What is a cat wellness exam?
A wellness exam in a cat is a lot like a dog's wellness exam. We do a physical exam, nose to toes. We look at their eyes, ears, coat, belly, joints and teeth. We're basically looking at every part of the cat that we can see from the outside and making sure that we don't see anything out of the ordinary.
Dr. Rebecca McIntosh
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital
Will my cat's wellness exam require any specific lab work or procedures?
Yes, a wellness exam is only as good as we have diagnostics to help us out with. So physical exam is looking at your cat from the outside, we can't see what's going on on the inside. So that's where blood work comes in. We're looking at kidney function, liver function and major internal organs, to make sure we don't see anything on the inside that we can't see from the outside that might be making your cat sick or might help us diagnose a problem.
When should I bring in my cat for a veterinary wellness exam?
Cats should be seen at least every year. Cats and dogs both age faster than we do, so one year in a cat's life is a lot like 10 years in ours. So if we only went to the doctor every 10 years for annual physicals, we'd get yelled at and you'd probably find some stuff. So making sure that we're seeing a cat on a regular basis. Cats are really, really good at hiding illness and pain. So making sure that we can see them, making sure that we're touching them all over at least once a year as they're adults. When they're kittens, we see them more often because they're growing and when they're older, we want to see them at least every six months to make sure we're catching stuff early.
What are some signs and symptoms that my cat might not be feeling well?
A lot of cats will have problems eating and drinking. They'll either drink more or and pee more or they'll drink less. They'll eat more. They will, some cats will vomit regularly and we push that off as, oh that's normal for that cat. Well, that's never really normal. So making sure that we're watching out for cats whose behavior changes. If they start hiding, if they're not around or they don't want to be pet, if they seem to be all of a sudden aggressive or vocal, they're getting into trouble with the other cats at home. All of those things are a reason to find out if your cat is having a problem.
What are some possible environmental factors that can affect cat wellness?
Many environmental factors can affect cat wellness because cats are sensitive to their environments and what's happening around them. So cats who are housed with other cats, that's not a choice that they would make on their own and so that is a source of stress in and of itself. We move the litter box two inches to the left and their whole world is gone in a direction they don't want it to go and they don't like that. So if we keep everything the same and we make sure that everything looks the same, but they're having problems or they're having behavior issues or they're acting differently, we certainly want to make sure that there isn't a medical problem that we're seeing on a physical exam.
Why is early detection so important to the well-being of my cat?
Early detection is hugely important for cats because cats are very very good at hiding their illness and they're hiding their pain and hiding symptoms of things. Again, we also chalk up regular issues as well that are normal for the cat and it may not be normal for a normal cat. But because they're so good at hiding stuff and the other reason is we don't see cats as much as we see our dogs because they don't like being handled, they don't like getting in the car, they don't like getting in the box, they don't like getting in the carrier and they don't like coming here. So we tend to see these guys a little bit less often than we should. So we end up missing things sometimes or we get to a problem where that's been going on for a long time and we just never saw it or we caught it too late to fix it.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (407) 896-0941, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram
Cat Wellness Exams - FAQS 1
Dr. Rebecca McIntosh
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital
Do I need to do anything to prepare for a cat wellness exam?
Yes, you do. Most cats are not accustomed to being in the carrier, in the car, or being handled regularly. It's crucial to ensure they're okay with all these activities before bringing them in for the exam. It's also recommended to bring some of their personal items like a special toy or a blanket that smells like them to the vet. This is because even the most stress-free visit can be a bit stressful for a cat as it's not part of their normal routine. Also, don't forget to bring their stool sample with you.
What questions should I ask during a cat wellness exam?
It's important to ask about anything unusual that you've noticed in your cat. Even minor changes, such as a cat going outside the litter box once or vomiting, can indicate a problem. Make sure to ask about anything different in the cat's environment as well.
How long do cat wellness exams usually take?
The length of the exam depends on your cat's health. Cats are known for their ability to hide pain and illness. Therefore, we often find issues in cats that owners don't notice at home. So, we need to take enough time to thoroughly examine the cat and ensure everything we see is normal. If we find something abnormal, the exam may take longer as we need to diagnose the problem.
How do cat wellness exams influence subsequent treatments?
If we find something wrong during a cat wellness exam, we'll let you know and plan accordingly. Due to the stress many cats experience when visiting the vet, we may perform the wellness exam in parts. For instance, we may do the physical exam and vaccines on one day and then take bloodwork on a subsequent visit. This approach helps to reduce the overall stress for the cat and makes the experience safer and more comfortable for all involved.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (407) 896-0941, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram
Cat Wellness Exams - FAQs 2
Dr. Rebecca McIntosh
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital
How often should my cat get a wellness exam?
Cats should be seen less often than dogs for a variety of reasons. Kittens should be seen frequently, adult cats should be seen at least once a year, and older cats should be seen at least every six months. This is because one year in a cat's life is equivalent to ten years in a person's life.
Is there ever a reason cats will need more than one annual wellness check?
Yes, if they have a chronic problem or an issue, kittens are seen quite often, once a month for a while. Healthy adult cats can be seen once a year if there are no problems or changes, but older cats should be seen at least every six months.
My cat seems healthy, does she really need a wellness exam?
Cats are extremely good at hiding illness, pain, and disease. Regular physical exams are necessary to ensure their health. These exams include checking their eyes, ears, nose, mouth, teeth, and skin, areas that you may not necessarily touch during your regular interaction with them.
How often does my cat need dental checkups at the veterinarian?
Dentistry is a part of every physical exam. By the age of one or two, 80 to 90% of cats have periodontal disease, such as calculus and gingivitis, and need dental care. They don't brush their teeth twice a day or go to the dentist every six months, so we check their mouth every time they come in here. At least once a year, we should be checking their teeth, and for older cats, we should do so more often.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (407) 896-0941, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram
Cat Wellness Exams - FAQs 3
Dr. Rebecca McIntosh
Loch Haven Veterinary Hospital
What are some things that I can do to maximize cat wellness at home?
At home, you can enhance your cat's environment and provide them with plenty of play and hunting options. It's important to pay attention to what appears normal for your cat, as they are very good at hiding disease, pain, and illness.
What can I do to provide my cat with the best nutrition possible?
You should ensure that you're feeding your cats food that is appropriate for their life stage. Kittens should be given kitten food, adult cats should have adult cat food, and senior cats should eat senior cat food. Also, make sure there's a veterinarian involved in the process of creating the food and stick with major brands that your veterinarian recommends.
How can I keep my cat from becoming overweight?
It's more challenging with cats as we don't exercise them the same way we do with dogs. Make sure you're consistently engaging with your cats, ensuring they're moving around and foraging for food. Cats enjoy hunting, so it's important to keep them active inside the house.
How do I keep my indoor-outdoor cat healthy?
Indoor-outdoor cats require regular preventative measures to avoid dealing with intestinal parasites and external parasites. They should be examined more frequently, as they can easily conceal an ear infection, skin infection, or other problems. Also, ensure they have a safe place to be, especially if there are dangers in their usual areas like other cats, coyotes, or construction.
How often do I need to brush my cat's teeth?
Ideally, you should brush your cat's teeth twice a day. However, it's often not practical. Using dental wipes can be more tolerable for a cat. If you can do something in their mouth once a day, it aids significantly in managing dental health.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (407) 896-0941, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram