The first year, made simple
Congratulations on the new family member. Here’s everything you need for a happy, healthy start — and a team to walk you through all of it.
then every 3–4 weeks
by ~16 weeks, then booster
80% of dogs by age 3 have disease
dogs 7+, cats 10+
a lifetime of being found
water usually OK — we’ll confirm
Everything you’re wondering about, answered.
Tap a tab to see guides just for puppies, just for kittens, or the essentials that apply to both.
Your first visit
What to bring, what we’ll do, and how we keep it low-stress.
- Any records or adoption paperwork
- A stool sample if you have one
- Treats your pet loves (we have ours too)
- A carrier for cats, a leash for dogs
The vaccine timeline
A simple, age-based schedule from 8 weeks to adulthood.
- Puppies: 8 / 12 / 16 weeks, then boosters
- Kittens: 8 / 12 / 16 weeks (FVRCP, rabies)
- Rabies as required by Oregon law
- Lifestyle vaccines matched to your life
Spay & neuter
When to schedule, and what recovery actually looks like.
- Timing depends on breed & size — we’ll advise
- Pre-surgical exam & bloodwork
- Most pets home the same day
- A quick recovery check-in with us
House-training & socializing
The first 16 weeks shape a whole life — here’s how to use them.
- Crate & potty routines that work
- Safe socialization before 16 weeks
- Bite-inhibition & chewing
- When to start training class
Litter & scratching
Set up the box and the post right, and most “problems” disappear.
- One litter box per cat, plus one
- Unscented litter, scooped daily
- Scratching posts in the right spots
- Carrier training so vet trips are calm
Food & growth
How much, how often, and how to read a pet-food label.
- Life-stage appropriate food
- Portioning for healthy growth
- Treats under 10% of calories
- When to switch to adult food
Your first-year checklist
The handful of things worth doing in the first weeks and months. We’ll handle the medical side — this keeps the rest on track.
- Book a first wellness exam within a week of bringing them home
- Bring any records, paperwork, and a fresh stool sample
- Start (or confirm) flea, tick & heartworm prevention
- Plan the vaccine series — we’ll map the dates for you
- Microchip and register it to your current contact info
- Ask us about pet insurance before anything happens
- Pick a spay/neuter window that fits your pet’s breed & size
- Puppy: socialize safely before 16 weeks · Kitten: carrier-train early
Questions in the meantime? Call us at (503) 555-0148 — “is this normal?” calls are exactly what we’re here for.