Alternatively Speaking: Off to a Good Start Dr. Anne Carroll DVM, CVA
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hanks to COVID, many of us are looking for ways to entertain ourselves, engage our kids, and let’s face it, add a little joy in these hard times. For many families, a new puppy or kitten fits the bill perfectly since being home more means having time to care for and supervise a new pet. There is a lot to prepare for those new arrivals, not the least of which is their first veterinary visits, and holistic approaches start early to give them advantages that can last a lifetime. For young animals, that means a visit in the first 8 to 10 weeks, often before their next vaccines are due. For older adoptees, they too should have an individualized plan to foster their health, so for any new pet, it is good to plan for a checkup the first week they arrive. Why go to the vet before any shots 52 4 Legs & a Tail
are due? Compared to humans, animals fit that first 18 years of development in their first 8 to 12 months, so seeing your vet at 8 weeks of age equates to a first pediatrician visit at 2 years old! Given this timeframe, the first months of life are full of rapid transitions, during which the foundation for long term health is established and influenced for good or bad. Weaning occurs, requiring a digestive transition in the face of parasite irritation. Families and routines change, which is an emotional stress. Vaccines, dewormers, and sometimes other medications are given which their bodies have to process while they are still growing. Puberty, and possibly neutering, comes soon after. Some babies navigate these first hurdles without much fuss or intervention. Others struggle and whether or not they have Spring 2021
