Cat Health 101: Form a Partnership With Your Veterinarian
Cat Health 101: Form a Partnership With Your Veterinarian
Recognize that your veterinarian is your cat's lifeline to good health. S/he will tend to your cat's routine needs, such as spay/neuter, dental care, and annual vaccinations. Your veterinarian will also examine, diagnose, and prescribe treatment for serious and/or chronic feline diseases.
You are also an essential part of this partnership, because you care for your cat's needs on a daily basis, and know your cat's day-to-day activities intimately.
You will be the first line of defense for your cat's health, as you learn to recognize signals that call for a vet visit.
This partnership with your veterinarian is of vital importance. Next to genetics, your cat's health is the most important factor in determining his or her's ultimate life span. We all want our cats to live longer, and your veterinarian should be your prime source of not only veterinary care, but advice about your cat's health. There are several reasons to consider.
Read more to learn the 4 Reasons Why You Should Partner With Your Veterinarian.
How to Select a New Veterinarian
Whether this is your first cat, you have moved away from your old veterinarian's area, or you have decided to switch to another vet, this article will give you ideas about how to find a veterinarian, as well as a procedure for interviewing vet prospects in order to make your final selection.
How to Select a New Veterinarian.
Know When to Call Your Veterinarian
I can't stress too much the importance of knowing your cat thoroughly. Through daily observation, and through your petting sessions (during which you'll learn the normal "feel" of your cat's body), learn all about your cat's normal physical condition. By learning the "normal," you'll be able to spot more easily the signs when your cat's body is "out of whack," and a routine, urgent, or emergency trip to your vet clinic is needed.
This article gives a list of symptoms along with serious advice on when to call the vet and when it's safe to surf the net for more information.
Know When to Call Your Veterinarian
When to Seek a Second Vet Opinion
Working as a partner with your veterinarian is the best way to ensure continued good health of your cats. However, the time may come when your partnership splinters, either through lack of faith in your veterinarian's diagnosis or treatment plan, or lack of proper communication. If you feel that situation coming on, it may be time to consider seeking a second opinion.
This article gives you questions to ask yourself, and other guidelines for making a decision.
Remember, since this is a partnership, you may also be partially to blame for lack of communication.
Learn how to know When to Seek a Second Vet Opinion
Before You Skip That Vet Visit
That scheduled vet visit may be crucial to your cat's health. If you are tempted to skip it entirely, or delay it because it isn't convenient right now, or finances are a little tight, please give some thought to several considerations before picking up the phone and canceling that vet appointment.
Your final decision may vary, depending on the reason for the vet visit, along with available options.
Things to consider Before You Skip That Vet Visit
Kittens' First Vet Visit
When Jaspurr (pictured here) and Joey, his littermate first came home at 6 1/2 weeks, we isolated them from our senior cat, Bubba, not only because all new cats should be introduced slowly, but also for Bubba's protection. Since these kittens came from a household where their mother was allowed to run loose on the streets, and where veterinary care was practically unheard of, we wanted to make sure the kittens weren't bringing home any communicable diseases, such as FeLV (Feline Leukemia), FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), or URIs (Upper Respiratory Infections).
Your veterinarian will also perform a complete examination of your kitten, including checking his eyes, ears, mouth, and teeth, as well as palpating his organs. At that time, arrangements will also be made for a future appointment to spay or neuter your kitten.
Learn more about the procedures performed at your Kittens' First Vet Visit
The life stage of adult cats is often called the "Maintenance Years." They have developed through their kitten year and no longer require the high-growth nutrition needed from kitten food. Don't confuse "maintenance" for lack of care. All adult cats need at least an annual veterinary checkup, with any tests and vaccines indicated at that point. In addition, during the year, you still need to do a monthly personal analysis of his physical condition, including checking his teeth and gums, examining his ears for signs of ear mites or odor.
and feeling his body and limbs for lumps or signs of pain. Knowing your cat thoroughly is the first step in knowing when to call the vet, as listed above.
Learn more about what happens during your Adult Cat's Annual Veterinary Exam
We love our senior cats. They have given unconditional love to us for many years, and we owe them our love as well as the best care we can afford to give them, including veterinary exams at least twice a year. Many senior cats have developed chronic diseases and conditions which will require more frequent treatment. My Shannon, pictured here, lived to 19, but was diagnosed with FIV about three years before his passing, then with CRF (Chronic Renal Failure) about 18 months before his death.
He had also had dental extractions performed at the U.C. Davis Veterinary College, prior to his FIV diagnosis. These might have been avoided, had we practiced more diligent examination and care of his teeth.
Learn more about A Veterinary Care Plan for Senior Cats
Recognize that your veterinarian is your cat's lifeline to good health. S/he will tend to your cat's routine needs, such as spay/neuter, dental care, and annual vaccinations. Your veterinarian will also examine, diagnose, and prescribe treatment for serious and/or chronic feline diseases.
You are also an essential part of this partnership, because you care for your cat's needs on a daily basis, and know your cat's day-to-day activities intimately.
You will be the first line of defense for your cat's health, as you learn to recognize signals that call for a vet visit.
This partnership with your veterinarian is of vital importance. Next to genetics, your cat's health is the most important factor in determining his or her's ultimate life span. We all want our cats to live longer, and your veterinarian should be your prime source of not only veterinary care, but advice about your cat's health. There are several reasons to consider.
Read more to learn the 4 Reasons Why You Should Partner With Your Veterinarian.
How to Select a New Veterinarian
Whether this is your first cat, you have moved away from your old veterinarian's area, or you have decided to switch to another vet, this article will give you ideas about how to find a veterinarian, as well as a procedure for interviewing vet prospects in order to make your final selection.
How to Select a New Veterinarian.
Know When to Call Your Veterinarian
I can't stress too much the importance of knowing your cat thoroughly. Through daily observation, and through your petting sessions (during which you'll learn the normal "feel" of your cat's body), learn all about your cat's normal physical condition. By learning the "normal," you'll be able to spot more easily the signs when your cat's body is "out of whack," and a routine, urgent, or emergency trip to your vet clinic is needed.
This article gives a list of symptoms along with serious advice on when to call the vet and when it's safe to surf the net for more information.
Know When to Call Your Veterinarian
When to Seek a Second Vet Opinion
Working as a partner with your veterinarian is the best way to ensure continued good health of your cats. However, the time may come when your partnership splinters, either through lack of faith in your veterinarian's diagnosis or treatment plan, or lack of proper communication. If you feel that situation coming on, it may be time to consider seeking a second opinion.
This article gives you questions to ask yourself, and other guidelines for making a decision.
Remember, since this is a partnership, you may also be partially to blame for lack of communication.
Learn how to know When to Seek a Second Vet Opinion
Before You Skip That Vet Visit
That scheduled vet visit may be crucial to your cat's health. If you are tempted to skip it entirely, or delay it because it isn't convenient right now, or finances are a little tight, please give some thought to several considerations before picking up the phone and canceling that vet appointment.
Your final decision may vary, depending on the reason for the vet visit, along with available options.
Things to consider Before You Skip That Vet Visit
Kittens' First Vet Visit
When Jaspurr (pictured here) and Joey, his littermate first came home at 6 1/2 weeks, we isolated them from our senior cat, Bubba, not only because all new cats should be introduced slowly, but also for Bubba's protection. Since these kittens came from a household where their mother was allowed to run loose on the streets, and where veterinary care was practically unheard of, we wanted to make sure the kittens weren't bringing home any communicable diseases, such as FeLV (Feline Leukemia), FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus), or URIs (Upper Respiratory Infections).
Your veterinarian will also perform a complete examination of your kitten, including checking his eyes, ears, mouth, and teeth, as well as palpating his organs. At that time, arrangements will also be made for a future appointment to spay or neuter your kitten.
Learn more about the procedures performed at your Kittens' First Vet Visit
The life stage of adult cats is often called the "Maintenance Years." They have developed through their kitten year and no longer require the high-growth nutrition needed from kitten food. Don't confuse "maintenance" for lack of care. All adult cats need at least an annual veterinary checkup, with any tests and vaccines indicated at that point. In addition, during the year, you still need to do a monthly personal analysis of his physical condition, including checking his teeth and gums, examining his ears for signs of ear mites or odor.
and feeling his body and limbs for lumps or signs of pain. Knowing your cat thoroughly is the first step in knowing when to call the vet, as listed above.
Learn more about what happens during your Adult Cat's Annual Veterinary Exam
We love our senior cats. They have given unconditional love to us for many years, and we owe them our love as well as the best care we can afford to give them, including veterinary exams at least twice a year. Many senior cats have developed chronic diseases and conditions which will require more frequent treatment. My Shannon, pictured here, lived to 19, but was diagnosed with FIV about three years before his passing, then with CRF (Chronic Renal Failure) about 18 months before his death.
He had also had dental extractions performed at the U.C. Davis Veterinary College, prior to his FIV diagnosis. These might have been avoided, had we practiced more diligent examination and care of his teeth.
Learn more about A Veterinary Care Plan for Senior Cats
