Be in - the - know about your pot ’s wellness exam — and learn why it ’s so important .
An annual wellness exam is a checkup for a healthy cat , and it ’s an important part ofkeepingyour cat healthy . When your vet does a health test , it might just look like a dim-witted once - over , but there are actually some moderately important things being check . Here ’s what you could require from this once - a - year appointment .
Why Do Cats Need Annual Checkups?
It ’s kind of a oecumenical pattern that humans , dogs , and cats should all be see by their doctors on a even ground . But while we may put off our own yearly physicals because we " experience just fine , " bozo ca n’t describe their own symptom , so we homo need to be on the picket for health concern .
Felines typically hide out signs of illness as long as possible — it ’s a survival of the fittest inherent aptitude . Fortunately , a veterinary strong-arm exam can reveal abnormalities you ca n’t detect at home . In many cases , wellness issues can be found during the testing before they become serious .
TheAAHA / AAFP Feline Life Stage Guidelinesstate that adult cats should be examined at least once a twelvemonth and senior cats ( age 10 and up ) should visit the veteran every six months . Additional visits may be take for cats with chronic health conditions , so talk to your veterinary surgeon to recrudesce the best architectural plan for your case-by-case cat .
Photo: Chalirmpoj Pimpisarn / Getty
What to Bring to Your Cat’s Wellness Exam
Proper readiness can help make pussy ’s one-year vet visit go swimmingly . If your cat getsstressed in the caror at the veterinary ( like many guy do ) , ask your vet about CT - dependable calming financial aid that you may give before depart dwelling house . You may also regard using a pheromone intersection likeFeliwayin your cat ’s bearer or bring your cat-o'-nine-tails ’s best-loved treat ( that said , many cats will be too worried to eat on during a ex-serviceman visit ) .
Transport your cat in asecure carrieror on aharnessif he ’s well-heeled and trained towalk on a leash . Vet offices typically require pets to be in carriers or on leashes for everyone ’s prophylactic . Carrying your hombre through the antechamber is risky — you do n’t get it on what other creature will be in there and how they might behave .
Other things to bring to your cat ’s appointment include :
What Does a Vet Check During Your Cat’s Wellness Exam?
Although it unremarkably takes less than 10 mo , your veterinary surgeon is looking at your cat from head to dock . Vets can learn a lot about a computed tomography ’s health with an examination , admit early signs of illness that are not noticeable to you at home .
A veterinary technician or assistant will likely start the appointment by asking questions about your cat ’s appetence , diet , medicine , litter box activity , and overall deportment . They will weigh your hombre and perchance check his consistence temperature , pump rate , and respiratory rate . organic structure temperature is measured with a rectal thermometer , so this step may be skipped if your cat is particularly stressed out .
A physical exam includes observation / inspection , palpation ( feeling parts of the body ) , and auscultation ( listening with a stethoscope ) . Each veterinary surgeon has their own routine when it comes to the exam operation , but many will start up at the head and work their way back , cautiously checking each consistence part .
Initial Observations
After briefly talk about your cat ’s chronicle , the vet will observe his overall appearance to front for anything unnatural . They will evaluate a few key aspect of your cat ’s appearance :
Head and Neck
The vet will examine kitty ’s headland to expect for dissymmetry , lumps , extrusion , and other abnormalities . She ’ll also check off the eyes , capitulum , and nose for emission or anything else unusual . A tool with a special luminance bid an ophthalmoscope is used to expect at the structures inside the eye . The ex-serviceman will then use an auriscope , which is a light with a small retinal cone , to see into the spike duct .
The veterinarian willexamine your cat ’s mouth and teethto check for dental disease and make trusted the tissues in the mouth appear normal . She ’ll also feel the salivary secretor , lymph nodes , and trachea , and she ’ll finger for an magnified thyroid gland gland .
The vet will also move the head and neck to evaluate the range of motion and to verify the crusade is n’t afflictive for kitty .
Body and Limbs
Moving right along , the vet will reckon over your bozo ’s body for abnormal growths , imbalance , and pain or tenderness . This include palpate the spine , pelvis , and lymph nodes , as well as cook the limb . She ’ll also audit the paws , nails , and skin . This part of the exam may reveal issues likearthritis , skin conditions , and external parasite such asfleas .
Heart and Lungs
The vet will then use a stethoscope to study both sides of the heart and lungs in multiple place to obtain your computerized axial tomography ’s bosom pace and respiratory charge per unit . The veterinary is listening for aheart murmur , arrhythmia ( abnormal essence musical rhythm ) , or abnormal lung sounds like crackle or wheezing .
Abdomen
After visually inspect the orbit for enlargement , bruising , and other abnormalities , the veteran will palpate the abdomen . This includes feeling the liver , kidneys , stomach , intestines , and bladder . Your vet may also listen to the venter with a stethoscope to evaluate motility .
Genital Area
no-count pot — now it gets personal ! The ex-serviceman needs to have a quick look at the area around the rectum and the penis or vulva to check for swell , discharge , Mass , anal sac issues , and other issues .
Other Procedures
After ( or sometimes during ) the test , your veterinarian will discourse findings and inform you of anything out of the ordinary . If your computerized axial tomography is sizeable enough , vaccinationsmay be give , if due .
science laboratory body of work may be recommend , specially if your African tea is a senior or if there are any issues launch on the exam . Lab tests may include :
extra diagnostics , such as X - electron beam and ultrasounds , may be recommended if your vet detect a job during the exam .
Your vet will also discuss parasite prevention and refill prescriptions if demand . This is the time to ensure you ’ve require all your questions . Your veterinary can put up advice about nutrition , behaviour , and domicile care .
How Much Is a Wellness Exam for a Cat?
Theaverage cost for a veterinary wellness examis about $ 50 , but this varies by part . The examination fee covers the physical exam and veterinary interview but does not admit vaccines , lab work , products , or additional services . Keep this in mind when it ’s time for your cat ’s annual vet visit . you could involve the veterinary staff for an estimate up front if you have cost business concern — your vet will seek to work within your budget as long as you make them aware of your needs .
