling: We’ll discuss the timing and benefits of spay or neuter surgery with you during early puppy visits. Current recommendations on timing vary by breed and size, and our veterinarian can help you make an informed decision that’s best for your individual puppy.
Microchipping: We recommend microchipping your puppy early — it’s quick, inexpensive, and provides a permanent form of identification that could be the difference between a lost pet and a found one.
Your Kitten’s First Veterinary Visits
Kittens need a similar early-life care program. Your new kitten’s first visit should occur as soon as possible after bringing them home, and typically includes a full physical exam, fecal parasite testing, and initiation of the core vaccine series. Core kitten vaccines include panleukopenia (feline distemper), calicivirus, rhinotracheitis (herpesvirus), and rabies — often given as the FVRCP combination vaccine.
We’ll also discuss feline leukemia virus (FeLV) vaccination for kittens with outdoor access or multi-cat household exposure, FeLV/FIV testing for kittens whose background is unknown, and dental hygiene habits to start early. Spay or neuter timing for kittens, microchipping, and year-round parasite prevention will also be on the agenda.
Guidance for New Pet Owners
Bringing home a new puppy or kitten often comes with many questions about feeding, training, socialization, and behavior. Our team at Castlerock Veterinary Hospital is here to answer all of them. We’ll discuss age-appropriate nutrition, the importance of early socialization for behavioral development, and how to recognize signs that something might be wrong. We want you to feel confident and supported as you navigate life with your new companion. Contact Castlerock Veterinary Hospital at (781) 329-5333 to book your puppy or kitten’s first appointment today.
Frequently Asked Questions — Puppy and Kitten Care
When should I bring my new puppy or kitten to the vet for the first time?
We recommend scheduling your new puppy or kitten’s first veterinary visit within a few days to one week of bringing them home. Early visits allow us to check for any congenital issues, start the vaccine series on schedule, screen for parasites, and give you guidance as a new pet owner before problems have a chance to develop.
How many vaccine visits does my puppy or kitten need?
Most puppies and kittens require a series of 3–4 vaccine visits between 8 and 16 weeks of age, followed by booster vaccines at 1 year. The exact schedule depends on the vaccines being given and the age your pet was when the series began. Our veterinarian will map out a personalized vaccine schedule for your pet during the first visit.
My puppy came with a health certificate from the breeder — do I still need to see a vet?
Yes. Breeder health checks are typically brief and may not catch all issues. Additionally, the vaccine series and parasite prevention protocols that are appropriate for your puppy’s ongoing health need to be continued and managed by a veterinarian who will know your pet over time. We encourage all new puppies to be seen promptly regardless of prior certifications.
At what age can I start my puppy or kitten on parasite prevention?
Parasite prevention can begin as early as 6–8 weeks of age for most products, though appropriate products vary by species and weight. We’ll recommend the safest, most effective options for your specific puppy or kitten during the first visit. Many puppies and kittens also need deworming treatment at the first visit due to the prevalence of intestinal parasites in young animals.
Is it safe to take my puppy outside before they are fully vaccinated?
Before completing their vaccine series, puppies are vulnerable to certain infectious diseases — particularly parvovirus, which is very hardy in the environment. However, socialization during the 8–16 week window is also critical for behavioral development. We recommend puppy classes that require proof of vaccination for all attendees, visits to homes with healthy vaccinated dogs, and avoiding high-traffic dog areas like dog parks until the vaccine series is complete.
When should I spay or neuter my puppy or kitten?
Traditional recommendations were to spay or neuter at 6 months. More recent research — particularly for larger dog breeds — suggests that waiting until skeletal maturity may have benefits in reducing certain health risks. Our veterinarian will discuss the latest evidence and help you make an informed decision based on your pet’s species, breed, size, and individual health status.
What should I bring to my puppy or kitten’s first appointment?
Please bring any health records, deworming history, and vaccine documentation from the breeder, shelter, or rescue. If possible, bring a fresh stool sample in a clean container for fecal parasite testing. Most importantly, bring your questions — first appointments are a great time to ask about anything you’re wondering about as a new pet owner.
