Ensuring Proper Veterinary Care

This is a sponsored post by veterinarian Elizabeth Arguelles, owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. She writes weekly on Reston Now.

Does your cat see the vet often enough?

According to Banfield’s 2014 State of Pet Health, their 850 veterinary clinics across the country saw 2.3 million dogs and only 470,000 cats.  There are more cats than dogs in this country. So why aren’t cats getting veterinary care?

The Bayer Veterinary Usage Study, determined several reasons why cats don’t get the appropriate preventative care that they need.

• A poor understanding of the need to get routine examinations. Many cat owners do not understand that their cat must see the vet every year, even it doesn’t require annual vaccinations.
• The costs of veterinary care. Unfortunately, vet bills can be steep, especially when your feline friend is fighting a life-threatening illness. But this is truly a case in which an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Catching and treating an illness early thanks to an annual checkup can ultimately save you thousands in the long run.
• Many cats either do not like being transported to the vet in a carrier or going to the vet at all. The resulting aggressive behavior that cats can display makes many owners reluctant to take their cats unless it is absolutely necessary. In previous articles, we’ve covered some ways to make this process easier.

Despite these hurdles, cats do need veterinary care. Unlike other animals, cats excel at hiding their illnesses, and it is easy to overlook subtle signs.

For that reason, the American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends that a vet examine cats seven and younger once a year and cats older than eight every six months. During the routine physical examination the veterinarian often detects conditions that could affect your cat’s health in the long run, so that they can be managed or treated before they become a bigger problem. Obviously, cats with chronic illnesses need to see their vet more frequently.

As a member of your family, your cat deserves the best possible care. And as its guardian, it is up to you to make sure he or she gets it, so that your cat can live a long and healthy life.

For a more a more comprehensive description on how to care for your cat please visit:

Catvets.com

American Journal of Veterinary Medicine