Puppy & Kitten Health Checks Explained: What Happens During These Important First Appointments

Quick Answer: Puppy and kitten health checks are early veterinary appointments that assess your new pet’s general health, growth, weight, heart, lungs, eyes, ears, teeth, skin and development. They also give you practical advice on vaccinations, parasite control, feeding, behaviour, microchipping and preventative care, helping your pet get the best possible start in life.

Introduction

Bringing home a puppy or kitten is exciting, but it also comes with plenty of questions. Many local pet owners in Sutton and South London ask us what actually happens at those first vet visits, and whether a young pet really needs a full health check if they seem well at home.

At The Corner Vet, these first appointments are an important part of giving young pets a healthy start. A puppy or kitten may appear bright and playful, but early checks can help identify mild problems before they become bigger concerns. Just as importantly, they give you the chance to ask questions about feeding, toilet habits, sleep, behaviour and vaccinations with support from an experienced local veterinary team.

If you have recently welcomed a new pet, you can register your pet with The Corner Vet or book an appointment online to arrange an early check.

Main Content

Why early health checks matter

Puppies and kittens grow and change very quickly in the first weeks and months of life. Early appointments are not only about spotting illness. They are also about making sure development is on track, discussing preventative care, and helping owners feel confident.

Our veterinary team often advises new owners that a first health check is useful even if the breeder, rescue or previous owner has already had the pet seen. A separate check with your own vet helps establish a baseline for your puppy or kitten and gives you tailored guidance for your household and lifestyle.

At The Corner Vet on Stayton Road in Sutton, we regularly help owners from Carshalton, Cheam, Wallington, Morden, Worcester Park, Epsom, Banstead, Mitcham and surrounding Surrey border communities who simply want reassurance that everything is going well.

What happens during a puppy or kitten health check?

Although every pet is individual, a first appointment will usually include a full nose-to-tail examination and a discussion about care at home. This may include:

• Checking weight and body condition
• Listening to the heart and lungs
• Looking at the eyes, ears and nose
• Examining the mouth, gums and developing teeth
• Checking the skin and coat for signs of irritation or parasites
• Feeling the tummy for comfort, swelling or obvious abnormalities
• Assessing movement, joints and general development
• Checking for hernias
• Discussing toilet habits and digestion
• Reviewing any existing vaccination or treatment history

Our experienced veterinary team regularly helps owners understand what is normal for a young pet and what may need monitoring. Most first appointments are straightforward, calm and reassuring.

Topics your vet will often discuss

These visits are also a chance to cover the practical parts of early pet care. A puppy or kitten health check often includes advice on:

• Vaccinations and when the next doses are due
• Flea, worm and parasite prevention suitable for young pets
• Microchipping and identification
• Feeding, portion size and diet changes
• Toilet training or litter habits
• Socialisation and early behaviour support
• Neutering timing and general advice
• Insurance and healthcare planning

If you want a structured approach to routine care, you can explore our preventative healthcare options or take a look at our health checks and clinics for young pets.

Will my puppy or kitten have vaccinations at the same visit?

Often, yes. If your pet is well and is at the right age and stage, vaccinations may be given during the same appointment. If there is any reason to delay, we will explain why and help you plan the next step.

Many local pet owners ask us whether it is safe to vaccinate a puppy or kitten who seems a little quiet after moving home. In many cases this is nothing serious, but we would still want to assess them first. This is one reason why a veterinary check before or at the time of vaccination is so important.

If you are catching up after a gap in vaccinations, our vaccine amnesty information may also be helpful.

Do these appointments include advice for owners too?

Absolutely. First appointments are just as much for you as they are for your pet. In our experience supporting pets across Sutton and South London, new owners often need reassurance on everyday topics that are completely normal to ask about.

That might include:

• How much sleep is normal
• What stools should look like
• When biting, scratching or zoomies are expected
• How to introduce children or other pets
• When to worry about vomiting or diarrhoea
• How often to weigh a growing pet

Our role is not only to treat illness but to support pets through every life stage, starting from those very first weeks.

Free health checks and practice plans

Some owners are surprised to find out that support with early care may be available through our practice offers and plans. If you are looking for ongoing routine care, our current offers and Little VIP plans are worth exploring.

For younger pets specifically, you can find details about our Puppy VIP Plan and Kitten VIP Plan. These are often helpful for owners who want to spread the cost of preventative care and keep early essentials organised.

If you are unsure which option fits best, you can speak to our team or arrange a health check and ask during your visit.

What We Commonly See at The Corner Vet

One of the most common concerns we hear at The Corner Vet is, “My puppy or kitten seems fine, so do they really need to come in?” In many cases the answer is yes, because some early issues are subtle and easier to manage when picked up promptly.

We regularly help owners who notice:

• Mild diarrhoea after a food change or the stress of moving home
• Itchy ears or dirty ears
• Fleas or signs of worms
• Baby teeth concerns or delayed tooth loss
• Minor skin irritation
• Slow weight gain or uncertainty about feeding amounts
• Behaviour questions that are normal but worrying for first-time owners

A common misunderstanding is that a playful, hungry young pet must be completely healthy. While that is often true, some problems such as heart murmurs, hernias, parasite burdens or developmental concerns may not be obvious at home.

Our veterinary team often advises that these early appointments are most valuable when they are used proactively rather than only once something feels wrong. That is a big part of preventative care, and it helps build a clearer picture of your pet’s health from the start.

Practical Advice

How to prepare for your first appointment

• Bring any paperwork from the breeder, rescue or previous vet
• Take a note of what food your pet is eating
• Be ready to discuss toilet habits, appetite and behaviour
• If possible, bring a stool sample if tummy upset has been an issue
• Transport kittens and small pets securely in a carrier
• Keep puppies safely contained on a lead or in a crate

Common mistakes to avoid

• Changing food too quickly
• Using flea or worm products not prescribed or recommended for young pets
• Waiting too long to ask about vomiting or diarrhoea
• Missing follow-up vaccine appointments
• Assuming all online advice applies to your pet

If you are reviewing costs before your visit, our prices page may be useful. You can also explore our wider veterinary services if your pet needs ongoing support beyond routine checks.

When To Contact A Vet

While many puppy and kitten concerns are minor, some signs should always prompt veterinary advice. Contact a vet if your young pet:

• Stops eating or drinking
• Has repeated vomiting or diarrhoea
• Seems unusually tired or weak
• Has coughing, noisy breathing or discharge from the eyes or nose
• Has a swollen tummy or seems painful when handled
• Is not gaining weight as expected
• Has pale gums, collapse, or suddenly seems very unwell

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, is having a seizure, has eaten something toxic, or is in severe pain, contact a vet immediately.

The Corner Vet provides 24-hour emergency veterinary care for urgent situations. Where pets need closer monitoring or treatment, we also have hospitalisation facilities available. Although most first health checks are routine, it is reassuring for local pet owners in South London to know that ongoing care is there if needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should a puppy have its first health check?

Ideally, as soon as possible after coming home. This helps make sure your puppy is settling well and allows vaccinations, parasite prevention and feeding advice to be planned properly.

When should a kitten have its first health check?

Again, as early as possible after arrival in their new home. Kittens can hide signs of illness well, so an early examination is useful even if they seem bright and active.

How long does the appointment take?

Most first checks are relatively straightforward, but the exact length depends on your pet’s needs and how many questions you would like to cover.

Can I ask behaviour questions at a health check?

Yes. These appointments are a good time to ask about mouthing, scratching, litter use, toilet training, sleep, introductions and early socialisation.

What if my puppy or kitten needs more than a routine check?

If an issue is found, we will explain the next steps clearly. In some cases that may simply mean monitoring or a follow-up visit. If more advanced investigation or treatment is needed, our team can guide you through the options, including access to advanced surgery and medicine services where appropriate.

Disclaimer

This article is intended for general guidance only. If your pet is unwell, showing concerning symptoms, or you are unsure what to do, please contact your vet for professional advice.

Book Your Puppy or Kitten’s First Check

If you have a new puppy or kitten and would like friendly, practical support from a trusted local veterinary team, we would be pleased to help. The Corner Vet is based on Stayton Road in Sutton, supporting pet owners across Sutton, South London and nearby Surrey border communities.

You can book an appointment online, register your pet with us, or visit The Corner Vet homepage to explore our care options. If you are planning ahead for routine care, ask us about our VIP plans and early preventative support.