Oliver's first appt.

I need your help on a  couple things. 

First, we have an appt for Saturday morning to take Ollie. Our biggest concern being that he potentially has worms. 

The vet we're seeing is known to push unnecessary tests and treatments on unsuspecting clientele. BUT she's a trusted and smart vet. I rather see her than one of the other vets they have there who kind of sugarcoats things and goes about awkwardly on other things. 

 Tell me WHY I don't want to vaccinte my cat. I know I don't want to, and I've read articles before about it but none of it retained. I cannot simply tell the vet in an uninformed manner that "I don't want vaccines".. He's an indoor cat now. Anything he may have contracted outdoors a month ago is past it's pro-active date.. If he has anything we will have to re-act to it. 

  Are x-rays and other expensive tests a part of testing for feline leukenia? I want to make sure he's not got that virus mostly bc of his history of being outside. His third eyelids indicate that something isn't right so I want to make sure. 

  His tummy is gettig bigger and I cannot tell if it's because of his food (free fed) or because of worms or something else. I'm paranoid. 

 So what do you guys think might happen at the vet? What should I be prepared for when visiting the vet for the frst time with Oliver?

  Thanks in advance!

Cat Health Care ABC tells you what to expect from and how to prepare for a first vet visit. Testing for feline leukemia means an inexpensive blood test, not x-rays. Depending on where you live, a rabies vaccination may be mandatory for both indoor and outdoor cats, so that's something you should ask about. Worms are a distinct possibility if he was outdoors, and even indoor cats can get them, so taking a fecal sample is a good idea. Luckily, deworming is usually a simple matter.

 Thank you!! That puts me at ease. I think, unfortunately, that blood samples are expensive. I think it cost me like 80$ or more for my dog and at my bunny vet once it cost me like 30$ to extract and 75$ to send away Nothing I can do about it now, he's going to the vet whether or not. I'll look at that link ! Thanks

If your guy is a kitten, I would definitely get the kitten shots and rabies.  Then in subsequent years skip them.  You'll need a fecal to test for most worms, but tapeworms won't show on a fecal.  Other than that, you shouldn't need any blood work or anything.

 He's an adult. I think about 2 yrs or so (is there a way to tell?)  Rabies shots are only required for dogs here where I live so I'll skip those.. I'm glad I asked!! So I'll need a fecal sample. When I told the receptionist I wanted to test for worms she didn't mention poop! I'll call tomorrow to tell them I'm bringing poop in ^.^ How do I collect it? Can I just clean the box tomorrow morning and take some out? We use yesterday's news paper litter. 

Honestly, for a new cat I would do the Panleuk combo and rabies vaccines this time. After this you can skip the vaccines if you want to, but I think they should have at least one vaccine in their lives, and you don't know if he's been vaccinated before (although if he's neutered he was probably vaccinated as well). Not vaccinating at all is risky, but there is good evidence that the core vaccines give lifetime immunity. Also, if there is ever an "incident" and someone says that he bit or scratched them, if he's not current on rabies vaccine he would probably be put down. So be sure to consider that when making your decision.

For a first-time visit, I would run a FeLV test (my vet only charges $30 for that but I suppose it depends on the vet. It's a SNAP test like a dog heartworm test, so they don't have to send the blood out), do the vaccines and a de-worming. He should be de-wormed again in 3 weeks so ask the vet if you can grab that dose while you're there, to avoid having to come back for it. Ask for Drontal so it'll take care of every type of worm. I don't bother running a fecal, I just ask for the de-wormer--especially with kittens and former strays; they almost certainly have worms, might as well just treat for them. If he's not neutered I'd make the appointment while I was there.

Thank you I wrote down what you siad so I can have everything looked at tomorrow! I'm a little nervous actually! I always get nervous when I make vet appts! I trust I won't be ripped off here at this vet but I was once charged random fee's for "behaviour consultation" with my dog. That lady was a Kook anyway, playing Cesar Milan and profiting off it :/

  So if he's been vaccinated (bc his old owner had him neutered) is there a way to tell? 

  As for the distemper vaccine, he's bitten and scratched US!!!! Broke my skin with his nails, across my wrist veins so I looked emo for a few days.. I'll be sure to talk tot he vet tomorrow about that too. Is there such thing as too many vaccines for a cat at one time? I really don't want to see him have a reaction to these things. I honestly thought most cats were allergic to vaccines. I don't know where I heard it but I still don't like the idea of pumping him with all kinds of things at once! 

  As of today at like 8 am I confirmed with the vet that I do not need to bring a stool sample She told me they'll just give me the dewormer ^.^ 

  I'll update tomorrow on the vet visit! Thanks for your help!

"Distemper" has nothing to do with his temper, LOL. It's just what feline panleukopenia is commonly called. It's a very nasty disease and worth preventing. You could have titers run to see if he has sufficient antibodies to the common diseases, but this costs considerably more than the vaccinations so I don't know if that's in your budget. Cats aren't usually allergic to vaccines, but overvaccinating (like vaccinating every year for 5-10 years) can cause health issues and cancer. Generally speaking, getting the kitten vaccines and a booster when he's 1 or 2 years old should be reasonably safe.

It is better to space out the vaccines if possible, but that would require another vet visit. I have never had trouble giving the distemper and rabies vaccines at the same time, but don't let the vet give every available vaccine. If he won't be going outside, he won't need the FeLV vaccine or the FIV vaccine (which isn't recommended anyway). So ONLY the distemper and rabies vaccines, no others. The rabies vaccine is available in a safer version, called PureVax. You can ask if your vet offers that one.

Thanks again! ^.^ I thought distemper was temperment related   Silly me!!

 ok, so I will only get * vaccines for distemper and rabies (purevax)

                              *  Drontel dewormer

                              *  Panleuk test for both feline leukemia and FIV

**That brings me to my next question.. My sister brought me over my holsitic blend Natural Wormer >> http://www.petacular.com/natural-wormer-holistic-888-prd1.html  (the holistic blend website is down) and I was wondering if it would be okay to start them on Oliver today  and not get anything at the vet? Or should I not use them at all? (They worked very well on my dog!!)  OR is it okay to combine the 2 treatments? 

OllieOxenfree said:

**That brings me to my next question.. My sister brought me over my holsitic blend Natural Wormer >> http://www.petacular.com/natural-wormer-holistic-888-prd1.html  (the holistic blend website is down) and I was wondering if it would be okay to start them on Oliver today  and not get anything at the vet? Or should I not use them at all? (They worked very well on my dog!!)  OR is it okay to combine the 2 treatments? 

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I highly recommend NOT using that Natural Wormer on a cat. Lots of products that are fine for dogs or people are not safe for cats (despite what it might say on the bottle), and this one falls into that category. It has garlic powder, which can cause Heinz Body anemia, and wormwood is way too harsh on a cat's digestive system. It's much safer (and more reliable) to go with a product from the vet. 

 wow, thanks! I had no idea!! I'll give it back to my sister then for the foster dogs she gets in ^.^

 Fel. Leukemia and FIV NEGATIVE!!!  Im so relieved to hear that ^.^

 The "blood" on the toilet is likely from his full anal glands- so they were emptied. Since he is neutered and still went outside the vet thinks it was his way of marking his territory. And since it's ONLY present in the bathroom on the tank of the toilet where he sits looking out the window it makes perfect sense That's a relief too! 

 We have Milbemax dewormers- I forgot the paper I had everything written on and nearly forgot my wallet too but I think it should be fine  

  Nothing on the vaccines. What we got done cost us a lot more than we expected so that will have to wait as it is not an immediate concern of mine. The Leuk/FIV test alone cost us 100$. 

Glad to hear Oliver's doing well! But a hundred dollars for a SNAP test? *YIKES!!*

AC

Yep. Unfortunately. My invoice reads: 1 feline lieuk/fiv test = 79.00 then 1 blood collection.disposal fee= 19.00.. o>O 20$ to take a bit of blood then throw it out!! That's absurd. You can't even do anything.  The vet is the best dog/cat vet in our city and is the only AAHA accredited vet on the island.

Yep. Unfortunately. My invoice reads: 1 feline lieuk/fiv test = 79.00

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Etc.....

I have an invoice from March 23 1995. FIV/FeLV 40.00

Unfortunately for all of us, the 79.00 you just had to pay reflects how prices have gone up in the last few years.

Considering what we were paying in the '90s and even in the early 2000s, it's no exaggeration that veterinary medicine has become incredibly expensive.

I can't tell you how happy I am for you that the results of the FIV and FeLV tests were negative.  This is great news, reason to celebrate.

Thank you for taking your new love bug/fur ball to the vets.  It can be expensive.  I have pet insurance, but it doesn't cover routine office visits.  It did cover Ritz' UTIs (two of them in four months).

I wanted to get a SNAP (FELK/FIV) test for a stray/dumped/feral cat we were considering re-trapping and socializing to place into a Forever Home.  The humane society recommended a vet who deals with feral cats; he wanted $100. 

I took the cat to a cat sanctuary; they charged $26 (I gave them $50).

The going rate for spay/neutering is any where from $300 to $800 depending on the vet.  I TNR the cats in my community cat colony through Alley Rescue Cat for $50 each.

PetCo/PetSmart sponsors low cost vaccinations (rabies is required where I live) for around $25.

I priced wholesale FeLV/FIV SNAP tests. They're about $20 each. I know vets have high overhead, but a 400% markup seems excessive. Oh, well, at least he's healthy .

I guess we knew going into it that we'd be out a couple hundred- me and the man split the bill.. Even still- I know it's important to have him checked out. I'm actually thrilled that he is okay an healthy! He's our little guy ^.^ The worms now.. I'm wondering when they'll be dead. He had his first pill and gets another in 3 weeks. In that time should the numbers go down? I'm wondering because he has gas sometimes which is really bad (this morning for instance when I had to remove him from the bunny condo) I think his poops are taking a more solid, darker colored turn which is great!

  @Ritz, that's really great work you do! Bless you for eternity Before we learned of Oliver's abandonment I was in contact with a lady who did the same. She was having a stray neutered and then looking for a home for him. I was lined up and 'approved' but then I learned of Oliver's plight. I let my friend know of the one getting neutered and now she got him! It's a good feeling to do rescue work I'm sure. You're a kitty angel

  The mark-up on veterinary things is preponderous. My cousin actually used to work at the this vet that I take Ollie to and she was saying the staff parties and christmas meals were all top-notch. One year they ate at the fanciest, 5 star classy restaurants where she said her meal alone cost like 70$.. All that was paid for by the vet. That discusts me beyond reason. It really does. That some people go without medical care for their pets, that some surrender their pet to the vets just so they get medical care or those that after saving for the vet then do without for a while.. (the latter is my category) It really needs to be regulated by someone like health care for humans. I only once looked into pet insurance when I had 2 rabbits and 1 dog. Since my dog at that time was well over the age they will cover I couldn't sign him up.. Nor would they insure rabbits. I put more money, stress, tears and time into my mini-rex one summer than most people would in a lifetime. Therefore, I felt maybe some sort of abandonment from these insurance companies who in my eyes are supremely closed minded. If I'm not mistaken they also pick and choose which breeds of dog to cover better than others? I know that goes for the breed specific disease but I still don't like the idea. I know once they're needed they can be life saving bc an unexpected surgery can be lethal to the emotions. But I wonder what kind of payout it's worth. They don't test for feL/FIV?? To me, what's the point? On a new cat that needs to be tested. 

  I know the vets are higher priced here bc of the competition. There's a couple vets in the city then sparsely throughout the outports but it remains that once you find a vet you're more likely to stick with them. On an isolated island in the middle of the Atlantic there's really nowhere else to take your pets so they can charge you up the behind for whatever they want. And there's little regulation on pricing. I could never dispute the +100$ charge on the vet who played cesar milan on my dog who then nearly refused medication bc his pain was "psychological".. I will never go there again and I will tell people not to go there to see her but I will never see that money again to put to something worthwhile. I can go on all day about the vets here. I really can. Once I'm done school I'm moving off this god forsaken island. I'm getting more sick of it everyday.