Kitten Wellness
Your First Veterinary Visit
Appointment:
1. A technician will meet you & your kitten. Your kitten will be weighed, have his temp, pulse and respirations taken for the Dr.
2. A doctor will perform a thorough physical exam & ask you a series of questions to gather info about the newest member of your family.
3. You & the doctor will craft a healthcare program. If your kitten is healthy, this is what we feel your kitten needs.
Health Care Program:
First Visit - 6-8 Weeks:
- FELV/FIV Test (serious feline diseases that may adversely affect the life of your kitten and can be transmitted to other cats in the home)
- Fecal Testing & Deworming (if needed)
- Rhinotacheitis/Calicivirus/Chlamydophilia/Panlekopenia (Feline distemper-RCCP)
10-12 Week Visit:
- Feline distemper (RCCP)
- FeLV vaccine if an outdoor cat
- 2nd Deworming (if needed)
14-16 Week Visit:
- Feline distemper (RCCP)
- FeLV vaccine if an outdoor cat
- Rabies vaccine
- Recheck Fecal
6-Month Visit:
- Spay or Neuter
- Pre-op Bloodwork
- IV Catheter
- Anesthesia Monitoring
- Pain Management
First Year of Life:
- Revolution – Flea/Tick/Heartworm prevention
1 Year of Age:
- Feline distemper (RCCP)
- Rabies vaccine
- FeLV vaccine if an outdoor cat
- Fecal Testing
Adult Feline Wellness
1-7 Years of Age
Our Recommendations for the care of your feline companion:
1. Annual examinations
2. Annual Bloodwork – Full CBC/Chemistry/Parasite Testing
- This will allow us to assess the function of the kidney’s and liver, as well as the red & white blood cell counts.
- Fecal testing: this should be done yearly if an indoor cat, however if your cat goes outdoors, then this should be done twice yearly.
* Roundworms are a zoonotic parasite, which means you can be affected by them.
3. Flea Protection and 12 Months of Heartworm Prevention
- We recommend annual Revolution with biannual testing to make sure your pet remains heartworm negative.
- If you choose seasonal heartworm protection your pet must have annual heartworm tests.
4. Vaccine Protocol
- Feline distemper (RCCP) – At one year of age, then if they are an indoor cat, no further RCCP vaccines are recommended. *If an outdoor cat, RCCP should be boostered every 3 years.
- Rabies – At one year of age and then every 3 years.
- FeLV – Once a year if your cat goes outside. We use a nonajuvanted PurVax by Merial that does not cause the Vaccine Associated Sarcoma.
Senior Feline Wellness Greater than 8 years of Age
Our Recommendations for the care of your senior feline companion:
*Depending on your pets health and the results of their annual exam your doctor may recommend biannual (twice yearly) examinations or testing.
1. Annual examinations
2. Annual Bloodwork – Full CBC/Chemistry/T4/Urinalysis/Blood pressure/Parasite Testing
- This will allow us to assess the function of the kidney’s, liver, thyroid and vascular systems, as well as red and white blood cell counts
- Fecal testing should be done yearly for indoor cats, twice yearly for outdoor cats.
3. Screening Chest and Abdominal Radiographs
- Chest x-rays: Older pets may have disease in their chest we cannot detect on physical exam. It can brew until it reaches a critical point at which time your pet becomes ill. We would like to detect serious disease early.
- Abdominal x-rays: Older pets can acquire masses in their abdomen without clinical signs. We utilize x-rays for early detection, which can allow for early intervention.
4. Flea Protection and 12 Months of Heartworm Prevention
- We recommend annual preventative to make sure your pet remains heartworm negative.
- If you choose seasonal heartworm protection, your pet must have annual heartworm tests.
5. Vaccine Protocol
What if we find abnormalities in...
Bloodwork: Your doctor will make recommendations about further work-up & treatment
Radiographs: The next step is ultrasound to better understand the abnormalities. Once we have a clear understanding we can make appropriate recommendations.