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Protecting kittens from parasites

There are various nasty parasites you need to protect your new kitten from, including heartworms, intestinal worms, fleas and ticks. Whilst some treatments cover all of these parasites, it’s best to talk to your vet about the treatment that’s right for your cat and location.

Whether it’s oral chews or spot-on products it’s important to get on top of parasite treatments as soon as you bring your kitten home, as introducing them to new environments can increase their exposure to disease.

There are various nasty parasites you need to protect your new kitten from, including intestinal worms and fleas.

Whether it’s oral chews or spot-on products, it’s important to get on top of parasite treatments as soon as you bring your kitten home, as introducing them to new environments can increase their exposure to disease.

Fleas and ticks

Fleas

Fleas

Fleas are one of the most problematic parasites for pets, with the ability to cause skin disease and allergic reactions. In addition, they can be challenging to diagnose, as a kitten with flea allergy dermatitis may never actually be seen with fleas!

That is why flea treatments should be used every month of the year to prevent and control flea infestations effectively. Please consult our veterinary team for the best advice on flea prevention for your kitten.

Fleas commonly cause itching, skin disease and allergic reactions in kittens. What’s more, they can be challenging to diagnose, as a kitten with flea allergy dermatitis may never actually be seen with fleas!

That’s why flea treatments should be given every month of the year to prevent and control flea infestations effectively.

Ticks

There are several types of ticks in Australia, some of which are a nuisance, such as the bush tick, right through to the deadly paralysis tick. Paralysis ticks are a common parasite for those living near the eastern seaboard of Australia. They can result in symptoms such as breathing difficulty, weakness or paralysis of the legs and vomiting.

Intestinal Worms

Intestinal worms are parasites that live in the intestines and feed on the nutrients that the kitten consumes. The most common intestinal worms in Australia are roundworm, tapeworm and hookworm. If left untreated, these parasites can cause a wide range of health problems, from malnutrition to anaemia and even death. The most common way for kittens to become infected is by ingesting the eggs of the parasites, which can be found in contaminated soil, faeces, and other sources. To protect your kitten regular worming treatments should be provided.

Intestinal worms are parasites that live in the intestines and feed on the nutrients that the kitten consumes. If left untreated, these parasites can cause a wide range of health problems, from malnutrition to anaemia and even death. The most common way for kittens to become infected is by ingesting the eggs of the parasites, which can be found in contaminated soil, faeces, and other sources.

Following the below worming protocol will keep your kitten free from intestinal worms:

To protect your kitten regular worming treatments should be provided. Following the below worming protocol will keep your kitten free from intestinal worms:

• every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age
• then once a month until 6 months of age,
• And every 3−6 months for life.

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Desexing your kitten

Desexing is generally recommended at around 6 months of age. Not only does it prevent unwanted litters, but it reduces the risk of certain diseases and cancers, such as prostate and mammary gland tumours and pyometra (an infection of the uterus).

Desexing your kitten before he or she reaches sexual maturity (from 4 to 6 months of age) will prevent unwanted pregnancies as well as reduce roaming behaviour and territorial marking. Not only that, but female cats who are desexed before their second heat have a significantly reduced risk of mammary cancer and uterine infection.

It’s important to talk to your vet when considering the time of desexing to weigh up the various pros and cons.

Some breeders even require you to desex your kitten as a condition of sale, or insist you let them know if you plan to breed your cat. If you do plan to breed your cat, there is a lot to consider and we recommend booking an appointment with one of our expert vets to discuss the steps.

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Microchipping and name tags

Microchipping

It is a legal requirement in most states and territories in Australia to have your kitten microchipped. This tiny chip is placed under the skin of the neck, between your kitten’s shoulder blades. If your kitten is found and taken to a vet or animal shelter, staff will use a special scanner to retrieve the unique identifying code on your pet’s microchip, which is stored in nationwide registry databases. Therefore, it’s imperative that you keep these details up to date. If you’re unsure of your kitten’s microchip status, we can use our clinic scanner to check this. It only takes a few minutes and does not require an appointment.

Microchipping your kitten helps ensure they are easily identified and is a requirement in certain regions across New Zealand. A microchip is a tiny chip placed under the skin of the neck, between your kitten’s shoulder blades. If your kitten is found and taken to a vet or animal shelter, staff will use a scanner to retrieve the unique identifying code on your kitten’s microchip, which is stored in a nationwide registry database. Therefore, it’s important to keep these details up to date. If you’re unsure of your kitten’s microchip status, we can use our clinic scanner to check this. It only takes a few minutes.

Name tags

We recommend getting your kitten’s name engraved on one side, and one or more phone numbers engraved on the other. This gives you peace of mind knowing that if your kitty runs off, most likely someone will find them and give you a call.

Remember: Talk to our team if your pet needs a microchip or to confirm your details registered on the chip.

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Kitten Vaccinations

Just like us humans, it’s important for cats to get vaccinated to protect them from certain diseases.

Their vaccination schedule starts from just 6 weeks old and it’s important to keep up with the recommended schedule for kittens, as this will help ensure they’re properly protected from diseases such as feline distemper (panleukopenia), feline viral rhinotracheitis (feline herpes virus 1), and calicivirus.

A typical vaccination schedule starts when your kitten is 6−8 weeks old; their second injection is at 10−12 weeks and their third and final ‘booster’ is at 14−16 weeks. This can vary depending on your location and the type of vaccine your vet uses. One thing to be aware of is that vaccinations can take up to two weeks to have their full effect, so unless your vet has advised otherwise, avoid taking your kitten out and about, particularly to parks, beaches and other pet hotspots until 2 weeks after they have had their final vaccination.

Bringing your new kitten in for their vaccinations is a great way to get them acquainted with the vet. We’ll be here to make the experience as positive as possible, with lots of treats, toys and cuddles!

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Puppy Socialisation

It’s very important that your puppy has positive interactions with other people and dogs during their first few weeks to help them grow into a confident and well-behaved member of the family.

As they’re not generally allowed to go to dog parks or socialise with other dogs before their third vaccination, Puppy Pre-school can be a great way allow your puppy to socialise safely with puppies of a similar age (and other humans!). It’s also a wonderful opportunity for you and your pet to learn basic obedience skills, loose-lead walking, toilet training, positive reinforcement techniques and more.

Once your puppy is fully vaccinated, it’s a good idea to expose your puppy to different interactions. These could include taking your puppy to visit someone else’s home, inviting friends over to meet your puppy at home, introducing your puppy to a (fully vaccinated) adult dog or cat, or taking them to new environments such as workplaces or cafés.

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Puppy dental health

It’s a good idea to start caring for your puppy’s teeth from a young age. Proper dental care can help prevent the build-up of plaque and tartar, which can lead to gum disease and tooth decay in later years.

And don’t be alarmed when your puppy starts losing their baby teeth – this is a normal process as their adult teeth start to push through. You’ll most likely see wonky teeth that are about to fall out, or bleeding gums from teeth that have just fallen out. As they’re teething, they’ll most likely look for anything to chew on.

If you have any concerns regarding your puppy’s dental health, book an appointment with us today.

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Puppy nutrition

Proper nutrition is another part of helping your puppy get the best start in life. Puppies need a balanced diet that includes all the essential nutrients for growth and development. Proper nutrition is vital for puppies because it helps them to grow strong bones and muscles and provides the energy necessary for play and learning.

There are many premium-grade commercial foods that meet the exact nutritional requirements of growing puppies. Although brands vary in quality, premium brands generally provide higher- quality ingredients. Therefore, we recommend you feed your puppy premium-grade puppy food.

Remember: Providing the proper nutrition for a new puppy will ensure they get the healthy start they need to grow into a happy and healthy adult dog. Talk to our veterinary team for advice on the appropriate nutrition for your puppy.

Weight

Maintaining a healthy weight for your puppy is extremely important for their overall health and well-being. Keeping your puppy at their ideal weight helps to keep their bones, joints, and muscles strong and healthy. In addition, keeping your puppy at their ideal weight can help reduce the risk of serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and types of cancer.

Monitor your puppy’s weight regularly and work with your veterinary healthcare team to make adjustments to ensure they stay at their ideal weight. By doing so, you can help your puppy stay healthy and happy.

Remember: A trip to the vet for a weight check can be a perfect opportunity to keep track of your puppy’s weight whilst also ensuring a positive vet experience with lots of treats and cuddles from our team.

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Protecting puppies from parasites

There are various nasty parasites you need to protect your new puppy from, including heartworms, intestinal worms, fleas and ticks. Whilst some treatments cover all of these parasites, it’s best to talk to your vet about the treatment that’s right for your dog type and location.

Whether it’s oral chews, spot-on products or injections under the skin, it’s important to get on top of parasite treatments as soon as you bring your puppy home, as introducing them to new environments can increase their exposure to disease.

There are various nasty parasites you need to protect your new puppy from, including intestinal worms and fleas.

Whether it’s oral chews or spot-on products, it’s important to get on top of parasite treatments as soon as you bring your puppy home, as introducing them to new environments can increase their exposure to disease.

Fleas and ticks

Fleas

Fleas

Fleas commonly cause itching, skin disease and allergic reactions in pups. What’s more, they can be challenging to diagnose, as a puppy with flea allergy dermatitis may never actually be seen with fleas! That’s why flea treatments should be given every month of the year to prevent and control flea infestations effectively. Please consult our veterinary team for the best advice on flea prevention for your puppy.

Fleas commonly cause itching, skin disease and allergic reactions in pups. What’s more, they can be challenging to diagnose, as a puppy with flea allergy dermatitis may never actually be seen with fleas! That’s why flea treatments should be given every month of the year to prevent and control flea infestations effectively.

Ticks

There are several types of ticks in Australia, with varying degrees of risk – from the nuisance bush tick to the deadly paralysis tick. Paralysis ticks are a common parasite for those living near the eastern seaboard of Australia. They can result in symptoms such as breathing diffculty, weakness, paralysis of the legs and vomiting.

Intestinal Worms

Another parasite you need to protect your new pup from are intestinal worms. Intestinal worms live in the intestines and feed on the nutrients that the puppy consumes. If left untreated, they can cause a wide range of health problems, from malnutrition to anaemia and even death. The most common way puppies become infected is by ingesting the eggs of the parasites, which can be found in contaminated soil, faeces, and other sources.

To protect your puppy from these parasites, regular deworming treatments should be provided.

Intestinal worms are parasites that live in the intestines and feed off the nutrients thatthe puppy consumes. If left untreated, these parasites can cause a wide range of health problems, from malnutrition to anaemia and even death. The most common way for puppies to become infected is by ingesting the eggs of the parasites, which can be found in contaminated soil, faeces, and other sources.

To protect your puppy regular worming treatments should be provided. Following the below worming protocol will keep your puppy free from intestinal worms:

You should deworm your puppy regularly:

• every 2 weeks until 12 weeks of age
• then once a month until 6 months of age,
• And every 3−6 months for life (more often when they’re around young children)

Heart Worms

Heartworms are parasites transmitted by mosquitoes that live in the heart and lungs of pets and can cause serious damage to their health, and often death. Heartworm prevention is the best way to ensure your puppy stays healthy and free from these parasites.

An annual heartworm injection is the most reliable way to protect your puppy from heartworm as it doesn’t rely on you remembering to treat them monthly. This can be given from as early as twelve weeks of age. Monthly heartworm medications are also available, however, this is best discussed with your vet as it can be fatal to administer a treatment when there is an active heartworm infestation.

Heartworm protection is recommended in most areas of Australia, however, Tasmania is considered low risk. Please check with your vet, whether heartworm protection is recommended for your pet.

Book an appointment >

Desexing your puppy

Desexing is generally recommended at around 6 months of age. Not only does it prevent any unwanted litters, but it reduces the risk of certain diseases and cancers, such as prostate and mammary gland tumours and pyometra (an infection of the uterus).

For large breed dogs greater than 20kg, there’s evidence to suggest that delaying desexing until maturity (over 12 months of age) may help protect against certain medical conditions.

Desexing your puppy before he or she reaches sexual maturity (from 4 to 6 months of age) will prevent unwanted pregnancies as well as reducing roaming behaviour and territorial marking. Not only that, but female dogs who are desexed before their second heat have a significantly reduced risk of mammary cancer and uterine infection.

It’s important to talk to your vet when considering the time of desexing to weigh up the various pros and cons. Some breeders even require you to desex your puppy as a condition of sale, or insist you let them know if you plan to breed your dog. If you do plan to breed your dog, there’s lots to consider and we recommend booking an appointment with one of our expert vets to discuss next steps.

Book an appointment >