When To Bring Your Cat To A Veterinarian
If you are a new cat owner, you are likely concerned about caring for them properly. Your pet's veterinarian makes a big impact on your cat's health throughout its life. Knowing when to bring your pet to see its veterinarian is extremely important, as it minimizes the potential for additional health problems down the road.
Make Yearly Appointments For Well-Checks
It is best to schedule yearly appointments with a veterinarian to check on your pet's health. During this appointment, the veterinarian will document your cat's weight, temperature, and overall disposition. If you have any concerns, you can discuss them at this time. Your cat's veterinarian will make recommendations regarding parasite prevention tactics, immunizations, microchipping, dietary needs, and spaying or neutering.
Know When An Emergency Is Occurring
There are many instances that are considered emergencies for a cat. If it becomes injured by a wild animal, hit by a vehicle, or ingests poison, it needs to be brought to a vet immediately. If your pet is bleeding, has difficulty walking, or is unresponsive, urgent care is necessary as well. If your pet has been in an excessive temperature, it could become a victim of heat exhaustion or dehydration. This is also an emergency situation.
It Is Best To Schedule Surgery To Stop Reproduction
Unless you plan on allowing your cat to breed in the future, make an appointment with a veterinarian for spaying or neutering. Your cat will require a wellness visit beforehand to ensure it is healthy enough to have this surgical procedure conducted. The surgery is done using general anesthesia, so your cat will need to stay at the veterinarian's office for a day or two afterward while it recovers. This surgery only needs to be done once and ensures your cat will not become a mother or father of kittens.
Get Preventative Medication Against Parasites
If your cat contracts a case of fleas or ticks, it needs a visit with a vet to obtain medication to kill these pests. This medication is topical and needs to be given to your cat monthly to keep future outbreaks at bay. In addition to external parasites, medication for internal parasites is necessary to keep your pet healthy. Ask your veterinarian about pills to stop heartworm disease and medication to stop roundworm and tapeworm infestations.
Don't Hesitate To Reach Out If You Have A Concern
If your pet seems generally under the weather, if it seems to have a case of arthritis, or if it is dealing with an eye infection, an emergency is not in play, but your cat still needs help. Contact a veterinarian to make an appointment to check out the problem so proper treatment is administered.
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