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Wellness Exams
A wellness exam is the perfect time to discuss your cat’s daily habits, diet, and any problems you may have noticed. It is very important to have a veterinarian examine your cat at least once a year. At Northwood Animal
Hospital our animal hospital is a certified cat friendly practice, meaning that we have facilities and protocols that are specifically designed to cater to the special needs of cats.
Your vet will discuss the following topics with you:
At Northwood Animal Hospital we assess the body condition of the cat, and determine if he is the correct weight. A wellness exam also includes palpating the abdomen for organ size making sure that all is normal and checking for any lumps or bumps. We will also collect urine and blood samples for yearly labs. Preventative care is extremely important, along with vaccines, parasite control (fleas/ticks and heartworms) and deworming.
This is the time to bring up any issues you are not sure about. If you notice that your cat coughs a lot and you think it may be a hairball, mention this to your vet. Some cats are prone to asthma, a condition that can be diagnosed and treated to improve the quality of life for your cat.
Your vet will discuss the following topics with you:
- The appropriate food and weight for your cat
- Behavioral issues
- Daily water consumption
- Your cat’s stool production, or litterbox habits
- The amount of activity your cat gets daily
- Whether or not your cat is alert and content
This is the time to bring up any issues you are not sure about. If you notice that your cat coughs a lot and you think it may be a hairball, mention this to your vet. Some cats are prone to asthma, a condition that can be diagnosed and treated to improve the quality of life for your cat.
Vaccinations
The importance of vaccinations to the overall health and longevity of your cat cannot be understated. Cat vaccines are medically and scientifically proven to combat the incubation and transmission of crippling
and fatal feline diseases. Our veterinary staff is dedicated to educating people about the importance of cat vaccinations, including what cat vaccines are necessary, and when they should be scheduled.
It is important to note that our doctors don't follow a 'one size fits all' protocol for immunizations, but rather treat each patient as an individual and recommend the best possible protocols for that particular cat by looking at their risk factors such as age, overall health and lifestyle.
Recommended cat vaccines:
For more information on vaccinations, click here.
It is important to note that our doctors don't follow a 'one size fits all' protocol for immunizations, but rather treat each patient as an individual and recommend the best possible protocols for that particular cat by looking at their risk factors such as age, overall health and lifestyle.
Recommended cat vaccines:
- Panleukopenia
- Rhinotracheitis
- Calicivirus
- Bordetella
- Feline Leukemia
- Rabies
Kitten Care
There are many phases of a kitten's life and it is important to understand how your cat's needs will change as they grow. Proper kitten care also requires an examination from a cat friendly veterinarian, kitten
vaccinations, deworming and other forms of care that support development throughout the various phases of kittenhood. At Northwood Animal Hospital kitten care is one of our greatest joys. Our veterinary staff would be delighted to spend some time with you and your kitten ensuring that your relationship will be a healthy, happy and rewarding one for many years to come. Schedule your first kitten care appointment today!
Senior Care
The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends that senior cats be seen by a veterinarian every six months. Because cats age faster than people, that means almost two (kitty) years will pass between
visits. It is important to monitor elderly cats in between visits, because cats are very good at hiding symptoms of disease or illness. As cats age, illnesses become increasingly common. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that mature cats, senior cats, and geriatric cats will likely begin to develop one or more conditions that will significantly affect their quality of life.
A typical wellness visit for senior cats includes checking:
Additionally, wellness visits for senior cats can also include vaccinations, parasite prevention, and treatment for any specific conditions that your senior cat may be developing.
For tips n' tricks on how to better care for your mature or senior cat, click here.
A typical wellness visit for senior cats includes checking:
- Thorough review of habits and behaviors
- Weight and Body Condition
- Skin and Coat Quality
- Mouth, Gums and Teeth
- Ears and Eyes
- Thyroid Gland
- Heart and Circulatory System
- Lungs and Nose
- Abdomen
- Joints and Muscles
- Any condition changes since the last visit
For tips n' tricks on how to better care for your mature or senior cat, click here.
Parasite Control
Prevention is important because it stops a serious problem before it starts. Our veterinarians and support staff have extensive experience in both prevention and treatment, and we are here to help in every step
of the way.
Fleas and Ticks
Of all the pesky nuisances out there your cat might face, fleas and ticks are two of the most troublesome. For cats, fleas and ticks pose a variety of potential health issues, including:
A proactive approach to flea and tick prevention starts with a discussion about various factors that play a role in your pet's potential exposure to fleas and ticks. For example, if your cats are indoor/outdoor is a factor, as well as whether they are exposed to other animals that go outside (including pets of friends or family that may come over for a visit). Every year, our veterinarians review all available flea and tick products to ensure that our recommendations are as up to date as possible. Our considerations include safety, effectiveness and cost. Based on these factors we will work with you to customize a parasite prevention plan for your pets and family.
Heartworm
The importance of heartworm prevention for cats cannot be overstated. Once a cat has contracted heartworms, it cannot be cured. Therefore, preventive measures are absolutely necessary in order to keep your beloved feline friend healthy and safe. However, while we cannot defeat existing heartworm disease with medication, this isn't necessarily an indication that they will die soon. While sudden death is possible, it isn't common. The good news for cat owners and their feline friends is that reliable heartworm prevention for cats does already exist. Veterinarians strongly recommend that all cats receive monthly heartworm preventive medications in areas where mosquitoes are active all year round. Here in CA and because of our mosquito population, we highly recommend all cat owners adhere to this annual preventive medicine protocol.
We recommend scheduling an appointment to discuss heartworm prevention for cats with us before your cat contracts heartworm. If you witness any symptoms that might be indicative of cat heartworm disease, please contact us immediately to schedule an appointment. Our veterinary team will provide you and your feline friend with an effective cat heartworm prevention protocol.
Fleas and Ticks
Of all the pesky nuisances out there your cat might face, fleas and ticks are two of the most troublesome. For cats, fleas and ticks pose a variety of potential health issues, including:
- Skin irritation
- Itching
- Rashes & Skin Infections
- Transmission of disease and illness
- Suffering
Heartworm
The importance of heartworm prevention for cats cannot be overstated. Once a cat has contracted heartworms, it cannot be cured. Therefore, preventive measures are absolutely necessary in order to keep your beloved feline friend healthy and safe. However, while we cannot defeat existing heartworm disease with medication, this isn't necessarily an indication that they will die soon. While sudden death is possible, it isn't common. The good news for cat owners and their feline friends is that reliable heartworm prevention for cats does already exist. Veterinarians strongly recommend that all cats receive monthly heartworm preventive medications in areas where mosquitoes are active all year round. Here in CA and because of our mosquito population, we highly recommend all cat owners adhere to this annual preventive medicine protocol.
We recommend scheduling an appointment to discuss heartworm prevention for cats with us before your cat contracts heartworm. If you witness any symptoms that might be indicative of cat heartworm disease, please contact us immediately to schedule an appointment. Our veterinary team will provide you and your feline friend with an effective cat heartworm prevention protocol.
Nutritional Counseling
Feline nutrition is very important for general health. However, the plethora of dietary options, brands and formulas available to consumers can be confusing, when deciding which kind of cat food is best for your
feline friend’s health and wellness. At Northwood Animal Hospital, we take pride in providing our patients and their human caretakers with all the information necessary to help cat owners make educated decisions about all facets of feline nutrition, cat foods included. This is also why we work closely with a certified veterinary nutritionist at our practice. The overall balance of a cat’s diet is affected not only by the levels of each individual minerals, but also by the interactions between them. For this reason, we recommend consulting a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist about mineral amounts and balance when choosing cat food, or cat food supplementation.
Microchipping
At Northwood Animal Hospital, we understand that the bond you and your beloved feline friend share is invaluable and irreplaceable. We also understand that by nature, cats are roaming creatures and therefore
run the risk of wandering too far from home, or just accidentally losing their way. In fact, a staggering number of cats are lost in the shelter system each year because they lack any means to identify them with. This is why we are happy to offer cat microchip identification services.
Cat microchipping is considered very safe. A cat microchip is implanted through a syringe that injects it underneath the skin. Although there is no universally agreed upon location, a cat microchip is usually implanted between the shoulder blades. At approximately 12mm long, it is about the same size as a grain of rice. Implanting a cat microchip only takes a few seconds, and it is meant to last for the entirety of your cat's lifetime.
Click here to learn everything you should know about microchipping.
Cat microchipping is considered very safe. A cat microchip is implanted through a syringe that injects it underneath the skin. Although there is no universally agreed upon location, a cat microchip is usually implanted between the shoulder blades. At approximately 12mm long, it is about the same size as a grain of rice. Implanting a cat microchip only takes a few seconds, and it is meant to last for the entirety of your cat's lifetime.
Click here to learn everything you should know about microchipping.