Your Kitten’s First Vet Visit: What Should You Know Beforehand

It is essential that you take your kitten to a downtown Toronto vet as soon as possible after they arrive home. This is a great time to learn more about their condition and how to take care of them. And it is worth planning ahead of time to make the most of your journey and ensure that your kitten has a great one. If your kitten develops any health issues at an early age, visit the downtown Toronto animal hospital for treatment. 

What should you know before your kitten’s first vet visit?

Each kitten is unique, and some may require regular visits to the veterinarian. After their essential first appointment at roughly two months of age, your kitten must finish their vaccination schedule with the veterinarian. They will need to be visited at least once a year for a checkup and booster vaccines. Always call your veterinarian if you have any concerns about your kitten’s health or well-being.

Some things are helpful to have on hand before your kitten’s first checkup, whether you go to the doctor shortly after bringing up your new kitten or after a few days at home. This includes:

  • Any information and papers supplied by the shelter or breeder
  • Note anything that you are concerned about the kitten
  • stool sample.
  • Cat Carrier
  • Cat Treats

If you are taking your kitten to a vet for the first time, bring any adoption paperwork with you. Your veterinarian should be informed of all past treatments and vaccines given to the kitten. If it is not achievable, write down the things you were told during the adoption so you remember.

What Happens During Your Kitten’s First Vet Visit?

1. Background check and physical exam

The veterinary staff will interview you regarding your kitten’s background and do a physical exam. During the kitten’s first visit, your veterinarian will look for parasites like fleas and mites. The veterinarian will check your kitten’s ears, eyes, lips, skin, fur, and complete body. This includes touching the organs in the abdomen and listening to the heart and lungs with a stethoscope. A stool sample may also be collected to find out if your cat has any deeper medical problems.

2. Prepare a nutrition and hydration chart.

Kittens need to be adopted when they are 8 to 10 weeks old for the best health, weaning, and interacting. If your kitten is young, mainly when it is 6 weeks or under, the veterinarian will need to evaluate its nutrition and hydration condition and prescribe any necessary supplements.

3. Immunizations

Usually, your kitten will get their first round of core immunizations during their first medical visit. These vaccinations will prevent your kitten from potentially dangerous feline medical conditions, including rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia, calicivirus, and chlamydia. It is important to note that your kitten will not be completely protected against these illnesses until they receive all of the necessary rounds of immunizations. Make sure to ask your vet when your new kitty is going to be fully protected.

Other tests

Apart from a physical inspection performed by your veterinarian, your kitten will probably require a fecal exam and a blood test.

1. Fecal test

You are likely to be asked to bring a sample of stool from your kitten to the vet for testing for parasites such as giardia, intestinal worms, and other possible issues. Since not all intestinal parasites are discovered in fecal testing, and a large percentage of kittens have them, your veterinarian might give deworming medication at each appointment. Many parasites can be passed to humans, so it is essential that you remove them from your cat.

2. Blood test

The American Association of Feline Practitioners suggests that all newly adopted felines, regardless of their age, be tested for FeLV and FIV. If your kitten is under nine weeks old, your veterinarian might tell you to postpone testing once it is at least nine weeks. If you have another cat in your home with your kitten, keep them apart until they test negative to ensure your new kitten has a communicable disease.

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