Your new puppy or kitten: the first weeks
Food, deworming, vaccines, safe spaces and the first vet visit.
General guidance, awaiting review by a Guyanese vet. Always ask a vet about your own animal.
- First vet visit in the first week. A check-up, deworming, a vaccination plan and advice on tick, flea and heartworm prevention.
- Deworming. Puppies and kittens are commonly born with worms. Your vet will deworm them regularly in the first months.
- Food. Feed a food made for puppies or kittens, three or four small meals a day. Do not give cow's milk; it causes diarrhoea. Avoid cooked bones, which splinter.
- Water available at all times, in the shade.
- Safe space. Somewhere dry and shaded to sleep. Keep chemicals, rat bait, electrical cords and small objects out of reach.
- Stay home until vaccinated. See vaccines.
- Gentle socialising. Calm handling, new sounds and kind people help them grow into confident adults. Reward good behaviour; never hit.
- Collar and ID with your phone number as soon as they are big enough.
- Plan to spay or neuter at the age your vet recommends.