PERSONALIZED FIRST-YEAR CARE FOR YOUR NEW PET
Bringing home a new puppy or kitten is exciting, joyful and sometimes a little overwhelming. Aliso Beach Animal Clinic provides personalized first-year veterinary care to help your new pet grow into a healthy, confident adult.
Every puppy and kitten visit includes a veterinary examination—not simply a vaccine appointment. We evaluate your pet’s growth, development, nutrition, behavior and physical health while creating an individualized plan for vaccines, parasite prevention, testing and future care.
We also make time for your questions about feeding, potty training, socialization, exercise, spaying or neutering and the many changes that happen during the first year of life.
And yes, visits generally include plenty of praise, treats, affection, hugs and gentle squeezes when welcomed by the patient.
REQUEST A PUPPY OR KITTEN APPOINTMENT
Puppies and kittens change rapidly. Their heart, eyes, mouth, joints, immune system and behavior are still developing, which is why each visit includes a complete examination and consultation.
Routine appointments allow us to:
Even a bright, playful puppy or kitten can have a health concern that is difficult to recognize at home. Early detection gives us the opportunity to investigate, monitor or treat a condition before it causes more significant problems.
At each routine visit, our veterinarian examines your new pet from nose to tail.
The examination may include:
We document findings at each appointment so changes can be followed as your puppy or kitten grows.
Congenital conditions are abnormalities that are present at birth, although some may not be obvious until a puppy or kitten is examined or begins to grow.
A normal examination cannot rule out every inherited or developmental disease. However, routine first-year visits allow us to identify many visible or audible concerns and determine whether monitoring or further testing is appropriate.
A heart murmur is an abnormal sound caused by turbulent blood flow. Some young animals have temporary innocent murmurs that disappear as they mature, while others have an underlying congenital heart defect.
If we hear a murmur, recommendations may include monitoring it at future visits, chest imaging, an echocardiogram or consultation with a veterinary cardiologist depending on its intensity and the patient’s condition.
Umbilical and inguinal hernias occur when tissue or abdominal contents protrude through an opening in the body wall.
Some small hernias can be monitored and repaired during a future spay or neuter procedure. Larger, painful or non-reducible hernias may need earlier treatment.
A cleft palate is an opening between the mouth and nasal cavity caused by incomplete development before birth. It can interfere with nursing and increase the risk of food or liquid entering the respiratory tract.
We also examine for jaw alignment, retained baby teeth, abnormal tooth development and other oral concerns.
Some puppies and kittens are born with eye abnormalities or develop them early in life. These can include congenital cataracts, eyelid abnormalities, abnormal tear production or conditions affecting the retina or lens.
Cloudiness, squinting, discharge, redness or difficulty seeing should be evaluated promptly.
We assess limb alignment, kneecaps, joints and gait as your pet grows. Early findings may help us recognize patellar luxation, angular limb changes or other orthopedic concerns.
Male puppies and kittens are examined for proper testicular descent. A retained testicle has an increased risk of future disease and generally should be surgically removed.
Vaccines help protect young pets while immunity received from their mothers gradually declines. Because the timing of that decline varies, puppies and kittens generally receive a series rather than a single vaccine.
We design the schedule according to:
A puppy plan may include:
Core puppy combination vaccines generally begin around six to eight weeks of age and are repeated at appropriate intervals until the puppy is older than sixteen weeks. The exact schedule depends on age at the first visit and previous records.
A kitten plan may include:
Kitten core vaccines are generally repeated at appropriate intervals through at least sixteen to eighteen weeks of age because maternal antibodies may interfere with earlier doses.
Not every pet needs every optional vaccine. We explain what each vaccine protects against and why it is or is not being recommended.
LEARN ABOUT PERSONALIZED PET VACCINATIONS
Roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, Giardia, coccidia and other intestinal parasites are common in young animals. A puppy or kitten can look healthy and still carry parasites.
Some parasites can also infect people, making early testing and treatment important for the entire household.
Puppies and kittens commonly begin deworming at a very young age. Treatment is repeated because a single dose may not eliminate larvae that mature later.
If your new pet’s early deworming history is incomplete or uncertain, we will create an appropriate schedule based on age, weight, symptoms and test results.
Bring a fresh stool sample to the appointment whenever possible. Fecal testing can detect parasite eggs, organisms or antigens that may not be visible in the stool.
Young pets may need several fecal examinations during the first year because:
“Deworming” is not one universal treatment. Medication is selected according to the suspected or confirmed parasite.
A puppy or kitten with diarrhea, vomiting, poor growth, a pot-bellied appearance, blood in the stool or visible worms should be examined promptly.
LEARN ABOUT PARASITE PREVENTION
Young pets can be exposed to external and internal parasites shortly after entering a new home. We recommend products according to the patient’s age, weight, species and exposure risk.
Fleas can cause itching, skin infection, anemia and tapeworm infection. An infestation can also spread rapidly throughout a home.
Products intended for dogs should never automatically be used on cats. Some canine flea and tick ingredients are dangerous to cats.
Ticks can transmit infectious diseases and may be encountered in yards, parks, trails and areas with wildlife.
We can help select a product appropriate for your puppy or kitten’s age and lifestyle.
Heartworm disease is transmitted by mosquitoes. Puppies can generally begin preventive medication once they meet the selected product’s age and weight requirements.
Cats can also develop heartworm-associated disease, although prevention options and risk discussions differ from those for dogs.
Many monthly preventive products also help control certain intestinal parasites, allowing us to create a practical plan that provides broader protection.
Nutrition during the first year supports bone development, muscle growth, immune health and healthy body condition.
During your nutritional consultation, we may discuss:
Large- and giant-breed puppies require controlled energy and mineral intake to support steady skeletal growth. Rapid growth and overfeeding can place unnecessary stress on developing bones and joints.
A large-breed puppy should receive a diet formulated specifically for growth of large-size dogs rather than additional calcium or unbalanced supplements.
Kittens require energy-dense food formulated for growth. We will help determine an appropriate feeding amount and monitor weight and body condition as your kitten matures.
Bring the food label or a photograph of the package to the appointment if you would like us to review the diet.
There is no single ideal spay or neuter age for every pet.
Timing may be influenced by:
Small dogs, large dogs and cats may receive different recommendations. We discuss the benefits and possible tradeoffs so the timing can be selected thoughtfully for the individual patient and family.
If an umbilical hernia, retained baby tooth or another correctable problem is present, it may sometimes be addressed during the same anesthetic procedure.
LEARN ABOUT SPAY & NEUTER SURGERY
Testing for feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus may be recommended for a newly adopted kitten, particularly when the mother’s status or previous exposure history is unknown.
Testing recommendations depend on age, previous results, health and risk of exposure. Very recent infection may not be detected immediately, so repeat testing is sometimes appropriate.
Knowing a kitten’s status helps guide preventive care, vaccination recommendations and introductions to other household cats.
Veterinary care during the first year also includes helping your new pet develop healthy behavior and positive experiences.
We can discuss:
Socialization should be balanced with infectious-disease protection. We can help you identify lower-risk ways to expose a puppy or kitten to new people, sounds, surfaces and experiences while the vaccine series is still being completed.
A microchip provides permanent identification if a pet becomes lost and loses a collar or tag.
Microchipping can be performed during a routine visit or coordinated with a spay or neuter procedure. The chip must also be registered and the owner’s contact information kept current.
Young animals can become dehydrated or seriously ill more quickly than healthy adults.
Call us promptly for:
Do not wait for the next scheduled vaccine appointment if your puppy or kitten appears ill.
LEARN ABOUT SAME-DAY URGENT CARE
When available, bring:
Transport kittens in a secure carrier and puppies on a secure leash or in a carrier.
Yes. Each routine appointment includes a veterinary examination and consultation. Young pets grow and change too quickly for the visit to be treated as vaccine administration alone.
Visits are generally scheduled every few weeks during the initial vaccine and preventive-care series. The exact schedule depends on age, previous care and individual health needs.
Maternal antibodies can interfere with early vaccination. Repeating vaccines through the appropriate age increases the likelihood that protection develops after those antibodies decline.
Many intestinal parasites are microscopic or shed intermittently. A normal-looking stool does not rule out infection.
No. Parasites may not be shedding detectable eggs or organisms on the day the sample is collected. Young animals may need repeated testing based on age, exposure and symptoms.
Timing is individualized according to species, breed, expected size, sex, health and household circumstances. We will discuss the recommendation during routine visits rather than automatically assigning the same age to every patient.
Socialization is important, but exposure should be managed while the vaccine series is incomplete. Avoid unknown or ill dogs and high-risk environments. We can help create a safer socialization plan.
Testing can identify infections that affect long-term health, household introductions and vaccine planning. The need for initial or repeat testing depends on age and exposure history.
Absolutely—when your pet is comfortable with them. Our team uses gentle handling, praise, treats, cuddles and plenty of positive attention to help early veterinary visits feel safe.
Give your new family member a healthy start with individualized examinations, vaccines, parasite testing, deworming, nutrition guidance and first-year planning.
At Aliso Beach Animal Clinic, every puppy and kitten receives thoughtful medical care—plus plenty of affection, encouragement, hugs and gentle squeezes along the way.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Bryan Hayter July 2026
Aliso Beach Animal Clinic
30816 Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Directly across from the Montage Laguna Beach
Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Sunday: Closedi
