Page 11 - Palm City Spotlight - September '19

Palm City Spotlight, Page 11

tip of the tail

Importance Of Feline more obvious. As cats age, they are commonly affected

Wellness Exams by hyperthyroidism, kidney disease, diabetes and even
cancer. A physical exam allows the veterinarian to observe
your cat’s behavior, overall condition of its skin and coat,
All too often in the veterinary clinic, we only see cats and monitor its weight. Change in these subtle things that
when they are very sick. Many owners do not recognize may not seem significant at home can help vets identify
the importance of bringing their feline companions in for some health conditions early. Yearly screening blood work
yearly visits whether they appear healthy or not. There are is critical, especially in adult cats. Detection of kidney
many common cat diseases that can easily be detected and or liver disease before your pet begins to show clinical
treated, but this is only possible if cats are brought in to their signs can greatly slow the progression of disease, prevent
veterinarian for routine preventative care. Cats age much suffering, and ultimately extend their life. Blood work
more rapidly than humans. One cat year equals about four helps us to determine overall health and allows us to
to five human years. A great deal can change in that span of take preventative measures to keep your feline happy and
time so it is so important to keep up with yearly care. healthy. Monitoring your cat’s weight is also extremely
Cats are very good at hiding the fact that they are important. Weight gain or loss can be an indication that Cats are commonly affected by dental disease. Dogs are
sick, whereas clinical signs in dogs are often much there is something else going on with your furry friend. always panting and playing and are often amenable to owners
looking in their mouths. Most cats will not allow their owner
to look at their teeth at home, so it is necessary to have your
veterinarian perform an oral exam yearly and determine if
your cat needs a dental cleaning. Some problems unique
to cats include stomatitis (painful inflammation of the oral
tissues) and resorptive lesions. Resorptive lesions occur when
the body attacks the surface of the tooth causing cavities
which erode into the pulp and can be extremely painful.
Early detection of these lesions and possible extraction of
the affected teeth can save your cat a great deal of pain and
potential weight loss and other oral problems.
Kidney disease is unfortunately extremely common in
older cats. Early kidney disease is accompanied by hardly
any clinical signs. As the disease progresses, the signs
that develop are subtle and include increased drinking and
urination, weight loss, unkempt coat, and hiding. Owners
often do not detect these signs due to their slow onset
and seemingly insignificant nature. With an appointment,
through questioning and a good exam, your veterinarian can
detect these subtle changes. Blood work and urinalysis are
able to detect kidney disease often before any of these signs
become apparent. This allows us to intervene and slow the
progression of this unfortunate disease which is critical.
Once kidney disease has progressed to its late stages we
are very, very limited in our options for treatment.
Our feline companions are resilient, stoic, and tend to
keep to themselves much of the time, which makes it even
more important for them to see their veterinarian yearly
than any other species. Even if your pet appears healthy
at home, veterinarians are often able to detect subtle, less
obvious signs of illness which will help to keep your best
friend happy and healthy for years to come.
Established in 1981, Palm City Animal Medical
Center is dedicated to providing the best possible care
for your pets. With focuses on compassionate care in
surgery, physical therapy and rehabilitation, preventative
medicine, extensive diagnostics, and emergency service,
Palm City Animal Medical Center combines exceptional
medical care with a caring philosophy for pets and their
owners. For more information, call (772) 283-0920, visit
www.palmcityanimalmedicalcenter.com or find us on
Facebook at www.facebook.com/PalmCityAnimalClinic.

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