Puppy & Kitten Wellness in East Moline, IL

Visit our Vaccinations webpage to learn more the recommended vaccination schedule for dogs and cats.

We almost always recommend that you spay or neuter your puppy when they are at least 6 months old to maximize their health as they age. However, the exact age recommendation varies from breed to breed. We’ll be happy to discuss our suggestion for your pet at your next visit.

It’s also important to note that giant breeds and deep-chested dogs, like standard poodles, are at risk for a potentially fatal condition called Gastric Dilatation-Volvulus, often referred to as "bloat" or "GDV.” You can learn more about this condition by visiting the American College of Veterinary Surgeons website. To reduce the risk of GDV, we can perform a surgery (prophylactic gastropexy) that involves "tacking" the stomach down. This procedure is often done at the same time as spays/neuters.  

As always, every pet is different, so we will discuss pros and cons and address any questions you have during your puppy’s next visit.

We typically spay or neuter kittens when they are 6 months of age. There is no evidence at this time that waiting longer for the surgery is of any benefit to cats.

As a rule, Furever Family Veterinary Care Center will never recommend a grain-free food. Instead, we encourage a balanced AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) dry pet food diet such as Purina Pro Plan or Hill's Science Diet. You can purchase either of these foods from our online store. 

Starting at 8 weeks of age, puppies can be around as many healthy, vaccinated, friendly dogs that you know. Use friends, family, and neighbors as resources. However, we do not recommend dog parks until your puppy is 100% vaccinated and approved for dog park socialization.

All dog-to-dog introductions should be controlled and slow to prevent either dog from becoming scared or hurt. Make sure your dog is on a leash at all times. With time, the playdates can get longer, and you can remove the leash when the dogs are familiar with each other and no questionable behavior has been seen.  

If appropriate, encourage your guests to squat or kneel down (if they can) to greet and pet your dog, as dogs may become frightened if a stranger bends down or leans down to greet them. Ideally, a well-socialized puppy should meet 100 different dogs and 100 different people in their first 6 months of life, or roughly four dogs and four people every week, if possible. After that age, their social window starts closing, and rewards are not seen as quickly.   

These are all basic recommendations. If your puppy is older or has health or social issues, please let us know so we can give more specific recommendations for socialization​​.

Along with frequent exercise and outdoor socialization, puppies need to use their noses and brains on a constant basis. That’s why we recommend toys like puzzle feeders, snuffle mats, slow feeders, and other sources of canine enrichment, which you can find on Amazon and your local pet store. Feel free to stuff their Kong toys and beef cheek rolls with peanut butter, cheese, low-fat yogurt (flavored is fine), applesauce, +/- their kibble, or other small treats. Freezing filled Kong toys is a great way to keep them entertained while you're gone, though they can be a bit messy. Plan appropriately!

We do recommend obedience training for all dogs, large and small. Click on the Additional Puppy Resources section below for some local trainer recommendations. If you prefer to find your own trainer, we recommend finding one that focuses on positive reinforcement, not negative reinforcement. If you have any questions about your selection, feel free to ask us. We’ll research their methods and let you know if they’re a good fit for your pet and family.