Ashworth Road Animal Hospital Celebrates Puppy & Kitten Awareness Month

Ashworth Road Animal Hospital Celebrates Puppy & Kitten Awareness Month

Bringing a new puppy or kitten into your home is a joyous event, but these small creatures need special care to grow strong and healthy. We provide comprehensive young animal care to help keep puppies and kittens thriving.

Feeding

Always feed a commercial pet food formulated specifically for puppies’ or kittens’ nutritional needs. Avoid giving table foods, which foster bad eating habits. Choose treats that are low in sugar and fat.

Exercise

You should begin teaching your puppy how to walk on leash immediately to get the animal ready for daily walks that will provide good exercise throughout life. Provide toys for puppies and kittens to allow them to exercise indoors and to sharpen their mental skills.

Training

Train your puppy to come when called, sit on command and stop barking when you give a command. Kittens should be trained to use their litter box and can be trained to come when called.

Safety

Never take your puppy outside without a collar and leash, and make sure the animal has ID tags or microchip in case he or she wanders off. Your kitten should always be kept indoors or taken out with a harness and leash to prevent accidents and loss. Keep electrical cords and hazardous chemicals out of reach to prevent accidents.

Regular Veterinary Care

Puppies and kittens should receive a series of vaccinations against common diseases. Spaying and neuter will help to prevent unwanted litters and will protect against reproductive cancers. Your vet will discuss flea & tick control measures, heartworm prevention, and internal parasite testing during your pet’s examinations.

Make Ashworth Road Animal Hospital Your Veterinarian For Kitten & Puppy Care

Dr. Merk, Dr. Niemand, and Dr. Ribbey combine their extensive training in veterinary medicine to ensure the health of their patients in Des Moines, IA, West Des Moines, Windsor Heights, Clive and Urbandale. We offer many services, including wellness care, spay & neuter surgery, vaccinations, dental care and emergency care. You can call Ashworth Road Animal Hospital today at (515) 225-1807 for an appointment to have your puppy or kitten examined and to update important veterinary care.