Veterinary fees can be a major expense for pet parents. That’s why it’s important to budget for vet care and have a plan in place for emergencies.
During an exam, your veterinarian will examine your cat’s eyes, ears, mouth, and joints to ensure they are healthy. They may also palpate their stomach to check for signs of pain or discomfort.
Core Vaccinations
Cats are prone to many disease-causing organisms, and it is vital to vaccinate them against these agents. Vaccines work by imitating these organisms without actually causing disease, so the immune system learns to recognize and destroy them if exposed in the future.
Vaccines are usually administered by injection, although some vaccines can be given intranasally. Your veterinarian will advise you on which vaccines are most appropriate for your pet.
All cats should receive core vaccinations. These include feline calicivirus, feline rhinotracheitis (also known as herpesvirus), and panleukopenia, which are common viruses that most cats will be exposed to at some point in their life. They should also be vaccinated against feline leukemia and rabies, both of which can be deadly if untreated.
Kittens should be vaccinated in the first few weeks of their lives, followed by booster shots every four to six months until they reach adulthood. The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends that kittens receive FVRCP and rabies vaccines, and the feline leukemia vaccination should be administered as early as six weeks of age in order to provide the best protection possible.
Immune titer tests are now being used to help determine if an animal should be revaccinated in the near future. This is especially important for cats with compromised immune systems.
Antibody titer testing can be performed for any core vaccines to ensure that they are effective and provide optimal protection for your pet. Veterinarians often choose to forego boosters when antibody levels are found to be within protective range.
The frequency of boosters depends on the vaccine, the disease being vaccinated against, and the pet’s lifestyle. If your cat is indoors only, for example, you may not need to vaccinate him as often, while outdoor pets should be vaccinated more frequently.
Vaccines are safe for most pets, but they can have side effects that can range from mild to severe. In rare cases, they can cause allergic reactions, vomiting and diarrhea, and shock.
A small percentage of vaccinated cats can develop tumors from the vaccination. This is less common than it used to be, but it can still occur.
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Annual Exams
The most important part of maintaining the health of your cat is to have a vet examine them on an annual basis. While cats may not be able to tell you when they aren’t feeling well, the signs of an illness can often be very subtle.
This is especially true of older cats. It’s very common to hear owners ascribe certain problems to “aging” and ignore the fact that these could be signs of underlying disease or other conditions that need to be detected and treated before they become more serious.
During a wellness exam, your vet will perform a visual examination of your pet’s appearance, including coat, paws, gait, and general energy level. They’ll also check your cat’s eyes, ears, nose, and mouth for any issues that need to be addressed.
Next, your veterinarian will ask you questions about your cat’s current health, history, and lifestyle. This helps your vet gain a better understanding of what could be contributing to health concerns and how to best address them.
They will then start to conduct a physical exam, which is designed to help them evaluate the condition of your pet’s organs, tissues, and joints. This includes checking the eyes, ears, teeth, and gums for any plaque or other dental issues.
Your vet will also use a stethoscope to listen for any unusual breath sounds or heart murmurs in your cat’s chest and lungs. This can be a sign of many different issues, including abnormalities in the heart rhythm or lung sounds like crackles or wheezing.
If your veterinarian notices any changes or abnormalities during the physical exam, they’ll discuss them with you at the time of the appointment. They’ll also recommend testing and parasite prevention if necessary.
While it may seem like a waste of time to bring your cat in for a yearly exam, it’s actually essential for your cat’s longevity and overall well-being. It will allow your vet to detect diseases that can become very difficult to treat and save you money in the long run by allowing them to be caught early when they are easier to treat and cure.
X-Rays
X-rays are one of the most common veterinary diagnostic tests, used to look for fractures, tumors, and foreign objects inside your pet’s body. They also help your cat veterinary clinic determine the cause of a problem to plan the best treatment for your pet.
Unlike other forms of radiology, X-rays are not invasive and can be done in a matter of seconds. They provide detailed images of bones, muscle tissue, and other body structures. They can also be helpful when diagnosing certain conditions, such as heart disease and cancer.
Digital x-rays have become more popular in recent years, and they can produce finer details and improve the speed of diagnosis. They also reduce radiation exposure, which can be a concern for some pet owners.
A radiologist will always wear protective gear while taking an X-ray, and they should be careful to stay a distance away from your pet when he or she is being scanned. Typically, there is a lead shield on the scanner table to minimize your pet’s exposure.
While many pets do well with X-rays, some will need sedation to make them more comfortable. If you’re worried about how your cat may respond, consider rescheduling the test to a later time or day.
Some cat owners may be concerned about the amount of radiation X-rays will expose their pet to, but it’s actually very minimal. Using a special sensor to capture the X-ray, vets only use a tiny amount of radiation to examine your pet’s teeth and mouth.
X-rays are an important part of veterinary diagnostics and are a quick and easy way to get a full view of your cat’s anatomy and other internal parts. They’re also extremely accurate and can reveal a lot about the structure of your pet’s body.
In addition to X-rays, veterinarians use ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to diagnose a variety of medical issues. Ultrasound provides detailed pictures of internal soft tissues and fluids, while MRI uses a combination of radio waves and magnetic field waves to create more detailed images of your pet’s internal organs.
X-rays are the most common type of radiology used by veterinary professionals, but they aren’t always sufficient to fully evaluate your cat’s health. For this reason, they are often combined with other diagnostic tests and procedures.
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Emergency Care
Pet emergencies happen and it’s important to have an emergency plan in place if your cat has a serious problem. Having a good understanding of what constitutes an emergency and when a visit to the vet is not necessarily necessary can help you remain calm, rational, and focused on getting your pet the best medical care possible.
Depending on your pet’s condition, your veterinarian may recommend a variety of tests and treatments to determine the cause of your pet’s health problem. These treatments might include bloodwork, X-rays, diagnostic imaging, medications, and more.
Many pets require extensive veterinary care at one time or another. This can be extremely expensive, especially when your pet requires hospitalization or surgery. It’s best to have an emergency fund set up for these types of emergencies.
If you don’t have a savings account to cover the cost of an emergency veterinary visit, consider setting up a pet insurance plan that covers these types of expenses. You can also try to finance a veterinary visit through CareCredit(r), a credit card that works with veterinarians and other businesses.
Emergency veterinary visits can be very expensive, even with the most comprehensive pet insurance coverage. That’s why it’s important to understand the costs of common procedures, so you can build a little wiggle room in your budget.
When you bring your pet to an emergency clinic, the veterinary staff will evaluate your pet’s condition and decide what level of treatment is necessary. They will ask you questions about your pet’s history and any other pertinent information.
They will make a quick assessment of your pet’s physical condition and assign priority to problems that need immediate attention, including difficulty breathing, seizures, internal bleeding, black tarry stools, blunt force trauma, and severe vomiting.
In most emergency veterinary departments, triage is the first step in treating your pet. It consists of a brief assessment and sorting of your pet’s vital signs, followed by the assignment of a “chief complaint.”
After the initial triage stage, the veterinary staff will begin stabilization. This involves putting your pet on an IV and giving them fluids. This will help them stay alive and prevent further deterioration, which can be a critical factor in emergency cases. It also helps keep them hydrated and alert so they can better communicate with you about their condition.