Cat HealthTips
Texas Veterinary Hospitals takes our mission to improve our patient’s quality and quantity of life seriously. We believe that to do this, it is our responsibility to educate their human owners on all health topics that can possibly benefit their animal companions. We have found at TVH that if you take care of the following three areas you successfully practice good preventative medicine for the pet, these are the same areas that affect the quality of your life as well as your pets.
- Diet: Feed Quality food
- Dental Care: Ensure good oral health
- Yearly Comprehensive Physical Exam (with a 6 month check up in between)
You will find professional team members at all our Hospitals dedicated to educating you on issues you have concerns about. We carry only medical products that we have researched and have faith in.
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Healthy Teeth = Happy Pets Dental disease is as serious in cats as it is in humans and is the most common health problem for cats. By the age of 3, approximately 75% of cats have developed periodontal disease. Oral disease begins when plaque, a soft film containing bacteria, forms on your pet's teeth. If not removed, the plaque will harden into tarter. This tarter builds up below the gum line, causing inflammation of the gum tissue (gingivitis) and gradually worsens into tooth decay and loss. The bacteria left untreated often spread through the bloodstream and cause disease of the Heart, Liver and Kidney. The best part about oral disease is that is completely preventable and treatable!! Regular exams and teeth cleanings followed up by some good routine home care will dramatically improve your pet’s life.
Signs of oral disease: Inappetence, eating without chewing food, weight loss, bad breath.
At TVH we give all patients a free oral exam to determine their grade of disease.
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Did you know...
| Snack fed to a 10 lb cat |
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Human Equivalent |
| 1 Potato Chip |
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1/2 Hamburger or 1/2 Chocolate Bar |
| 1 oz Cheddar Cheese |
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3 1/2 Hamburgers or 4 Chocolate Bars |
| 1 Cup of Milk |
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4 1/2 Hamburgers or 5 Chocolate Bars |
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Routine Blood Work on Your Pet
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- Blood Work-The only window we have into your pet's body!
In addition to your pet's routine physical examination, laboratory testing of blood and urine samples play a very important role in helping your veterinarian to assess the health of your pet. In fact, it is basically like "a window" into your pet's body to determine how the internal organs are functioning.
Laboratoey Testing of the blood and urine of a healthy pet allows the veterinarian to etablish what the "normal" values are for your pet by establishing baseline values to refer to in future testing.
In a sick pet, laboratory tests help the veterinarian to make a proper diagnosis of the problems and helps monitor your pet's response to treatment and/or to medications your pet may take on a regular basis.
Laboratory tests given prior to surgery can identify pets at risk for complications from anethesia and help your veterinarian determine which anesthetic technique to use.
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"But my cat stays indoors, so she is safe, right?"
It only takes one mosquito to infect a cat, and because mosquitoes can get indoors, both indoor and outdoor cats are at risk and should receive heartworm preventative medication.
The severity of heartworm incidence as shown in this map is based on the average number of cases per reporting clinic. Some remote regions of the United States lack veterinary clinic, therefore there are no reported cases.
-www.knowheartworms.org
Heartworm disease in cats is a fairly recently discovered disease. It is much more prevalent than first thought and although at lower risk than outdoor cats, indoor cats have been found to be infected as well. Mosquitoes that carry the disease enter the house quite easily. The disease causes permanent damage to the muscular structure of the heart, as well as causes pulmonary (lung) disease. TVH takes this risk seriously and offers an excellent monthly preventative to ensure that your cat is safe.
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Vaccination is a critical part of keeping your cat healthy. TVH takes vaccination very seriously and tailors your cat’s vaccination schedule to his/her lifestyle. We assess the disease risk your cat will face and vaccinate based on the cat’s needs, breed and lifestyle. One size fits all vaccination is a thing of the past!
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House plants and yard plants can have toxic compounds in their leaves. These poisonous compounds can cause serious organ damage or even death. Help your cat avoid chewing on plants that you are not sure are safe.
Human drugs should NEVER be given to a cat orally or topically unless specifically directed by your veterinarian. Many of these drugs can kill your cat or cause permanent organ damage. If your cat should accidentally swallow your medication call your veterinarian immediately!
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What is microchipping?
Microchipping is permanent pet identification. It is safe, simple, and a permanent form of pet identification designed to quickly identify lost pets and reunite them with their owners.
Microchip placemement is recommended during the first puppy visits, at the time of spay or nueter, or as needed when older. The microship is a tiny device, the size of a grain of rice, inserted under the pets skin, with an identification number that is registered by the pet owner. The identification number can easeily be read by a scanner that most veterinary clincs and shelters have on hand. If your pet is lost or stolen, then this identification number can be tracked back to the original owner. Texas Veterinary Hospitals uses Home Again microchips. Call today for an appointment to have this important identification service.
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Health Tips 