Puppy & Kitten Care

Provides Puppy Care and Kitten Care

All pet owners want to know what the best way is to care for their new furry friends. Puppies and kittens require different levels of care, so it's crucial to understand the differences between how to provide specific puppy care and kitten care for the younger versions of our best friends versus the adult versions. At Magruder Tabb Animal Clinic in Yorktown, VA, puppies and kittens are some of our favorite patients.

Puppy & Kitten Care

What's Specifically Involved in Puppy Care?

Puppies require different levels of care than adult dogs, mainly because they're growing so fast and have zero training. Puppies should be fed throughout the day until they are about four or five months old and only with specialized puppy food. When puppies are about three months old, they can switch from moist food to dry food. After six months, puppies can be reduced from three feedings a day to twice a day, depending on their size and metabolism. During this time, puppies will chew on many things, so it's essential to provide them with ample exercise, safe toys to chew on, and plenty of fresh water.

As they grow, it's essential to work with puppies to get them used to regular dental brushing to make their dental cleanings easier as they grow. Puppies will also need more socialization, behavior, and potty training at an early age to help them become well-rounded and well-behaved adults. All puppies need multiple rounds of puppy shots to be safe as they grow. Your vet can tell you when they will need these, in addition to clarifying how much food your puppy will need at each stage.

What's Specifically Involved in Kitten Care?

You'll notice kittens have slightly happier and more playful personalities sometimes than their adult counterparts. Like puppies, kittens require somewhat different care. All kittens need space to roam and a particular spot to call their own, like a covered cat house that has an open door. Kittens should be fed special kitten food for up to a year, three times a day, until they are around six months old. At that time, you can start transitioning from moist to dry food and feeding them only twice a day.

Give your kitten toys or treats when they listen to you and be sure to spend time with them daily. Most kittens intuitively know where to do their business once they know where the litter box is and how they can quickly get to it. When they are very young, it might be good to have additional litter boxes around the home, so they don't have to travel as far. Consider limiting the cat to one floor of your home if you have multiple floors until you're sure they use the litter box correctly and consistently. Kittens will also need routine vaccinations and screenings with the vet as they grow.

Contact Our Trusted Yorktown Veterinarian

At Magruder Tabb Animal Clinic in Yorktown, VA, we're so happy you decided to welcome a new puppy or kitten into your home! We're so glad to help you care for them by ensuring they're up-to-date on their vaccinations and getting them started on a health and wellness care plan that will set them up to have a longer and healthier life. Contact us today for an appointment!

Location

Hours of Operation

Monday

7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Tuesday

7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Wednesday

7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Thursday

7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Friday

7:00 am - 5:00 pm

Saturday

8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Sunday

Closed

Monday
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Wednesday
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday
7:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday
8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Sunday
Closed