Cat and Kitten Visits

Cats do not actually have nine lives so you need to do what you can to protect them and Tweed Veterinary Services I here to help! It is very hard to resist when we see the cute bundles of joy, but remember there is veterinary expenses, planned ones as well as unplanned ones. Here at Tweed Veterinary Services we do our best to accommodate all feline friends for urgent matters as well as regular health checks. To make things a bit easier to understand and account for, this page will give you a brief on all the regular wellness exams and some protocols that Veterinary Medicine recommends for felines.

General Health or Wellness Examination

General Health exams are done to make sure your feline friend is in top notch health. The Veterinarian doing the exam will observe the general appearance of the cat including;

• Walks and stand sturdy
• Bright and alert
• Appropriate bodyweight and body score
• Fur is normal and healthy no dandruff or hair loss
• Skin is in good condition
• Check eyes
• Check Ears
• Breathing is okay
• Dental check

In Depth Exams are usually in patients that require specific care and treatment but can also be done with a wellness exam, this covers things like;

• Heart Rate
• Lungs
• Pulse Rate
• Lymph Node Check
• Nerve Check
• Abdomen Check

Scheduled Vaccinations

Kittens develop immunity from their mother but around 6-8 weeks of age this wears off and leaves them more vulnerable for diseases. Therefore, kitten vaccines start around this time frame.

At Tweed Veterinary Service we do a series of 3 vaccinations for kittens. The first one is 6-8 weeks of age, the second one 10-12 weeks and the third set is around the 16^th week. There after would be an annual vaccination with possible boosters depending on the feline’s life. Like humans’ felines have their own lifestyle so vaccines are tailored towards each individual cat. Kittens are prone to specific diseases so Veterinary Medicine recommends core vaccines to stimulate the immune system against infection before exposure to disease.

These Diseases Include;

• Panleukopenia (also known as feline distemper) is a widespread disease that is often fatal. Since most cats are likely to be exposed to panleukopenia in their lifetime, vaccination against this illness is kay importance. Clinical signs include, fever, depression, loss of appetite, vomiting and diarrhea.
• Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FVR) is the most common upper respiratory infection in cats. Cats may experience signs of appetite loos, fever, sneezing, tearing, discharge from eyes and nose, mouth breathing, and coughing. Even if successfully treated this can lead to a lifelong infection. Vaccinating is extremely important.
• Feline Calicivirus (FCV) is another virus that affects the upper respiratory system. It accounts for 40% of all respiratory diseases in cats. The severity of the infection may vary, but symptoms most often include moderate fever, ulcers, and blisters on the tongue. If successfully treated cats can be chronic virus carriers and with lifelong clinical signs of sneezing, and runny eyes.

The 3 mentioned above are in the “core” (FVRCP) vaccine that is given at 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks and at 16^th week of age.

• Rabies required by law rabies is an incurable disease that can be transmitted between most animal species, including humans. This vaccine is given around the 16^th week of age vaccination.

ADD ON: Depending on the feline’s lifestyle we could recommend the Feline Leukemia (FeLV) vaccine that is optional to the client. Normally started at the 10-12-week vaccine and then boosted at 16^th week, then after annually. FeLV attacks the immune system and leaves the cat vulnerable to a host of secondary infections. Death most often occurs within 3 years of infection. Transmission usually occurs through contact with other cats. We would recommend doing a blood test for this virus prior to doing the vaccine.

Vaccine Reactions at TVS we make sure you know and that means we include on our invoices things to watch for after a kitten or cats vaccine appointment, it is not common, but it can happen. Some of the most common mild side effects seen after immunization include:

• Redness, mild swelling, and tenderness at the vaccination site
• Decreased activity levels (fatigue)
• Loss of appetite
• Low-grade fever

If any of these signs lasts more than 24 hours or if your pet appears extremely uncomfortable, notify your veterinarian.

"If any of these minor side effects lasts more than 24 hours or if your pet appears extremely uncomfortable, notify your veterinarian."

It is also common for a pet to develop a small, firm nodule at the vaccination site. It should begin to shrink and vanish within 14 days. If the swelling lasts longer than 3 weeks or appears to get larger or more painful, contact your veterinarian.