Nice vet! We had similar lousy service with our previous cat's clinic and are glad to have better treatment for cats and humans with our new vet.
It must vary from vet to vet, but this is the general guideline I got from my vet for my two kittens(ages 8 month;9month). And yes, amen to having insurance for kittens before some problem comes up that will lead to exclusions from the policy!I'm not even sure what a "basic" blood panel is at this pointOh man, that's just sad.
I think blood panels are included more when they are older. Unless there are issues, I don't think they do it when they are younger. Although as someone stated, having a baseline blood work done is a good thing to do.
Kidney values can be elevated due to dehydration. But I would never argue with getting things rechecked. I know I would want it rechecked to be sure.
That's how the vet did it with Mook. As stressed as she was this was fast and didn't seem to make her uncomfortable.
Sara almost always has a near-empty bladder, so they use this with her almost every time. They call the one vet the Cysto King because he can get urine out of the emptiest bladders with one stick.
Lets hope that doesn't end up on his headstone
And hijacking a bit further...while you're having that wellness check, especially if you live in the South, have your cat heartworm checked, and started on heartworm medicine. Even indoor only. There's no such thing as an outdoor mosquito!
Oh good - this is exactly the kind of info I was looking for! Since I have to find a new vet, I wanted a list of diagnostic tests to inquire about - does anyone know the procedure to extract urine (cystocentesis) is at all painful for a cat? Just reading about online, all the articles I found say no that it's not painful - but just wondering if anyone here has had first-hand experience with that procedure on their cat and if it seemed to cause them any pain? I have 3 male cats, so I'm really conscious about urinary infections/blockages since I know that's the #1 emergency issue for boys!
It must vary from vet to vet, but this is the general guideline I got from my vet for my two kittens(ages 8 month;9month). And yes, amen to having insurance for kittens before some problem comes up that will lead to exclusions from the policy!
• Wellness screen: Cats 1-9 years of age need a wellness screen yearly. Our wellness screen is comprised of three tests: Complete Blood Count (CBC), minor chemistry panel, and urinalysis.
• Senior screen: All cats 10 years of age and older need a senior screen at least once yearly. Our senior screen is comprised of three tests: Complete Blood Count (CBC), full chemistry panel, and urinalysis.
What does this blood work tell us?
• Complete Blood Count (CBC): A CBC is the measure of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. This test helps us identify problems, such as infection, anemia, low platelet count, and bone marrow disease.
• Chemistry panel: The minor chemistry panel provides information on kidney and liver values, protein levels, and blood sugar. The major chemistry panel also includes those values, with additional information regarding liver values, electrolytes, calcium, and phosphorus.
• Urinalysis: This test looks a urine concentration, which along with kidney values, helps fully assess your cat's kidney function. We also look for signs of urinary tract infection and inflammation, as well as blood, crystals, and cancerous cells.
I'm sure Mook felt the needle but the vet was very proficient at the procedure and it took seconds.
Yeah, Sara's had it done several times, and she often has very little in her bladder. She has never seemed bothered because of it. She gets more upset over having her temperature taken.
My 10 month old I brush his teeth 2-3x a week. My almost 3 year old never because I didn't have him as a kitten and I only rescued him in August. I'm hoping to avoid most problems by providing a good diet. My kitten eats 100% raw since it's the only thing that has stopped chronic diarrhea. My 2 year old gets 3oz of canned food and I offer 1/3 cup of dry food.
I think "when" is a subjective thing. I don't think there is any set age. If you cat has something go wrong when he's 3 years old, then it will be 3 years old. You vet may not recommend any kind of blood work though until he's a senior. I think that just depends on the individual vets. Some have SOP they follow, especially if in a bigger practice. Others use their experience. I believe many use a combination of the two. I will admit though, I've been wondering about the "when" question, now that I have younger cats again. Last time we had young cats, I wasn't the one taking them to the vet.Good topic. I admit I'm a newbie to cat ownership so I'm not sure what my cat is supposed to get. I have one 10 month old and another almost 3 year old. My vet doesn't recommend anything special. Just a look over and fecal exams with vaccinations of course.
When should a cat get CBC, chemistry panel, urinalysis? Dental cleanings?? It's all confusing.
I have a high deductible insurance for my kitten, it's less than 15/month. I just got it so that I never have to make the decision of putting my cat to sleep because I can't afford the diagnostics or something. I should have gotten it earlier on since now he has a pre-existing condition. He doesn't have a lower right eyelid and his fur is rubbing on his eye.
I've had a couple of cats this past year with very complex issues; one of whom died from them, the other is trucking along even when things just keep coming up. Lucky was the one who died, and poor little Sara has just had so many issues crop up this last year. I should say, they were discovered this last year, some were probably already there.
