The first few months of life is a critical period in the health and behavior of a puppy.

Vaccines:

Puppies are born with maternal antibodies to protect them from disease. This means that the puppy will be born with some (but not complete) protection from diseases for which the mother has been vaccinated. These maternal antibodies wane with time, as the puppy’s immune system develops. By about 16 weeks of age, those maternal antibodies are no longer present. This is why it is important for puppies to be vaccinated on the appropriate schedule.

At 8 weeks, puppies receive their DAP (distemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus) and bordatella/parainfluenza vaccines.
At 12 weeks, DAP is administered again and we begin the leptospirosis vaccine
At 16 weeks, the final DAP, second leptospirosis, and rabies vaccine are administered. In the state of Oregon, it is required that rabies be administered by 16 weeks.
Rottweilers and Pitbulls are especially susceptible to parvovirus, so these breeds may be vaccinated a final time at 18-20 weeks of age.

Parasites:

We universally assume that puppies have intestinal parasites. For this reason, the Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends that puppies be dewormed at least 3 times and have a stool sample checked at least twice. The stool sample is important because there are types of parasites, including giardia, that are not killed by our standard dewormers. Some of the parasites that puppies carry can infect people as well, and children are especially susceptible.

Protection against fleas, ticks, and heartworm disease is also important in puppies. Most flea and tick prevention is safe for use in puppies as young as 8 weeks of age. In addition to being unpleasant, both fleas and ticks can carry disease. Lyme Disease, Ehrlichia, and mycoplasma are just a few of the diseases that we worry about. Although fleas and ticks are less active during the colder months, they are looking to feed year-round. This is the reason that flea and tick prevention is recommended year-round. Higher elevation doesn’t save you from ticks; they can live at altitudes up to 10,000 feet.

Heartworm disease is on the rise in Oregon and Washington. In Oregon, the number of cases of heartworm disease, reported by the two largest laboratories, tripled from 2016 to 2020. In Washington, reported cases have increased by five times in the same period. The American Heartworm Society recommends that all dogs receive heartworm prevention, year-round. Testing for heartworm disease is done annually; typically starting at about 8 months of age.

Socialization:

Early and frequent socialization is essential for behavioral health and avoiding fear in new situations. The first 16 weeks of life are critical in building confidence. During this time, a puppy should be given as many opportunities as possible to experience new sights, smells, and sounds in a safe and controlled manner. People in hats, bicycles, vacuum cleaners, men with beards, people of all ages, stairs, carpet, other dogs, and other types of animals are just a few of the things that can be frightening to a pup that hasn’t been exposed.

We want to ensure, however, that a puppy is not exposed to an area where there may have been dogs of unknown vaccine status, such as a dog park, until the puppy vaccine series has been completed, due to the risk of exposure to parvovirus and other diseases. Puppies that are small enough can still venture to these areas if they can be carried.

We want to make sure that a puppy is comfortable being touched and handled in many ways. Play with their teeth, scratch their belly, pick up their tail, touch the inside of their ear flaps, lift their lips, open their mouths. Start trimming their nails. To trim nails, start by taking just a small amount off of each nail. Do one foot daily with plenty of treats and praise.

The first few months of life is a critical period in the health and behavior of a kitten.

Vaccines:

Kittens are born with maternal antibodies to protect them from disease. This means that the kitten will be born with some (but not complete) protection from diseases for which the mother has been vaccinated. These maternal antibodies wane with time, as the kitten’s immune system develops. By about 16 weeks of age, those maternal antibodies are no longer present. This is why it is important for kittens to be vaccinated on the appropriate schedule.

At 8 weeks, kittens receive their HCP (herpesvirus, calicivirus, panleukopenia) vaccine.
At 12 weeks, HCP is administered. We also test for feline leukemia virus and (FeLV) feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and begin the feline leukemia vaccine
At 16 weeks, the final HCP, second FeLV, and rabies vaccine are administered.

Parasites:

We universally assume that kittens have intestinal parasites. For this reason, the Companion Animal Parasite Council recommends that kittens be dewormed at least 3 times and have a stool sample checked at least twice. The stool sample is important because there are types of parasites, including giardia, that are not killed by our standard dewormers. Some of the parasites that kittens carry can infect people as well, and children are especially susceptible.

Protection against fleas, ticks, and heartworm disease is also important in kittens. Most flea and tick prevention is safe for use in kittens as young as 8 weeks of age. In addition to being unpleasant, both fleas and ticks can carry disease. Lyme Disease, Tularemia, Hemobartonellosis, and Mycoplasmosis are just a few of the diseases that we worry about. Although fleas and ticks are less active during the colder months, they are looking to feed year-round. This is the reason that flea and tick prevention is recommended year-round. Higher elevation doesn’t save you from ticks; they can live at altitudes up to 10,000 feet.

Heartworm disease is on the rise in Oregon and Washington. For cats, there is no test that can be fully relied upon, and the only currently available treatment is for the worms to be surgically removed from the heart. For this reason, the American Heartworm Society recommends that all cats receive heartworm prevention, year-round.

Socialization:

Early and frequent socialization is essential for behavioral health and avoiding fear in new situations. The first 16 weeks of life are critical in building confidence. During this time, a kitten should be given as many opportunities as possible to experience new sights, smells, and sounds in a safe and controlled manner. People in hats, vacuum cleaners, men with beards, people of all ages, slick surfaces, other cats, and other types of animals are just a few of the things that can be frightening to a kitten that hasn’t been exposed.

We want to ensure, however, that a kitten is not exposed to an area where theremay have been cats of unknown vaccine status, such as the backyard and local neighborhood, until the kitten vaccine series has been completed, due to the risk of exposure to calicivirus and other diseases.

We want to make sure that a kitten is comfortable being touched and handled in many ways. Play with their teeth, scratch their belly, pick up their tail, touch the inside of their ear flaps, lift their lips, open their mouths. Start trimming their nails. To trim nails, start by taking just a small amount off of each nail. Do one foot daily with plenty of treats and praise.