Feline Preventative Care

An annual physical examination is the best way to ensure continued good health for your cat. It provides an opportunity to detect and prevent potential health problems. During the annual physical exam, your veterinarian will assess the overall health of your cat. This evaluation may include laboratory testing and other diagnostic workups. Your veterinarian will speak with you about preventive healthcare measures for your cat, such as vaccination, parasite control, proper nutrition and dental care.

Your cat may be exposed to many diseases during its lifetime. Some of these diseases may be caused by bacteria, viruses or parasites. Many are preventable, while some others can be treated or controlled. Routine examinations, vaccination and regular use of preventive medicine and flea and tick control may help keep your cat healthy and free of disease.

Feline Panleukopenia

This very contagious, dangerous disease primarily affects the gastrointestinal system, causing fever, loss of appetite, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, hypothermia, and, all too often, death. Feline panleukopenia, caused by parvovirus, affects cats and kittens, though mortality is higher in younger cats. Cats become infected when they ingest the contaminated feces of an infected cat, either directly or indirectly.

Feline Calicivirus

Feline calicivirus (FCV) can be responsible for chronic upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) in cats. This virus can spread either indirectly, by contaminated litter boxes and food/water bowls, or directly, through contact with infected fluids such as saliva, nasal secretions, and eye discharge. FCV (feline calicivirus) infection typically presents with a runny nose and moderate sneezing, but the presence of other viruses and bacteria can increase its severity. Painful oral lesions are also a common symptom seen with calicivirus infection.

Feline Leukemia

This virus is one of the most important causes of illness and death among cats, and is especially dangerous to young cats. It can cause cancer (lymphoma and leukemia) in infected cats, and contributes to other infectious diseases by suppressing the immune system and infecting the bone marrow.

Feline Rabies

Our hospital uses the Merial PUREVAX® feline annual rabies vaccine to protect cats against the rabies virus. This vaccine is approved and safe to give to cats as young as 12 weeks of age. Rabies virus is a fatal infection typically transmitted through bite wounds, open cuts in the skin or onto mucus membranes (i.e. saliva). There is no treatment available once your cat is infected with rabies. This virus has very real and serious human and pet implications.

HomeAgain Microchip

Microchipping your pet is recommended using the patended Bio Bond anti-migration chip by HomeAgain. This chip provides your pet with a unique identification number via a microchip permanently stored beneath your pets skin. This identification number is then saved in our national database. This increases the chances that your pet will be returned to you if he is lost and loses his collar and tags. www.homeagain.com