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- Created on Tuesday, 27 December 2011 15:35
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New Year's Resolution #1: Get your cat to the Vet!
Cats outnumber dogs by 14 million in American homes, yet dogs are much more frequent visitors to the veterinary clinic. Why is this? There are several misconceptions when it comes to our feline friends.
- 1. They are inherently healthier than dogs.
- 2. They will tell us when they are sick.
- 3. Indoor cats do not need to see the vet because they are not at risk for any disease.
- 4. It is a strategic battle to get them in their carrier!
These are not true! (Okay, well maybe #4…..)
Cats need an exam every 6 months just like dogs because they age as quickly as dogs and have just as many health concerns. Cats are even sneakier than dogs (big surprise) when it comes to hiding disease from us as they are designed by nature to be this way. They do not want that mouse they are chasing in the wild to know they are diabetic! For this reason, it is important to have semi-annual exams and yearly bloodwork to catch hidden illnesses. It is definitely a myth that indoor cats have no reason to see a vet. In addition to what was just discussed, indoor cats are also at risk for heartworm disease, fleas, and intestinal parasites. Studies have shown that an indoor cat has no more protection from heartworm disease than an outdoor kitty.
As far as getting your feline friend to our clinic….good luck and be creative. J Feel free to call us anytime for suggestions and helpful hints on successful cat wrangling.
Here is a good case in point involving our very own clinic kitty, Juan Carlos:
One morning, about 6 months ago, he vomited but was otherwise feeling fine and eating normally. Later that day he vomited again, but continued to feel well and act as usual. No big deal, right? Probably a hairball, no worries? Well, fortunately for Juan Carlos, Dr. Dodd happened to be here ultrasounding another pet and had time to take a quick look at Juan Carlos' tummy, just in case something was wrong. Lo and behold, she found a very enlarged and angry kidney. Juan was rushed to surgery to have an emergency nephrectomy (kidney removal) and we discovered that a kidney stone had traveled to his ureter (tube leading from kidney to bladder) and became stuck there, causing a back-up of fluid in his kidney. Without prompt diagnosis of this, Juan Carlos may have died. Moral of the story = listen closely to your kitties when they are telling you something is wrong. Any change in routine or normal activity can signal major problems. It's always better to be safe than sorry! And, yes, Juan Carlos is perfectly fine and back to normal today (sans one kidney).
See you soon, all you elusive felines!!!
