Bringing a puppy or kitten home for the first time is one of those life moments that’s equal parts exciting and overwhelming. You’ve got this tiny creature depending on you for literally everything, and the internet is full of conflicting advice. What shots do they actually need? When should you book that first vet visit? Is that plant in your living room going to make them sick?
If you’re in Victoria, BC, you’re in a great spot. The city is genuinely pet-friendly, and there’s strong local support for new pet parents. But there are also some region-specific things worth knowing, from seasonal parasite risks to plants that are common in Island gardens but toxic to young animals.
This guide covers what actually matters in those first few months. No fluff, no scare tactics. Just practical, experience-based advice rooted in what veterinary professionals across Greater Victoria see every day.
That First Vet Visit Matters More Than You Think
A lot of new pet owners assume the first veterinary wellness exam is just a formality. It isn’t. For puppies and kittens, that initial checkup is where your vet catches things you’d never notice at home: heart murmurs, undescended testicles, early signs of upper respiratory infections in kittens, or hernias in puppies.
Ideally, you want to schedule this within the first week of bringing your pet home. If you adopted from a rescue, they may have already had a basic exam, but a follow-up with your own vet helps establish a baseline. At clinics like Midtown Veterinary Hospital, that first visit typically includes a nose-to-tail physical exam, a conversation about vaccine schedules, and a plan for parasite prevention.
One thing that catches people off guard: puppies and kittens need multiple rounds of vaccinations, not just one. Puppies typically need shots at 8, 12, and 16 weeks. Kittens follow a similar schedule. Missing a round or spacing them incorrectly can leave your pet vulnerable during a critical window.
Puppy-Proofing and Kitten-Proofing: A Victoria-Specific Heads Up
You’ll find the standard advice online about hiding electrical cords and keeping chocolate out of reach. That’s all valid. But puppy and kitten care in Victoria comes with a few local twists worth mentioning.
Victoria gardens are full of lilies, rhododendrons, and azaleas. All three are toxic to cats, and lilies in particular can cause fatal kidney failure in kittens even from minor contact with the pollen. If you have indoor cut flowers or a garden your kitten might access, this is worth taking seriously.
For puppies, the bigger local risk tends to be slug bait. Metaldehyde-based slug and snail baits are still used in gardens across the Island, and even a small amount can cause seizures and death in dogs. Pet-safe alternatives exist, but if you’re renting or share outdoor space, you may not have control over what’s being used.
Also worth noting: Victoria’s mild, wet climate means fleas are active nearly year-round here. Unlike parts of Canada where a hard winter kills off flea populations, Vancouver Island doesn’t get that natural reset. Year-round flea and tick prevention is the standard recommendation from most veterinary professionals in the region.
Socialization Has a Deadline
This is one of the things that genuinely surprises new puppy owners. There’s a critical socialization window for puppies that closes around 14 to 16 weeks of age. After that, it becomes significantly harder to help them feel comfortable with new people, sounds, environments, and other animals.
Victoria has several good options for puppy socialization classes, and many local trainers run them specifically for the under-16-week crowd. The goal isn’t obedience at this stage. It’s exposure. You want your puppy to experience different surfaces, meet a variety of people, hear traffic, see umbrellas, and interact with other vaccinated puppies in a controlled setting.
For kittens, socialization is a bit different but still matters. Kittens who are handled gently and exposed to normal household activity between 2 and 7 weeks tend to be more confident, less fearful adults. If you’re adopting a slightly older kitten, regular gentle handling and positive associations with new experiences still make a real difference.
One practical tip from local trainers: take your puppy to the Victoria waterfront or Beacon Hill Park on a leash before that socialization window closes. The mix of people, dogs, birds, and strollers is ideal low-stress exposure, as long as you keep interactions positive and don’t push past your puppy’s comfort zone.
Nutrition in the Early Months
There’s a lot of noise online about raw diets, grain-free options, and boutique brands. Here’s what most veterinary nutritionists actually recommend: stick with a commercially prepared diet that meets AAFCO (or the Canadian equivalent) standards for growth. Puppies and kittens have very specific nutritional needs during their first year, and getting it wrong can lead to developmental problems, especially in large-breed puppies where calcium and phosphorus ratios genuinely matter.
Kittens, for their part, need a diet higher in protein and fat than adult cats. They also tend to do well with a mix of wet and dry food, since the moisture content in wet food supports urinary health, something that becomes increasingly relevant as cats age.
A quick note: if you’re feeding a large-breed puppy, talk to your vet about a large-breed-specific growth formula. Overfeeding or using an adult formula can contribute to skeletal issues like hip dysplasia. This is one area where the breed of your dog actually changes the nutritional approach.
Spaying, Neutering, and Microchipping
The timing conversation around spaying and neutering has shifted a bit in recent years. It used to be standard to spay or neuter at six months across the board. Now, many veterinary professionals recommend a more individualized approach, especially for large and giant breed dogs, where early neutering may affect joint development.
For cats, the recommendation is still fairly straightforward. Most vets in Victoria suggest spaying or neutering kittens around five to six months. This helps prevent unwanted litters and reduces the risk of certain cancers and behavioural issues like spraying.
Microchipping is a small procedure that makes a big difference. In BC, it’s one of the most reliable ways to reunite lost pets with their owners. Collars and tags can fall off, but a microchip is permanent. Most veterinary clinics in Victoria can do this during a routine visit, and the BC Pet Registry makes registration simple.
What Good Pet Care in Victoria Actually Looks Like
Pet care in Victoria isn’t just about the basics. It’s about building a relationship with a veterinary team you trust and staying consistent with preventive care. That means annual wellness exams (twice yearly for senior pets), keeping vaccinations current, maintaining parasite prevention year-round, and paying attention to dental health, which is often overlooked in young animals but matters more than most people realize.
Clinics like Midtown Veterinary Hospital work with new pet parents to build a wellness plan that fits the age, breed, and lifestyle of their animal. That kind of personalized approach makes the first year less stressful for everyone, including the pet.
The reality is that most health issues in young animals are preventable. The ones that aren’t are usually manageable if caught early. Consistent veterinary care gives you the best shot at both.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I take my new puppy or kitten to the vet for the first time? Within the first 5 to 7 days of bringing them home. This allows your vet to do a full physical exam, start or continue vaccinations, and set up a preventive care plan tailored to your pet.
How many vaccinations does a puppy or kitten need? Puppies and kittens typically need a series of vaccinations given every 3 to 4 weeks, starting around 8 weeks of age and continuing until about 16 weeks. Your vet will outline the specific schedule based on your pet’s risk factors and lifestyle.
Is flea prevention really needed year-round in Victoria? Yes. Victoria’s mild, wet climate means fleas remain active throughout the year. Unlike colder regions in Canada, there’s no winter freeze to interrupt the flea lifecycle, so year-round prevention is strongly recommended by local veterinary professionals.
When should I spay or neuter my puppy or kitten? For kittens, most vets recommend around five to six months. For puppies, the timing can vary based on breed and size, particularly for larger breeds. Your veterinarian can help determine the best timing for your specific pet.
What are the most common household dangers for puppies and kittens in Victoria? Locally, the biggest risks include toxic garden plants like lilies, rhododendrons, and azaleas, as well as metaldehyde-based slug bait commonly used in Island gardens. Indoors, watch for electrical cords, small objects that could be swallowed, and human foods like chocolate, grapes, and onions.