4214 Milwaukee Street, Madison, WI 53714
Expert Guidance for Your Young Pets
If you’ve recently added a new member to your family, congratulations! Our team at Truesdell is here to guide you on everything puppy/kitten related, including when to vaccinate, spay/neuter procedure, how to acclimate with other pets at home, and more. We are committed to keeping your little puppy or kitten healthy so that they can grow into an adult with unique personalities and needs.
Puppy Wellness Exams
Puppy wellness exams are an important part of ensuring your pup is growing and developing properly. Regularly scheduled puppy exams help to establish a baseline for your friend; our doctors will review their known history and will also perform a nose-to-tail evaluation. Your puppy will be given a vaccination and deworming protocol, and we’ll also help lay out a plan for future care which includes microchipping and spay/neuter surgery. Please bring a fecal sample to your puppy’s first wellness visit.
If you suspect your puppy has worms, we will be able to diagnose by using a fecal sample and determine appropriate treatment. It’s very common for puppies to have worms, and we want to make sure they’re starting off on the right foot – or paw!
Puppy Vaccinations
What were once dangerous and potentially deadly diseases, are now preventable thanks to vaccines. There are two types of vaccines that can be administered to your puppy. The first is a core vaccine, which is given based on a schedule that spans over a few weeks early in your puppy’s life. These core vaccines are then boosted at intervals throughout your puppy’s life. These vaccines can include Rabies, Distemper, Hepatitis, and more.
The second type of vaccine is called ‘non-core’ which is an optional vaccine given to your puppy based on its age, location, and lifestyle. Our doctors will discuss both core and non-core vaccines to determine the best course of action.
Kitten Wellness Exams
Just like puppies, kittens need regularly scheduled wellness visits at a young age. Our doctors want to make sure your kitten is maturing and growing well, while also establishing a baseline for their health. Kitten wellness visits will include a vaccination and deworming protocol, while laying out a future plan for their veterinary care, such as microchipping and spay/neuter surgery.
Kitten Vaccinations
Vaccinations protect against deadly, dangerous diseases and can potentially save your pets’ life. There are two types of vaccinations we administer to kittens, core vaccines and non-core vaccines. Core vaccines come highly recommended (FVRCP), and some are required by the state (Rabies). Non-core vaccines will be discussed with you at the time of your first visit, as they can be optional depending on your cat’s lifestyle, age, and location.
Multi-Cat Households
We understand all too well that sharing a cat household can be a little challenging to integrate. The good news is that it is not impossible! We are also here for you every step of the way with tips on how to bring your new kitty home to a multi-cat household.
When bringing your new kitten or cat home, it is helpful to keep them in a separate room so that other cats can smell them. Once you feel that it’s time for them to meet, we suggest a slow introduction by allowing your kitten to stay in its carrier while the other cat(s) can smell him through the carrier. After some time, you’ll find that they will become comfortable with each other and will be able to open the cat carrier. If you have any questions on this process, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 608-244-2555.
A multi-cat household technically means there are also multi-liter boxes, ideally one for each cat. You should also be mindful that food and water should be accessed in a neutral space. Opportunities for exercise and scratching posts are also suggested for mental stimulation.
Spay/Neuter Procedure
In many cases, spaying or neutering your pet is one of the most responsible choices, we as pet owners, can make. This procedure removes reproductive organs in females (spaying) and males (neutering). The spaying and neutering procedure can be done on most pets provided their age and health conditions, so it’s smart to discuss this procedure with your doctor ahead of time. There are a variety of benefits to spaying or neutering your pet. Some of these benefits include:
- Improved quality of life
- Decrease in health issues later in life
- Decreases the ability to ‘roam’, urine marking, and howling in males and females
- Reduces overall pet population in community
- Removing reproductive organs in pets can also improve their overall behavior
If you have any further questions on spaying or neutering your pet, please give us a call at 608-244-2555 to speak with one of our staff members.
Microchipping
Even if you’re the most careful pet parent, accidents happen. We want to make sure your pet has the most foolproof identification. As quick as a routine vaccination, a microchip can be implanted between your pet’s shoulder blades where it stores your contact information. Your information is entered into an online database that can be updated as often as you need. With a microchip in place, the chances of a reunion with a lost pet are much greater. Unlike collars and ID tags that can become lost, microchips are a permanent form of identification your pet will always carry. Animal shelters and veterinary facilities nationwide are equipped with special scanners, so if your pet is found you will be contacted right away. Still, we recommend using all forms of identification for the safety of your pet. If you ever move or change phone numbers, be sure to update your pet’s microchip contact information online.
FeLV/FIV Testing
All kittens and newly adopted cats should be tested for feline leukemia and feline immunodeficiency virus. These retroviruses can affect the quality and length of a cat’s life. The tests are performed at Truesdell clinic’s in-house lab, on a small blood sample.