The First Year with Your Pet: A Month-by-Month Guide

The first year with a pet is an exciting time. Young pets require specific care to ensure they can grow up healthy and strong. With a little bit of attention and a lot of love, your new pet can thrive in your home. Use this month-by-month guide to help you master the first year with your pet, and set you up for many more years together. 

Months 0-2

Young pets require extra veterinary attention to ensure they start life on a healthy paw. You should take your pet to the veterinarian by 6-8 weeks of age to get a general checkup and start the first round of your pet’s core vaccines. While your veterinarian will decide which vaccines are most important for your pet, there are some you can expect to see. These include:

• Rabies
• Canine distemper
• Canine influenza
• Feline distemper
• Feline calicivirus

Your vet will determine a safe vaccination schedule for your new pet. He or she might also start the deworming process to ensure your puppy or kitten does not have any unwanted visitors.

Months 2-4

While you continue to focus on health milestones like the next round of vaccines, it’s time to start focusing a bit on socializing your new pet. The more you can expose him to in his puppy or kitten years, the better he’ll be able to handle people and other animals later on. Socializing young pets can be as simple as introducing a new sight, smell, or sound each day. Puppies and kittens that are properly socialized will grow into well-adjusted adult pets. Your veterinarian might also broach the topic of starting a monthly parasite preventive. 

Months 4-6

Your pet will probably start teething during this time period, which means he or she is likely to start chewing things around the house. Avoid any unnecessary incidents by investing in plenty of vet-approved chew toys for your little biter. As your pet reaches the six-month mark, your veterinarian will likely bring up the topic of spaying or neutering. This procedure is safe for pets 6 months or older, and can help prevent reproductive health issues later in life.

Months 6-9

While your pet might physically be the size of an adult, he is still very much a puppy or kitten. It’s time to schedule a wellness exam to make sure your pet is growing at the proper milestones. Your veterinarian will likely suggest changing your pet’s diet from puppy/kitten foods to those made for adult pets. At this age, you can add some training sessions to your daily routine to keep your pet learning as he grows.

Months 10-12

As you approach the end of your first year with your pet, make sure you continue your monthly parasite prevention. Amp up your training to ensure your dog or cat has learned what he needs to learn. Schedule another wellness exam after your pet turns one so your vet can make sure everything looks good. Your pet will need a few booster shots to complete the vaccines. 

Whether you’re looking for tips on owning a pet or you need specialty or emergency veterinary care, Oakland Veterinary Referral Services is here for you. We’re here round the clock to provide the advanced veterinary care you need when you need it. Call (248) 334-6877 to learn more about our services.