Annual wellness exams also help your veterinarian determine a proper prevention program, including a vaccination schedule tailored specifically for your cat, kiten, or senior cat. By using personalized pet health protocols, the veterinarians a Reno Hospital for Cats can pinpoint specific preventive health care needs for your cat throughout their life.
Annual pet wellness exams include screenings for a variety of potential diseases. These screenings are usually accompanied by an individualized risk assessment of your cat’s environment – where you live, emerging disease risks in our community, your pet’s interaction with other pets and wildlife, travel plans, and other lifestyle considerations. Living in Reno and the high desert environment of Nevada and interacting with the local wildlife (rattlesnakes, scorpions, and the occasional flea or tick) can pose unique risks for your cat. Not to mention the dust and plant life to which your hypoallergenic cat can have severe allergic reaction to.
Your cat’s best source for wellness exam and preventive health care information is your personal veterinarian. Only they know your pet’s medical history, current health status, and the potential risks your cat faces. Give us a call to schedule your cat’s annual wellness exam or vaccination(s) 775.827.5289.
Annual wellness examinations
Regular wellness exams allow our veterinarians at Reno Hospital for Cats to evaluate your cat’s general health and become aware of any health problems before they become serious illnesses. Since your cat cannot tell you how they are feeling, you must rely on regular physical examinations by a veterinarian and your at-home observations to assess your pet’s health. We may also wish to perform diagnostic tests, including blood tests and/or x-rays, to evaluate your cat’s health.
Routine blood testing, urinalysis (urine testing) and other tests are recommended for all cats in their “senior years.” We may recommend routine blood testing and urinalysis for younger cats to establish baseline values, which can be used for comparison as they age.
How often does my cat need an annual or wellness exam?
Every year for a cat is equivalent to seven human years, so it is important that your cat receives a wellness exam at least every year, and more often when they enters their senior years. Many aspects of your cat’s health can change in a short amount of time, so make sure they do not miss even one exam!
Similar to people, your cat needs to visit the veterinarian more often as they get older in order to prevent and treat illnesses that come with age, (see Senior Cat Care below for more information). We recommend that healthy cats visit the veterinarian once a year for a complete exam and laboratory testing. Healthy senior cats should receive a wellness exam and lab testing every six months. Depending on your cat’s age and health, we can suggest an appropriate physical examination schedule to help keep them in tip-top shape.
Kitten wellness
Congratulations, on taking the first step to having a wonderful companion and friend. It is important to do everything you can to ensure they grow up strong, healthy and happy so you have your faithful companion around as long as you can. Health care is essential through your cat’s entire life. The information below is basic health care for your kitten’s first year of life.
It is essential that your kitten have several examinations within the first year of its life. Examinations will address many different areas to ensure the health of your kitten is excellent. During these examinations we will discuss such issues as micro-chipping, spaying/neutering, pre-op bloodwork, behavior and nutrition and can even recommend training options. Micro-chipping is an effective tool in finding your kitten if it ever gets lost. The blood test is recommended because it will show any kidney or liver abnormalities that could effect how the anesthesia is processed. This helps the doctor determine if the anesthesia needs to be adjusted. Also, we will discuss the first year examination schedule with you based on the first kitten exam.
Senior cat wellness
Due to advancements in medical care, cats are living longer than they ever did before. We love our feline companions and want their senior years to be as healthy and happy as possible. The breed of your cat can have a lot to do with his life expectancy, but in general all cats are considered a senior at age seven.
As your cat reaches the golden years, there are a variety of conditions and diseases that they can face, including weight and mobility changes; osteoarthritis; kidney, heart, and liver disease; tumors and cancers; organ failure, hormone disorders such as diabetes and thyroid imbalance; and many others. Just as the health care needs of humans change as we age, the same applies to cats. It’s critical for you to work closely with your veterinarian to devise a health plan that is best for your senior cat.
Reno Hospital for Cats recommends that healthy senior cats visit the veterinarian every six months for a complete exam and laboratory testing. Remember…that every year for a cat is equivalent to 5–7 human years. In order stay current with your senior cat’s health care, twice-a-year exams are a must. During the senior health exam, your veterinarian will ask you a series of questions regarding any changes in your cat’s activity and behavior.
The veterinarian will also conduct a complete examination of all of your pet’s body systems. Client education and laboratory testing are also key components of the senior exam.
Vaccinations
We strongly recommend you have your cat vaccinated against several diseases all of which can be fatal. This should start from 6 weeks for kittens and continue annually.
At each vacination visit we also perform a thorough health assessment with the aim of picking up small problems before they get a chance to turn into big ones such as signs of early heart problems, arthritis, tumours or dental disease. Plenty can be done about these if caught at an early stage – but if left untreated all of these could cause pain, discomfort, imfirmity and even premature death.
When it comes to health and well-being prevention is much better than trying to cure the ailment. But this is only possible with regular checkups by your pet’s health care professional.
For more information please see this document produced by Intervet – the world’s leading manufacturer of animal vaccines.
See also: Cat Vaccination FAQ
