Voted Best Veterinary Clinic
Your cat cannot speak to tell you that its teeth hurt, nor can it confide that it has pain in its leg. Then, how can you ever know if it’s not okay?
Fortunately, such information can be determined during a physical examination of your cat at a pet vet clinic.
Checkups ensure that your cat is healthy, as a veterinarian can spot problems before they get out of hand and resolve them easily and with greater success.
Common discomforts like dental disease and heartworm can also be avoided through annual checkups at a pet vet clinic.
What Happens in An Annual Checkup?
In an annual checkup, a veterinarian examines your pet carefully and compares all the findings with those of the previous checkups. During the checkup, you can report anything unordinary you might have noticed such as coughing, loss of appetite, constipation or diarrhea.
A thorough physical examination normally starts by taking the weight and temperature of the cat. A visual inspection is also conducted; clear eyes, clean skin, and a shiny coat indicate good health. Poor diet can cause health problems and a vet might recommend changing nutrition or adding supplements that would solve the issue.
A stethoscope is also used by the veterinarian to listen for heart rhythm and clear lungs. If abnormalities are detected, further tests are warranted. If not, the veterinarian moves to the underside of palpating the kidneys, liver, stomach and other organs.
The veterinary physician also examines the mouth of the pet. Rooted or loose teeth, infection in gums and any other dental problem can cause discomfort to your cat without you being aware of it.
Once the vet is done with the examination, vaccinations, tick and flea treatments and heartworm prevention is discussed.
How Often Should Cats be Examined?
If your cat is under the age of twelve years, it can have a checkup once a year unless there is an underlying issue that would require an immediate visit to a vet.
However, if your cat is older than twelve, you should take her to a pet vet clinic after every six months as older cats are more susceptible to health problems. Cats older than twelve years are prone to thyroid disease, kidney disease, diabetes, dental issues, infections and other health issues.
Benefits of an Annual Exam
Some benefits of an annual examination at a pet vet clinic are:
• They provide a detailed evaluation of your cat so that all the health issues can be detected and treated before they get out of hand.
• Annual checkups can lengthen the life expectancy of your cat as it’ll be kept free of diseases.
• The veterinarian can detect chronic conditions and treat them immediately, which otherwise could prove fatal for your cat.
Schedule an Appointment
If you cat’s annual checkup is due, take it to premier Stillwater vet clinic “Rivertown Animal Hospital”. Rivertown Animal Hospital is Gold-Certified Cat-Friendly Practice and their veterinary physicians are trained in feline behavior and medicine.
Call (651) 430-2229 today to schedule an appointment for your cat’s annual checkup at a Stillwater vet clinic.