The national trend in veterinary medicine is for less cat visits, while dog visits are the same or up. Why the change? Most authorities cite the economy, a lack of understanding why they need to be seen, the difficulty of getting the cat into the carrier and then to the vet, the stress associated with that visit in a strange place, and just plain lack of time. What's the answer to this trend, I consider home visits the best answer, though others are working on newer ways to ease the stress of your pets also. Both can be used to ease the visit, and to get puss-in-boots their annual check-up.
First, let's hit on why the annual exam. With a solid history in the making, your cat's weight trends, health issues past and present, and some future risks can be assessed. What do I mean? A slowly increasing weight over the years suggests a need for less food, more exercise, and maybe even a change to a senior diet to keep weight associated diseases lower (diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, etc). Coat changes can point to internal parasites, external parasites, lack of proper nutrition, chemical imbalances, stress/behavioral issues, and mouth problems. A good palpation can find masses on, and sometimes in, the body. Eye changes can point to chemical imbalances, high blood pressure, or infections. This isn't an exhaustive list, just a suggestion of all the things we try to rule out when examining your pet, young or old.
At the same time as the exam we can recommend needed maintenance issues. Brushing the coat more, adding supplements or changing foods to balance the chemistries, checking the teeth for cleaning or extractions (cats get a nasty form of cavity that breaks off the teeth straight across), nail trims, etc. Vaccines are still recommended, just on a case-by-case basis, and on a longer cycle than previously. The rabies is still the only officially required vaccine, but the upper respiratory is recommended for most, and the FeLV is recommended for outdoor and multi-cat households. FeLV/FIV testing is a very good idea if your cat gets out on a semi-regular habit, or if any wounds have been inflicted by a "stranger" cat. If you live in a high musquito area the heartworm preventive is strongly recommended, since the tests for feline heartworm aren't quite as accurate as the dog and the treatment can be as dangerous to cats as the disease. Dewormings on a regular basis (monthly for tapeworms if your cat hunts) are a protection to your cat and your children. Topicals to ward off fleas and ticks are a great idea in some areas, especially if you have lots of rodents(fleas) or wildlife (ticks).
So, what can be done to make it easier on the feline population to be seen by their veterinarian? I suggest home visits, obviously, since I'm a mobile vet. however, getting the cat used to the carrier by leaving it out, using it for feeding and catnip breaks, adding vanilla and other calming scents around the area, and keeping your own stress down about the visit (yes they are that attuned to your vibes) can help. The American Association of Feline Practitioners has a full paper on how to calm the kitties so they get seen. I always found that just taking them around in the care when they were younger helped the most. My older cats took a while to adjust to this arrangement (taking them on short jaunts to nowhere and then back home), but even they got the hang of it over time. I usually started with accomodating them to the carrier over a period of time (2-3 weeks or longer), then to the car (same thing), and then to the car running, and then moving. Each step can take time depending on the cat. The newest kitten never took any time at all, she liked the warm purr the car made and fell asleep immediately (score!).
As you can see, there are lots of things that can be addressed at an annual exam, on top of any new problems or issues you may bring up while there, so it is a worthwhile endeavor to go at least once a year (new quidelines recommend twice). Watching your pet for subtle changes such as increased drinking, increased urination, decreased appetite, lack of activity, hiding, aggression, and etc may find a disease long before it turns serious. This can allow for diagnostics to find the disease early and lead to longevity and health. Dental disease treated early can lead to a happier and less smelly pet, not to mention the health benefits. Make an appointment with your veterinarian sooner rather than later, and make your companion a well taken care of pet. For the mobile services I provide - 303-279-2322. The office visit includes the trip fee for the month of July. Multi-animal discounts apply, as well as senior discounts.
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