Bringing home a new puppy or kitten is one of life's great joys — and one of its great responsibilities. The first six months are the most critical period for your pet's health, immunity, and behavioural development. At Shivraj Pet Clinic & Lab, we guide hundreds of new pet parents through this journey every year.
Week 1: The First Vet Visit
Bring your new puppy or kitten to the clinic within the first week of bringing them home — even if they appear healthy. We will perform a complete physical examination, check for congenital issues, assess body condition, and create a personalised vaccination and deworming schedule.
Vaccination Schedule
Puppies:
- 1.5–2 months: Puppy DP (Distemper, Parvovirus)
- 2–2.5 months: DHPPiL 9-in-1
- 3 months: 11-in-1 vaccine
- 3 months: Anti-Rabies (mandatory by law)
- 3 months+: Kennel Cough (especially for dogs that visit parks or grooming)
- Annual boosters for all vaccines thereafter
Kittens:
- 2 months: Tricat (Panleukopenia, Calicivirus, Rhinotracheitis)
- 3 months: Anti-Rabies
- Annual boosters
Do not take your puppy to public spaces, dog parks, or areas frequented by other dogs until at least two weeks after their second vaccine. Their immunity is not yet fully developed.
Deworming Schedule
Puppies and kittens are often born with internal parasites transmitted from the mother. Deworming schedule:
- Every 15 days from birth to 3 months
- Monthly from 3–6 months
- Every 3 months for life thereafter
Never skip deworming — roundworms and hookworms from pets can infect humans, particularly children.
Feeding Your New Pet
Puppies: Feed 3–4 times daily up to 6 months, then twice daily. Choose a high-quality puppy food appropriate for the breed size. Large breed puppies need controlled calcium — do not supplement unless your vet recommends it.
Kittens: Feed 3–4 times daily using a kitten-specific formulation. Cats are obligate carnivores — do not feed vegetarian diets.
Always provide fresh water. Avoid cow's milk — both puppies and kittens are commonly lactose intolerant.
Socialisation — The Critical Window
Between 3 and 12 weeks, puppies are in the critical socialisation window. Expose them to different people, sounds, surfaces, and environments (after partial vaccination). Well-socialised puppies grow into confident, calm adult dogs. Kittens have a shorter socialisation window of 2–7 weeks.
Common First-Year Health Issues
- Parvovirus — life-threatening diarrhoea in unvaccinated puppies. Prevention through vaccination is essential.
- Distemper — neurological disease prevented by vaccination.
- Panleukopenia in kittens — highly contagious, often fatal without early intervention.
- Ringworm — fungal skin infection, transmissible to humans.
- Ear mites — common in kittens, causes intense scratching.
Spaying and Neutering
We recommend spaying female dogs and cats before their first heat (around 5–6 months) to prevent uterine infections (pyometra) and mammary cancer. Male dogs and cats benefit from neutering at 5–6 months to reduce roaming, aggression, and reproductive cancers.
Call 077569 65169 to book your new puppy or kitten's first appointment at Shivraj Pet Clinic, Wakad & Pimple Saudagar.
