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Domestic Cat - Specific Wellness Program |
Dental Conditions
Dental Disease
About the condition:
- Dental disease is caused by soft plaque turning to rough tartar, irritating the gums, and causing them to be inflamed (gingivitis). This condition can lead to periodontal disease, an infection within the mouth, which can spread to the rest of the body leading to more serious problems.
- If this condition is left untreated, it may lead to tooth decay, lack of appetite due to pain in the mouth, heart disease, liver disease, chronic renal failure, and many other problems.
How to detect this condition:
- The early signs of dental disease are bad breath, reddened gums, and soft plaque on the teeth. Later signs include inflamed and, often, bleeding gums and rough tarter on the teeth.
Endocrine Conditions
Diabetes Mellitus
About the condition:
- Diabetes occurs when there is a deficiency in the production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas. Insulin facilitates the entry of blood glucose to tissue cells.
How to detect this condition:
- Symptoms of this disease are often noticed by owners when their pets seem to be drinking and urinating more than usual.
- Wellness bloodwork will detect increased glucose levels.
- Obesity is a high risk factor for diabetes.
Hyperthyroidism
About the condition:
- A problem in which the body secretes an excess of thyroid hormone. This can lead to weight loss, an increase in appetite, and a change in the coat among others.
How to detect this condition:
- A blood test can determine whether your pet is within the normal range of thyroid hormone.
Renal and Urinary Conditions
Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)
About the condition:
- A urinary tract infection may be due to an abnormal amount of bacteria or types of crystals within the bladder or urinary tract. This usually causes inflammation and pain.
How to detect this condition:
- Urinating outside of the litterbox is the most common sign that your cat may have a bladder infection.
- If this happens, a urinalysis is recommended. This is a chemical, microscopic analysis, and culture of your pet's urine. All that is required is a urine sample.
- If you notice that your cat is not urinating at all, they should be seen immediately.
Chronic Renal Failure (CRF)
About the condition:
- Chronic renal failure is caused by the loss of functional renal (kidney) tissue. It is a progressive disease, but if caught early enough, can be treated to prolong life expectancy.
How to detect this condition:
- The signs of CRF are usually increased urination, increased drinking, and occasional vomiting.
- Wellness bloodwork will help detect early any irregularities in kidney function. Treatment can be started before it becomes a major concern.
- A urinalysis is also recommended along with bloodwork to verify the kidney's ability to concentrate urine.
This list is not intended to cover all possible diseases and/or conditions found in Domestic Cats, but instead lists those that we have found to be most common at Hillside Animal Hospital. Please let us know if you have further questions regarding these or any other conditions.
Wellness Recommendations
We recommend six month wellness exams for the life of your pet since they age so much faster than humans do. Frequent visits allow us to discuss recent changes, detect potential problems, tailor diagnostic recommendations, and initiate therapy that will benefit your pet long term.
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Your Pet’s Age in Years
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Domestic Shorthair
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78
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Numbers within the chart are your pet's age in human years
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Juvenile
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Adult
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Senior
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A series of wellness consultations and vaccines are required as a puppy develops. Problems can be addressed early based on a breed's disposition. Early findings may dictate the path of future wellness.
The primary wellness consultation is scheduled for routine vaccines, the first line of prevention. The second wellness consultation is meant for vaccine boosters and basic wellness blood work. Wellness blood work is essential in early detection and treatment of medical conditions. Each consultation allows us to spend time with you to discuss any changes that may have occurred as your pet ages and make recommendations accordingly. Factors such as size, sex, age, lifestyle, and breed will dictate a patient's recommendations. Radiographs may be recommended for some patients as baseline evaluations for future comparisons.
Adult wellness blood work includes a basic chemistry (8), a complete blood count, and a heartworm test. We recommend evaluating wellness blood work annually for the lifetime of the pet.
With senior patients, each wellness consultation is for routine vaccines and boosters, along with a physical examination. Changes for seniors can be subtle, so maintaining a healthy senior pet requires an owner's observations along with twice a year physical examinations to evaluate these changes. The doctors recommend annual comprehensive wellness blood work and urinalysis for all of our seniors. Doctors rely on blood and urine tests to provide important information about a pet's health to determine appropriate therapy. Radiographs may also be recommended as these changes occur to again ensure appropriate therapy.
Senior wellness blood work includes a comprehensive chemistry (25), a complete blood count, thyroid hormone level, urinalysis, and a heartworm test. Depending on medications, some prescriptions require frequent blood monitoring in addition to routine wellness.
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FAX: 480-551-1738
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