New Puppy or Kitten? Here's Your First Vet Visit Checklist for Kingston

 Bringing home a new puppy or kitten is one of the best kinds of chaos. Somewhere between the introductions to the rest of the household and figuring out where they're going to sleep, one appointment should go straight to the top of the list: their first veterinary visit at a trusted local clinic like Eastside Veterinary Services.

Here's exactly what to expect and how to prepare, so that first appointment goes smoothly for both of you.

When to Book the First Visit

• Puppies and kittens should see a vet within the first week of coming home, even if they've already had a check-up with a breeder or shelter.
• If your pet is coming from a rescue or shelter, book the visit as soon as possible after adoption, records don't always transfer completely, and a baseline exam helps catch anything that needs early attention.
• Most puppies and kittens are ready for their first full round of vaccines starting around 6 to 8 weeks old, with follow-up boosters every 3 to 4 weeks until roughly 16 weeks.

What to Bring

• Any paperwork from the breeder, shelter, or rescue. This includes prior vaccine records, deworming history, and any notes on health concerns.
• A fresh stool sample, if you can manage it. A small sample collected within 24 hours of the appointment lets your vet check for intestinal parasites, which are common in young pets.
• A list of questions. Write them down as they come to you in the days before the visit, it's easy to forget everything once you're in the room.
• A secure carrier for kittens (and small or nervous puppies). For carrier-shy kittens, leaving the carrier out at home with a blanket inside for a few days beforehand helps make it feel less like a trap.
• A leash and properly fitted collar or harness for puppies.

What Happens at the First Visit

A full physical exam. The vet will check eyes, ears, teeth, skin and coat, heart and lungs, and gently feel the abdomen to check the organs. This is also when they look for things like hernias, heart murmurs, or a cleft palate that aren't always obvious at home.

Weight and body condition check. This sets a baseline that gets tracked at every future visit to make sure growth is on track.

Parasite screening. A stool sample check for intestinal parasites, plus a look for fleas or ear mites during the physical exam.

The start of their vaccine series. Puppies and kittens need a series of vaccines, not just one shot, spaced a few weeks apart to build proper immunity. Your vet will map out the schedule at this visit.

A conversation about spay/neuter timing. Your vet will talk through when it makes sense based on your pet's breed, size, and lifestyle.

Nutrition guidance. What to feed, how much, and how often changes a lot during the first year of growth, this is a good time to get it right from the start.

Questions Worth Asking at This Visit

• What's the full vaccine schedule going to look like over the next few months?
• When should we talk about spay or neuter?
• What's a healthy weight range for my puppy or kitten's breed and age?
• What flea, tick, and heartworm prevention do you recommend, and when should we start it?
• Is there anything about my pet's behaviour I should be watching for?

A Note for Kingston Pet Owners Specifically

Kingston's tick season now runs from early spring through late November, so parasite prevention is worth bringing up at this very first visit rather than waiting until summer. If your puppy will be spending time at local trails or conservation areas as they grow, the team at Eastside Vet Clinic can talk through timing for a Lyme vaccine as part of their regular vaccine series.

Book Your Pet's First Visit at Eastside Vet Clinic

A good first vet visit sets the tone for your pet's whole relationship with veterinary care, for both of you. As your local Eastside Vet Clinic, our team makes a point of keeping these early appointments calm and low-stress, with plenty of time for your questions.

Call Eastside Veterinary Services at 613-531-5830 to book your new puppy or kitten's first appointment, and we'll help you build out their full vaccine and wellness schedule from there.

This article is for general information and doesn't replace an individualized exam and care plan from your veterinarian.