Caring For Your Senior Cat
Mosts cats are classified as seniors when they reach age seven. As cats age, they become more prone to age-related health problems, such as:
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Arthritis
- Kidney and liver dysfunction
- Thyroid problems
- Parasites
- Hypertension
- Weight management
We want to help you minimize the risk of health complications with rigorous preventive care. It is now more important than ever that you bring your cat in for a wellness exam every year. Wellness exams help us catch medical concerns in their early stages, when they are easiest and least expensive to treat. We may also recommend annual blood work, urinalysis, and intestinal parasite screening. These tests catch diseases that a physical exam alone cannot detect.
Bloodwork
Physical exams are important, but they cannot always identify underlying conditions. Cat blood work is used to assess organ function, electrolyte status, hormone levels, and features of the blood, such as red and white blood cell count. The results are used to detect signs of disease. Sometimes additional testing is needed to make an accurate diagnosis.
Urinalysis
Urinalysis is a test of your cat’s urine used to evaluate kidney and urinary system health. It can also reveal problems in other organs and aid in diagnosing metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
Intestinal Parasite Screening
Cats often do not show signs of intestinal parasite infection, making prevention critical. Intestinal parasite screening involves examining a sample of your cat’s feces for the presence of hookworms, roundworms, whipworms, and other parasites. These nasty parasites can be fatal, making it extremely important to have your cat tested regularly.
