First yearly check-up... Advice?

Zissou is now a year old, and we have a vet appt on Monday. She is not due for any shots, so I don't need to worry about that. I think she might have earmites, and a couple other little issues I want to talk to him about, plus I wanted to start establishing a relationship with a vet here.

What questions do I ask? What kind of stuff should he do?

She's been to the vet numerous times, for shots, her spay, and a serious illness that went to the ER vet. But never just for a check-up. I'm kinda clueless.

Help!

Hmm, not sure, sounds like you have it pretty much covered, how about her teeth, does the vet check those?

I don't know where you live, but I found a great vet through a animal grooming shop...................they should know! I like to make sure they answer any questions you have and even the receptionist should be freindly, after all they represent the vet!

I always ask what shots are needed and when. Just to make sure that nothing is missed. It has gotten easier now that we've established a relationship to our vet and everyone knows the cats. Also, this is a good time for you to see how well the vet is willing to discuss any issues you have.

get your next 12 or 6 months of flea and worm treatment. get a blood test if you are suspect of an underlying problem. make sure they look in the ears not just have a peek at them. check the teeth and gums, eyes check the glands and lymph nodes. ask about weight and diet, coat. that should cover everything they might do a temp check but some vets don't do it unless the ears feel abnormal. oh and don't forget to get your vaccination stickers for your history file.

well when owners come in with their pets for "wellness" exams our vets do the whole run down. First they get cats history, age, what she eats, indoor/outdoor, any vomiting, diarrhea, etc. Then they check temp, pulse, breathing, lungs, glands, then they feel the belly to make sure everything feels right.

If you think she has mites have the vet take a sample, make a smear and look at it under a microscope. If she does have mites there usually is a coffee grind like substance in her ears. If the sample comes back positive for mites ask the vet if you could see them under the microscope, they are really interesting looking. As Ocicat mentioned do make sure to get your flea preventatives and if you use heartworm get that too.

Some of the vets i work with like to do bloodwork yearly on any age animals, (hard to convince owners to do so most of the time) just so they have a basis for what the animals bloodwork looks like over the years and catch problems early instead of to late.

GOOD LUCK at the vets! Try and make it fun for Zissou, it makes life so much easier for you, the vet, and the tech!!

I personally wouldnt get the flea or worm treatments from the vet, as both can be bought online without a prescription and are miles cheaper.

My vet recommends a fecal float on a yearly basis. You should bring a stool sample in a plastic yogurt cup--it saves time!

You have gotten good advice. The exam described by Footersownsme is what Abby normally gets. Bringing a stool sample is a very good idea. You can also ask if Zissou is at a good weight for her age/frame

I don't have anything else to add to what has all ready been mentioned... I just wanted to say good luck

Well, we have to walk about 3/4 mile to the vet, I don't know how happy she'll be about that! Or me, for that matter. I don't know if I can make it fun for her, although she loves being in her carrier and going out to see new places and people.

Should I groom her before going, like brush her coat and teeth, or leave her au naturel?

Do I need to take in a stool sample even if they haven't asked for one?

Is bloodwork expensive? I can't really afford to spend more than 80$ or so this trip, although since she's not due for any shots, I think I should be okay. It's not a disaster if it's more than that... just more credit card debt .

I feel like an idjit. I've never had pets before so I don't know what to expect for a routine check-up. Thank you all so much for the advice! I will be making a little list of things later on today, to take in with me.

Originally Posted by Zissou'sMom

Well, we have to walk about 3/4 mile to the vet, I don't know how happy she'll be about that! Or me, for that matter. I don't know if I can make it fun for her, although she loves being in her carrier and going out to see new places and people.

Should I groom her before going, like brush her coat and teeth, or leave her au naturel?

Do I need to take in a stool sample even if they haven't asked for one?

Is bloodwork expensive? I can't really afford to spend more than 80$ or so this trip, although since she's not due for any shots, I think I should be okay. It's not a disaster if it's more than that... just more credit card debt

.

I feel like an idjit. I've never had pets before so I don't know what to expect for a routine check-up. Thank you all so much for the advice! I will be making a little list of things later on today, to take in with me.

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Cats tend to shed when they get stressed out. I brush Dori before a trip to the vet to remove any loose fur, but by the time she is on the exam table she is shedding so much you would have never known that I brushed her. Your vet will be used to this, so I wouldn't worry
Having your vet do a blood panel can be a bit costly. My vet charges $80 for a full work up, Brody's new vet (keep in mind he is a dog) just charged me $170 for a work up on him... You can always discuss having a blood panel done when you are at your exam and then schedule it for a later date when you can afford it. If Zissou is healthy, it isnt dire that you have the blood work completed right away.
As far as a stool sample, I would call the office before you go and ask them if they would like you to bring one in. At Dori's exam the vet stuck a q-tip type thing in to get a sample from her... he was checking for worms.
As for the walk there, I know she will be with you, but maybe it would be a good idea to stick one of your t shirts in the carrier with her... your scent might help her feel safe. I think she will do fine though. Dori gets upset on the car ride to the vet. If you have Feliway spray that is a BIG help in keeping her calm as well.

My vet was very pleased that I brought in a stool sample without being asked. A fecal flotation can't be done with a Q tip, and it is the best exam for worms and other intestinal parasites.
I carried Gizmo 1/2 mile to the vet in a softside carrier and while she was not exactly happy about it, she behaved well and it was a pleasant walk for me.

Your furbaby will be fine. I always find such useful info on here....

Well, I just got back from the vet. I wasn't overly impressed... but he was alright. I'll go back for routine care, but if she gets an illness she's going to the university hospital.

Zissou did not like it. Not one bit. They have a "house cat" that came right over to make friends with Zissou, and she was not at all interested, and then was hissing and batting at me and the vet. I have never seen her act like that in my life. He handled her pretty well though. He didn't push flea meds or FeLeuk vaccine on me, which is good, and he did do a fecal after I said she had never had one done before. Glad I brought her poops. She gave them a nice fresh one right before we left.

Her heart and ears and eyes and breathing and fecal were all good, he didn't seem to do a very thorough job on her teeth but I know they're okay after brushing them yesterday.

He didn't weigh her though, which I was hoping he would do. But she wasn't being particularly cooperative. I was almost a little afraid to touch her.

She's fine now that we're home. A little stressed.

I'm glad you ad Zissou made out OK. I find it very strange they have a loose cat wandering around, and that he didn't weigh her

Yea, the random cat was weird. Her old vet (at the shelter) had a big very geriatric dog that just layed there, and Zissou was more curious than anything. This cat came right up to Zissou's carrier as soon as we walked in the door. Next time I go I'm going to ask that they put the cat somewhere else, because that's why she was so stressed and freaked out. She's been fine every other time I've gone to the vet.

not very impressed that they didn't weight her. how will they know if she's having health problems that have weight gain and loss symptoms? how will they know how to recommend a diet or do injections or prescriptions at any point. how will they know what size flea treatment to use or wormer?

My vet has two 'loose' house cats that stay well away from the clients.
And she always weighs the cat. I can't imagine why yours did not. My vet has a scale right on the examination counter, and it's an easy thing to get Gizmo onto it.

Glad to hear Zissou is doing well.

Oh, he had a scale and everything. He had the usual set-up on the counter, gloves, cotton swabs, scale, what have you. He just didn't use it. I was dying to know what she weighs. Plh.

Maybe if he needed to do any of those things (diet, meds, etc) he would have weighed her? She didn't get any flea meds or any meds really.