Puppy & Kitten Care in Wilmington, NC
Helping your newest family member get the healthiest possible start.
Wellness for Wilmington, NC Area Pets
Improve your pet’s quality of life and longevity with regular wellness exams.
Adult Wellness
Senior Wellness
Puppy & Kitten Wellness
Vaccinations
Helping Your Newest Family Member Get the Best Possible Start
Bringing home a new puppy or kitten is an exciting time filled with new experiences, milestones, and plenty of questions. At LaCroix Veterinary Hospital, we are here to help guide you through those important first months and provide the preventive care your pet needs to thrive.
Your puppy or kitten’s early veterinary visits are about much more than vaccinations. These appointments allow us to monitor growth and development, detect potential health concerns early, provide parasite protection, discuss nutrition and behavior, and create a personalized wellness plan tailored to your pet’s needs.
Whether you’ve welcomed a pet into your family for the first time or have cared for animals your entire life, our team is committed to supporting you every step of the way.
Please call today to schedule an appointment for us to meet your new pet! (910) 799-3100
Your Puppy’s First Year
The first few months of a puppy’s life are critical to their long-term health and development. Puppies grow rapidly, and their immune systems are still developing, which is why a series of examinations and vaccinations is needed during the first several months of life.
Regular visits allow us to ensure your puppy is growing appropriately, staying protected from preventable diseases, and learning healthy habits that will benefit them for years to come.
First Puppy Visit | Approximately 6–8 Weeks of Age
Your puppy's first visit focuses on establishing a strong foundation for lifelong health.
Services typically include:
- Comprehensive physical examination
- Deworming treatment
- Fecal examination
- Heartworm prevention
- Discussion of flea and tick prevention
- Guidance on nutrition, training, and puppy care
- First DHPP vaccination
Second Puppy Visit | Approximately 9–12 Weeks of Age
As your puppy continues to grow, we will monitor development and continue building immunity against common infectious diseases.
Services typically include:
- Comprehensive physical examination
- Deworming treatment
- Heartworm prevention
- Flea and tick prevention recommendations
- Continued puppy care consultation
- Second DHPP vaccination
Third Puppy Visit | Approximately 12–16 Weeks of Age
This visit completes your puppy's initial vaccination series and prepares them for adulthood.
Services typically include:
- Comprehensive physical examination
- Deworming treatment
- Heartworm prevention
- Flea and tick prevention
- Rabies vaccination
- Final DHPP vaccination
- Discussion of spay or neuter recommendations
After One Year of Age
Once your puppy becomes an adult dog, annual wellness visits help us maintain their health and detect concerns early.
Annual preventive care generally includes:
- Comprehensive physical examination
- Heartworm testing
- Fecal examination
- Routine vaccinations
- Ongoing parasite prevention
- Dental health assessment
- Nutrition and lifestyle recommendations
What Else Will We Discuss During Puppy Visits?
Every puppy is unique, and we encourage pet owners to bring questions to every appointment. Topics we commonly discuss include:
- Potty training
- Crate training
- Socialization
- Exercise and enrichment
- Nutrition and feeding schedules
- Teething and chewing behavior
- Flea, tick, and heartworm prevention
- Dental care
- Grooming needs
Your Kitten’s First Year
The first few months of a kitten’s life are an important time for growth, development, and building a strong foundation for lifelong health. Kittens grow quickly, and their immune systems are still developing, making a series of wellness examinations and vaccinations essential during their first several months.
Regular veterinary visits allow us to monitor your kitten’s growth, protect them against preventable diseases and parasites, and address important aspects of their care, including nutrition, behavior, and environmental enrichment. These early visits help ensure your kitten gets the healthiest possible start and develops habits that support a long, happy life.
First Kitten Visit | Approximately 6–8 Weeks of Age
Your kitten's first visit focuses on evaluating overall health and establishing a preventive care plan.
Services typically include:
- Comprehensive physical examination
- Deworming treatment
- Fecal examination
- Feline Leukemia and FIV testing
- Nutrition consultation
- Parasite prevention recommendations
- First FVRCP vaccination
Second Kitten Visit | Approximately 9–12 Weeks of Age
As your kitten continues to develop, additional vaccines help strengthen protection against infectious diseases.
Services typically include:
- Comprehensive physical examination
- Deworming treatment
- Second FVRCP vaccination
- First Feline Leukemia vaccination
- Discussion of lifestyle and environmental risks
Third Kitten Visit | Approximately 12–16 Weeks of Age
This visit helps complete your kitten's vaccination series and prepares them for a healthy transition into adulthood.
Services typically include:
- Comprehensive physical examination
- Deworming treatment
- Final FVRCP vaccination
- Final Feline Leukemia vaccination
- Rabies vaccination
- Discussion of spay or neuter recommendations
After One Year of Age
Adult cats benefit from annual wellness examinations that help identify health concerns before they become more serious.
Annual preventive care generally includes:
- Comprehensive physical examination
- Fecal examination
- Core vaccinations
- Rabies vaccination
- Lifestyle-based vaccine recommendations
- Dental health assessment
- Nutrition consultation
What Else Will We Discuss During Kitten Visits?
Our team is here to help you navigate every stage of kittenhood. Common discussion topics include:
- Litter box training
- Nutrition and feeding recommendations
- Scratching behavior
- Enrichment and environmental needs
- Parasite prevention
- Indoor versus outdoor lifestyles
- Dental care
- Introducing your kitten to other pets
Frequently Asked Questions About Puppy & Kitten Care
Welcoming a new puppy or kitten into your family comes with plenty of excitement—and often plenty of questions. Below are answers to some of the most common questions we hear from new pet owners about vaccinations, wellness visits, preventive care, and helping their new companion get the healthiest possible start.
When should I schedule my puppy or kitten's first veterinary visit?
We recommend scheduling an appointment as soon as you bring your new pet home. Most puppies and kittens begin their vaccine series around 6 to 8 weeks of age.
Why do puppies and kittens need multiple vaccine visits?
Young pets receive temporary antibodies from their mothers that can interfere with vaccine effectiveness. A series of vaccinations helps ensure lasting protection as those maternal antibodies fade.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Please bring any medical records provided by the breeder, rescue organization, or shelter. A fresh stool sample is also helpful if available.
Does my indoor cat still need vaccinations?
Yes. Even indoor cats benefit from core vaccinations because some diseases can be carried indoors on clothing, shoes, or through exposure to other animals.
When should my pet be spayed or neutered?
The ideal timing varies based on your pet's breed, size, lifestyle, and individual health needs. Our veterinarians will discuss the best recommendation for your pet during their wellness visits.
How often will my puppy or kitten need veterinary visits?
Most puppies and kittens are seen every three to four weeks until approximately 16 weeks of age to complete their vaccine series and monitor healthy growth and development.
Coastal Considerations for Wilmington Pets
Life along the North Carolina coast offers plenty of opportunities for pets to enjoy the outdoors, from neighborhood walks and local parks to beach adventures and backyard play. However, Wilmington’s warm, humid climate also creates ideal conditions for fleas, ticks, mosquitoes, and other parasites throughout much of the year.
Because heartworm disease, flea infestations, and tick-borne illnesses remain common in coastal North Carolina, consistent year-round parasite prevention is one of the most important steps you can take to protect your pet. During your puppy’s or kitten’s wellness visits, our team will recommend preventive care tailored to your pet’s age, lifestyle, and risk factors, helping them stay healthy no matter where their adventures take them.
Please call today to schedule an appointment for us to meet your new pet! (910) 799-3100
