Puppy & Kitten Care
Puppy & kitten care
in Blakehurst
Bringing home a new puppy or kitten comes with plenty of questions. Blakehurst Vet provides health checks, vaccinations, parasite prevention and practical advice to help give your new pet a healthy start.
A Healthy Start
Supporting healthy growth
from day one
The first year of your puppy or kitten’s life brings a lot of change. They are growing quickly, building immunity, learning about the world and developing habits that can stay with them for life.
At Blakehurst Vet, the first visits are about more than vaccinations. We check how your new pet is developing and talk through parasite prevention, feeding, behaviour, socialisation and the decisions coming up over the next few months.
We also want those early vet visits to be positive ones. Getting to know your puppy or kitten while they are young helps us build a relationship with them from the beginning.
If this is your first kitten, our guide to caring for a new kitten covers many of the questions that come up during those first few weeks.
First year essentials
What your puppy or kitten needs
in their first year
The first year brings several important milestones for your puppy or kitten. Regular health checks, vaccinations, parasite prevention, good nutrition and positive early experiences all help support healthy development and give them a strong start.
First health check
We recommend bringing your new puppy or kitten in soon after they come home. We’ll give them a thorough health check and talk through their vaccination history, diet, parasite protection and any questions you have.
Vaccinations
Puppies and kittens need a series of vaccinations while they are young. We’ll check what they have already received and help you keep their vaccination schedule on track.
Flea, tick and worm prevention
Parasite protection starts early, but the right products and timing depend on your pet’s age, weight and lifestyle. We can help you choose a safe, practical prevention plan as they grow.
Nutrition and healthy growth
Puppies and kittens have different nutritional needs from adult pets. We can help with feeding, body condition, growth and any concerns about how much or what your new pet should be eating.
Desexing advice
There is no single desexing age that is right for every pet. We’ll discuss the best timing for your puppy or kitten based on their breed, size, sex, development and individual needs.
Behaviour and socialisation
The early months are an important time for building confidence and positive experiences. We can help with common puppy and kitten behaviour questions and safe early socialisation.
Our puppy and kitten care
Puppy & kitten care at
Blakehurst Vet
Your new puppy or kitten will visit the vet several times during their first year, so we think those visits should be about building familiarity as well as keeping them healthy.
We’ll keep track of vaccinations and development, help you choose appropriate parasite prevention, discuss feeding and desexing, and answer the everyday questions that come with having a new pet.
Puppy owners can also take advantage of our free Puppy Play sessions. Puppy Play is held on Wednesdays for eligible Blakehurst Vet patients who have already had a consultation with one of our vets and at least one vaccination. Puppies attend for an hour of supervised play, helping them learn social skills and build a positive association with coming to the vet.
Our early puppy socialisation guide has more ideas for introducing your puppy to the world confidently and safely.
For kitten families, our kitten care guide covers feeding, vaccinations, settling in and some of the common questions new kitten owners have.
Questions answered
Frequently asked questions
Can’t find what you need? Call us on 02 9547 2750
When should I bring my new puppy or kitten in for their first visit?
As soon as possible — ideally within the first week or two of bringing them home. The first visit allows us to give your new pet a full health check, start their vaccination schedule, discuss parasite prevention, and answer any questions you have about feeding, behaviour and development. It’s also a great chance for your puppy or kitten to have a positive first experience at the vet while they’re young and still forming their impressions of the world.
What vaccinations does my dog or cat need?
The vaccinations your pet needs depend on their age, previous vaccination history and lifestyle.
Dogs are commonly protected with a C5 vaccination, while cats are commonly protected with an F3 vaccination. Puppies and kittens need an initial course of vaccinations, followed by boosters as they grow.
At your pet’s health check, we’ll review their vaccination history and let you know what is due rather than giving vaccinations unnecessarily.
Does my puppy need to be vaccinated before Puppy Play?
Yes. Puppies must have had at least one vaccination and a consultation with one of our vets before attending Puppy Play. The sessions are free for eligible Blakehurst Vet patients and are designed to give young puppies positive, supervised social experiences.
What should I bring to my puppy or kitten’s first appointment?
Bring any vaccination, breeder, rescue or previous veterinary records you have, along with details of the food and parasite prevention products your puppy or kitten is currently receiving. If you have questions about feeding, behaviour, toilet training, socialisation or anything else, bring those too — the first visit is a good time to work through them.
Give them a healthy start
Bringing home a new puppy or kitten? Book their first health check with Blakehurst Vet and we’ll help you get vaccinations, parasite prevention and first-year care on track.
New puppy? Learn about our free Puppy Play sessions →