Senior Panel...

So I have scheduled an appointment for Sami and Parker to go to the vet on the 24th. I requested a senior panel done for Sami since she never had one and they told me, "She will only have one done if the vet thinks she should". At 17, shouldn't it be done without question? Is this normal? I am normally very content with my vets decisions, but isn't this odd?

I don't know. I've had a couple of vets want to do one every 6 months when things seem fine. I had another vet tell me to leave well enough alone and when things start to go downhill, then do when because that's when you need to know what's going on. I'm always so torn because it's just so darn expensive! Part of me thinks it's a money-making venture for the vet. Part of me can see the need since kitties can deteriorate quickly. Should it be routine? Maybe. You can always request one if it's not standard.

Definitely ask your vet for one. 17 years is really old, and I would think it would be standard procedure for any cat that age. That's very strange that a vet wouldn't want to see what age-related problems might be creeping up.

Basically your vets policy is the same as a doctor giving a 90 year old man a sport's physical instead of the hours of tests a 90 year old would need.

Your Sami is a blessed cat to be seventeen and never had a senior blood panel. I would insist. Is she having any health issues that you are aware of?

At 17 she should have a senior panel done so it would be a good idea to request/insist one. Cost can be expensive but its worth (IMO) the worry of not knowing.

With my senior cats I have it done every year. My vets actually thinks it is a good idea and they try their best to give us a break on the cost whenever they can (we have 2 seniors 17 and 10 and two older adults both around 5 and 6.5 years). I also had a baseline done on our adult cats as well for future reference.

I would be seeking a different vet ...

I have had the gamut of ideas on how often .. for a senior and for a senior with issues

Example
My RB crf kitty- One vet every 12 weeks wanted blood done, one every 6-8 weeks, one every 6 months and the other every 6 months or if something was happening

for general senior every 6-12 months... As if you at least do it yearly you are more likely to catch things in the TREATABLE and or Curable stage... But at 17 your kitty is Geriatric not senior(8-14) thus every 6 months is a wiser choice

She had a basic check up last year and the vet said aside from needing a teeth cleaning, she is in amazingly good health. I mean, she doesn't groom herself much anymore, she sleeps at least 22 hours a day but she eats all her food, has no potty issues and is still her snobby self. Her only recent issue was with her eye but even that seems to have passed.

I'm pretty sure she has arthritis as she gets really grumpy when its time to trim her nails and her legs are touched, but then again, she was never big on being held anyway.

The main reason why I do not want to switch vets is because mine is like, the cheapest vet in the world. Parker was very ill last year and required a blood test and some other stuff, my entire vet visit was under 100 dollars. I mean, if it wasn't for her he wouldn't have lived. Literally. All other vets charge like $50 + just for an exam. There is no way I can afford it.

There is 2 vets where I go, a man and a woman (she owns the place). She is more willing to do things, especially upon request. The guy just kinda rushes things along and doesn't seem as interested. HOPEFULLY I get her instead of him...but I do think the issue should be pushed. Sami is ancient at this point. God love her.

When you get there, ask the reasoning - though I'm guessing the vet will want to do one, and this is just some standard front desk response?

We just had to take Lazlo to the vet. He's 8 - just technically turned a Senior. He had his sr. panel done at his annual in May. He's recently had a problem with vomiting, and we took him to the vet. She suggested blood work, because, as she put it, eight months in a cat is like five years in a person.

At 17, even though she had a great check-up last year, it's an important diagnostic tool.

At 17 I'd bring up the subject of a senior panel with the vet. See if it's something that needs to be done?

I would insist on it - you are the client, you are paying the bill, so I dont see why they would refuse something as simple as a blood test - fair enough if you wanted something expensive/hard on the cat and it wasn't in their best interests, but bloods can be so important. On the arthritis front, have you tried her on any glucosamine supplements?

Good luck, and I hope you get a clean bill of health.

No. She is not on any supplements/medications. However, it will be brought up to the vet when we go. Wanna make sure her last days are spent as comfortable as possible. Although, I am starting to think she's gonna outlive me.

Originally Posted by LDG

At 17, even though she had a great check-up last year, it's an important diagnostic tool.

Click to expand...

It sure is. You can get a great deal of information from blood work.