|
Puppies & Kittens
Congratulations! You have just entered a relationship that
if nurtured well, should see you through the years with
companionship, enlightenment, and love.
From Kitten to Adult Cat
Kittens are
born the same way as puppies, unable to see or hear. There
may be as few as one or as many as seven in one litter. The
mother stays close to them until they are about 8 weeks of
age and older nursing them with her milk.
When a
kitten reaches 9 weeks of age they are a ball of fun and
energy. Like puppies if this is not the case, there could be
something wrong and a it is recommended to have a physical
exam done as soon as possible.
Kittens
learn right away how to eat and use the litter box, lucky
for you that is about all the training they need.
It is a
good idea to pick up a book on cats if you are a first time
owner so that you are able to care for them properly. You
can also ask a Veterinarian when you take them for their
first exam after bringing them home. It is always a good
idea and recommended to keep cats and especially kittens
indoors rather then outside, at least until fully vaccinated
due to the high incidence of viruses. Even then it is high
risk for them to wander the neighborhood and possibly get
into fights.
By the time
your kitten reaches adulthood they have claws to protect
themselves and teeth but can easily sustain their own
injuries. We routinely see cats for laceration and abscess
repair from cat fights. Your cat has a better chance of
living a longer and healthier life if you keep them out of
harms way. With proper care and feeding cats can live a long
and happy life!
From Puppy to Adult Dog
When puppies are
first born they cannot see or hear. They must stay close to
their mother for protection and warmth. Over the next 8
weeks they begin to grow rapidly. At nine weeks of age they
are able to take in solid food. Puppies are normally full of
energy but do sleep a lot after playing. If this is not the
case with your puppy, something may be wrong and may require
a trip to the vet. It is a good idea to have your new puppy
check by a veterinarian to make sure it is well from the
beginning. As my favorite vet tells all new owner’s “puppies
are like vacuum cleaners, so keep everything out of their
reach you don’t want them to eat”.
As the puppies
get older it is important to begin a vaccination program to
help prevent your puppy from getting sick from different
viruses and diseases they can contract. Now is also a good
time to start a training program so your dog can learn to
obey basic commands such as sit and stay. We all know the
importance of house breaking at this stage and how
frustrating it can be if we do not see them fully trained as
soon as possible.
When your puppy
reaches 12 months of age it is considered an adult and
should be on a healthy diet and fully vaccinated. He/She
should now know how to behave at home and in public places,
this should include at trip to the doctor.
As the owner of
a full-grown adult dog we hope to have many years with the
pet that you have made a part of your family. It is always
important to have your animal checked out at least once a
year to ensure their health for many more years to come.
You may not know
that dog’s age more rapid than we do; an eight-year-old dog
is now considered geriatric. We must begin to treat them as
such. They may begin to show signs of aging by slowing down
or not being able to jump or walk as far as they once did.
We may have to place them on special diets for stomach
conditions or joint problems. It is most important to care
for these pets at this age so are able to remain with us for
another 5-8 years, or more if we are lucky.
It is important
to understand that dogs will never live as long as we do, so
while they are here we must love and care, making their
years the best together. |
