Puppy and Kitten Care

At Animal Clinic of North Topeka, we are so excited that you have a new addition to the family! We would love to partner with you to make sure your pet grows into a healthy, active, and happy companion for many years to come.

Appointment

What to expect at your first puppy or kitten visit

We will review your pet’s previous health and vaccination history
Your pet will receive a complete physical examination with our veterinarians
We will begin or update vaccinations, if appropriate
We’ll discuss heartworm prevention, flea and tick control, and deworming
The veterinarian will discuss normal development and any breed-specific health concerns
You can ask any questions you might have about training, grooming, or anything else!

A small dog sitting on the grass, looking content and relaxed.

Puppy Vaccination Schedule

Below is the vaccine schedule for puppies, as recommended by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)’s Canine Vaccination Task Force. Don’t worry – if your puppy doesn’t exactly fit this chart, our veterinarians will work with you to establish a protocol that is right for your dog!

Age	Vaccinations
6 weeks	Complete Physical Exam 1st DA2PP 1st Bordetella Fecal Exam
9 weeks	2nd DA2PP 2nd Bordetella
12 weeks	3rd DA2PP 1st Leptospirosis
16 weeks	4th DA2PP 2nd Leptospirosis 1-year Rabies

Click here for more puppy tips

Kitten Vaccination Schedule

Below is the vaccine schedule for kittens, based on recommendations by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (AAFP)’s Feline Vaccination Advisory Panel. Don’t worry – if your kitten doesn’t exactly fit this chart, our veterinarians will work with you to establish a protocol that is right for your pet!

Age	Vaccinations
8 weeks	Comprehensive Physical Exam 1st Purevax RCP Fecal exam
12 weeks	Feline Leukemia and FIV test 2nd Purevax RCP 1st Purevax Leukemia
16 weeks	Purevax RCP booster Purevax Leukemia booster Purevax Rabies (1yr)

Click here for more kitten tips

Intestinal Parasites

We recommend collecting a fecal sample to test for any intestinal parasites in your pets. There are numerous intestinal parasites but no universal dewormer, so it is the most economical and safest for your pet to test first, then only treat them with what they need. Most intestinal parasites are spread by fecal contamination, so in addition to deworming medication, also be sure to pick up feces out of the yard immediately to prevent re-infection! Roundworms and hookworms are zoonotic, meaning they can be spread from dogs to humans, so always wash your hands! Below is a list of the most common intestinal parasites and how they spread.

Product	Description
Roundworms ZOONOTIC	Most common parasitic worm of dog and cats Can be several inches long Spread by eating contaminated soil or from an infected mother to her offspring Can also infect humans!
Hookworms ZOONOTIC	Small red worms that feed on blood Severe infections can be fatal Migrating larvae can penetrate skin and cause a rash in humans!
Tapeworms	Worm is made of many segments that look like cooked white rice Spread by ingesting fleas or rodents Humans are rarely infected
Whipworms	Live in the large intestine and cecum Spread by eating contaminated soil Can cause diarrhea or stunted growth
Giardia	One-celled parasitic organism Spread by contaminated water or direct fecal-oral transmission Symptoms vary from no outward signs to severe diarrhea
Coccidia	One-celled protozoal parasite Spread by fecal-oral transmission Often associated with bird droppings