Welcoming a puppy or kitten into your home is one of life's great joys — and the early months are the most important for setting them up for a lifetime of health and happiness. At Tenafly Veterinary Center in Tenafly, NJ, our entire team is dedicated to making your new pet's first veterinary experiences positive, gentle, and comprehensive.

Puppy Wellness Care

We schedule puppy wellness exams at key developmental milestones: 8 weeks, 12 weeks, and 16 weeks of age. These appointments allow us to monitor growth, establish health baselines, administer age-appropriate vaccinations, and discuss everything from nutrition to training and socialization.

At your puppy's first visit, we will:

  • Perform a comprehensive head-to-tail physical examination
  • Screen for intestinal parasites via fecal analysis
  • Discuss diet, nutrition, and proper feeding amounts
  • Review vaccination schedule (Rabies, DHPP, Bordetella, Lyme, and more)
  • Discuss heartworm and flea/tick prevention
  • Provide guidance on socialization, training, and behavioral development
  • Recommend microchipping for permanent identification
  • Discuss spay/neuter timing (typically recommended at 5–12 months)

Kitten Wellness Care

Kittens are scheduled for wellness exams at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. These visits are critical for monitoring healthy development and ensuring your kitten receives proper immune protection before they're fully exposed to the world.

At your kitten's first visit, we will:

  • Perform a thorough physical exam including weight, temperature, and organ palpation
  • Screen for intestinal parasites
  • Begin core vaccinations (Rabies, FVRCP) and discuss Feline Leukemia vaccine
  • Discuss litter box training, scratching behavior, and enrichment
  • Provide dietary guidance tailored to growth stage
  • Discuss spay/neuter and the health benefits

Multi-Cat Households

If your new kitten is joining a home with existing cats, we strongly recommend testing for Feline Leukemia (FeLV) and Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) before introduction. Cats are territorial by nature — a careful, gradual introduction is essential to minimize stress and conflict. We recommend keeping new kittens in a separate room for 1–2 weeks to allow scent familiarization before face-to-face meetings. Our team is happy to provide a step-by-step introduction plan.

Fear-Free First Visits

We know that how a puppy or kitten experiences their first vet visits shapes their behavior for life. Our team uses fear-free handling techniques, natural stress-reducing pheromones in exam rooms, and gentle, calm interactions to ensure that your pet associates the veterinary clinic with positive experiences — not anxiety.

Frequently Asked Questions

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201-567-7878