What Happens at Your Cat’s Annual Vet Visit

Regular veterinary check-ups are essential for maintaining your cat’s health and well-being. During your cat’s annual vet visit, you can expect a thorough examination, vaccinations, parasite prevention, and discussions about your cat’s diet and overall health. Depending on your cat’s age and health status, your vet may order lab work.

Why Annual Vet Visits are Essential for Cats

It is important that your cat get her annual check-up. This is one of those things that people put off as unnecessary for indoor cats because cats are such low maintenance pets. I can’t put enough dripping sarcasm on to that statement. Just because you don’t “see” something wrong with your cat doesn’t mean there isn’t a problem. Cats are good at hiding pain and illness. Oftentimes by the time we see something Kitty has been suffering for some time.

Annual vet visits are essential for cats just as they are for dogs, or for us humans for that matter, because they allow for early detection and prevention of potential health issues. During these visits, the veterinarian will conduct a thorough examination to check for any signs of illness or disease.

Vaccinations will also be administered to protect your cat from common and potentially deadly diseases.

Additionally, discussions about your cat’s diet and overall health will help ensure that they are receiving the proper nutrition and care. By keeping up with annual vet visits, you can ensure that your cat stays healthy and receives the necessary care to live a long and happy life.

Related Posts: Why Cats Don’t Go to the Vet

What to Expect During Your Cat’s Annual Vet Visit

Usually a vet tech will begin the visit by taking a health history. The tech will ask questions about your cat’s diet, any medications or supplements Kitty takes include flea and tick prevention, litter box use, outdoor access, and general behavior. They’ll ask you for any questions or concerns you have about your cat too.

The tech will typically get vitals on your cat too. That includes Kitty’s weight, temperature, heart rate and respiration rate. My cats are grateful my vet uses an ear thermometer now but many still take Kitty’s temp rectally.

Physical Examination

During your cat’s annual vet visit, one of the key components is the physical examination. This is where the vet will thoroughly examine your cat’s body to check for any signs of illness or abnormalities. It doesn’t take long but the physical examination is a crucial part of your cat’s annual vet visit as it allows the vet to assess your cat’s overall health and detect any potential problems early on.

Your vet literally examines Kitty from nose to tail.

They usually start by checking Kitty’s eyes, ears, and nose for discharge or anything else out of the ordinary. They use an ophthalmoscope to look at the inside of the eye and otoscope to look into the ear canals.

The vet will examine your cat’s mouth and teeth to check for dental disease and make sure the tissues in the mouth appear normal. They’ll also palpate Kitty’s salivary glands, lymph nodes, and trachea, and feel for an enlarged thyroid gland.

They will then use a stethoscope to listen to Kitty’s heart and lungs. The vet is listening for a heart murmur, arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), or abnormal lung sounds like crackles or wheezing.

Then your vet will assess your cat’s general body condition. Is your kitten developing properly. Is Kitty too fat? Has your geriatric cat lost muscle tone? They look at their skin and fur. Turns out the weird texture of my son’s beautiful Siberian’s fur was an indicator of a thyroid problem. A greasy coat and lack of grooming in a senior cat might indicate arthritis.

Your vet will look for abnormal growths, asymmetry, and pain or tenderness. This includes palpating the spine, pelvis, and lymph nodes, as well as manipulating the limbs to test range of motion.

They feel Kitty’s abdomen: the bladder, kidneys, liver, intestines, spleen, and stomach to assess whether these organs appear to be normal or abnormal, and whether there is any subtle evidence of discomfort. And last, they take a check under the tail to make sure everything is as it should be with Kitty’s read end.

Lab Work

The lab work your vet recommends for your furbaby depends on Kitty’s age and whether or not any problems were indicated in the exam. Generally speaking, lab work would included:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC), which measures the number of red and white blood cells and platelets. CBCs can detect infections, anemia, dehydration, blood disorders and the immune system response.
• BioChemistry panel tests organ function, such as the kidneys and liver. Blood Chemistries show if any enzymes, electrolytes, minerals and hormone levels are too low or too high indicating a problem in organ function.
• Urinalysis: assess bladder health and look for signs of kidney and liver issues.
• Fecal testing: tests Kitty’s stool for any signs of parasites.

Which tests your furbaby needs depends on her age and health. Kittens might need a FIV or Feline Leukemia test. Seniors might need high blood pressure screenings, x-rays or ultrasounds to look at their internal organs.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are essential aspects of your cat’s annual vet visit. During this visit, your vet will review your cat’s vaccination history and determine which vaccines are necessary based on their age, lifestyle, and risk factors. Common vaccines for cats include those for rabies, feline distemper, and feline leukemia. These vaccines help protect your cat from potentially life-threatening diseases.

Related Post: Vaccinations for Cats

Preventive Care

In addition to vaccinations, your vet may also recommend preventive treatments for parasites such as fleas, ticks, and heartworms. These treatments help keep your cat safe from these common pests and the diseases they can transmit.

How to Prepare for Your Cat’s Vet Visit

Things to bring to your cat’s appointment include:

• A list of questions you have for the vet
• Information on your cat’s diet
• Any medications or supplements your cat gets
• Veterinary records if your cat has been seen by another vet within the year

Conclusion:

So, now that you know what to expect at your cat’s annual vet visit, it should feel less overwhelming. With vaccinations and checkups, you can rest assured your kitty is healthy and safe. Remember to bring along any questions or concerns you have for the vet so they can address them. Ultimately, an annual vet visit will give you peace of mind when it comes to the health of your beloved cat!