Breaking Down the Feline Annual Exam

This will be a follow-up post to our post from yesterday on the canine annual exam. A lot of the information will be similar, but the vaccines are (naturally) very different for cats. As with dogs, it is highly recommended to bring your cat in for an annual visit. There are a few things excluded from cat annuals that are standard for dogs. Here is a breakdown of our feline yearlys:

Feline annual examination:

1. FVRCP
2. FeLV Vaccine
3. Rabies Vaccine
4. Nail Trim (if desired)
5. Annual Bloodwork
6. Full Physical Examination

1. FVRCP: a combination booster with a lot of letters representing different diseases – we will break down the acronym below:

• FVR: stands for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis and calicivirus – these two viruses cause upper respiratory tract infections in cats that are easily transmitted from cat to cat. Kittens are more often affected, but unprotected cats can easily be infected. Once infected, many cats become a carrier of these viruses for life.

• C: stands for Chlamydophilia– this is a bacterial infection that causes respiratory disease in cats. It is highly contagious, especially in kittens. It can cause infection in the eyes and the lungs if it is left untreated.

• P: stands for panleukopenia – this is the feline distemper virus. This is a highly infectious disease that can survive in the environment for up to a year! Treatment of this disease is very difficult and the prognosis, once infected, is typically poor.

2. FeLV Vaccine – a vaccination agaisnt Feline Leukemia. This disease is the leading cause of death in cats in North America and can cause very serious health problems in cats. Cats can develop cancerous leukemia and secondary infections throughout the body. Cats can be carriers of this disease for months or years before showing clinical signs.

3. Rabies Vaccine – required by law. We usually start giving a 3 year vaccine to cats after they have had two one year vaccines in a row. We will give each cat a current rabies tag at every annual visit. See our previous blog post for more information on rabies.

4. Nail Trim – a complimentary pedicure for any cat that wants one. This is done much less often than in dogs, but is actually easier to do on a well-mannered cat. 

5. Annual Bloodwork – this is optional, but highly encouraged as your cat begins to age. We have two options available, depending on your cat’s current health status and age:

• Junior Profile: a mini-chemistry panel checking liver and kidney values, blood glucose, thyroid (T4) levels, a complete blood count looking at red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, and a heartworm antigen test. We recommend this bloodwork for cats once they turn 3-4 years old and annually after that until your pet reaches their “senior years.”

• Senior Profile: a full chemistry panel with a more in depth look at liver and kidney function, electrolytes, blood glucose, thyroid (T4) levels, a complete blood count looking at red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, a urinalysis and a heartworm antigen test. We recommend this bloodwork for cats once they reach 7-8 years old. This is also a good panel for any cat that has been sick or having urinary issues. For more information on senior pet care, click here.

6. Full Physical Examination - there is nothing more valuable to a veterinarian than a physical examination. Looking at every aspect of your pet every year helps to keep track of your pet as they age. We can make sure any lumps or bumps are not changing significantly and check for early signs disease, especially heart disease and dental disease in aging kitties. There have been several cases where a cat comes in for annual vaccines, and a very significant disease has been found and treated just from a good physical examination. 

Take your kitties to the vet every year - just like Gus!

Hopefully this has been a good break down of our typical feline yearly examination. We would love to see more cats coming in for annual for vaccines in 2013. We see many dogs annually for vaccines, but cats do not come in nearly as often, and it is just as important! Please post a comment if you have any questions. Call us today at 615-377-4959 to schedule your pet’s annual exam!

Breaking Down the Canine Annual Visit

Almost all veterinarians recommend an annual visit for your canine companions. In this blog post, we will break down our standard “yearly exam” for dogs with what vaccines are given and all the other items involved. One thing to keep in mind about vaccines is that they work by stimulating the immune system agaisnt certain antibodies or antigens. If a pet has a disease, such as a urinary tract infection or skin allergies, it is not a good idea to give vaccines at the same time, as that puts too much stress on the pet’s immune system. Let’s start off with a breakdown of our canine yearlys:

Canine annual examination:

1. DHLPP-CV
2. Rabies Vaccine
3. Bordatella vaccine (optional)
4. Fecal flotation
5. Nail Trim
6. Heartworm test +/- annual bloodwork
7. Full Physical Examination

1. DHLPP-CV: a combination booster with a lot of letters representing different diseases – we will break down the acronym below:

• D: stands for distemper virus – a very contagious and often fatal viral disease in dogs. It is usually spread from nasal or ocular discharge in injected dogs. This disease can affect many different organ systems, including the digestive system, respiratory system or the nervous system.

• H: stands for Infectious Canine Hepatitis – this disease is caused by adenovirus (some vaccines can be called DA2PP) and can be transmitted by contact with infected dogs through the urine, feces or saliva. This virus can cause liver failure, respiratory disease or eye damage. 

• L: stands for Leptospirosis – this is a bacterial disease that dogs can get when exposed to the organism in water. It can cause serious liver and kidney disease if contracted.

• P: stands for parvovirus. This is an extremely contagious and serious viral disease that can be fatal. It attacks the gastrointestinal system, especially in young puppies. It is typically spread through fecal exposure and is highly resistant to most cleaning agents.

• P: stands for parainfluenza – this is a respiratory viral disease that can cause coughing, especially when many dogs are found in the same place (boarding, grooming, etc.)

• CV: stands for Coronavirus – a less common viral disease in dogs that affects the intestines.

2. Rabies Vaccine – required by law. We usually start giving a 3 year vaccine to dogs after they have had two one year vaccines in a row. We will give each dog a current rabies tag at every annual visit. See our previous blog post for more information on rabies.

3. Bordetella Vaccine – this oral vaccine is optional for dogs. It prevents Bordetella bronchiseptica, a bacterial infection known to cause “kennel cough”. This vaccine is recommended for dogs that get groomed regularly, attend training sessions with other dogs, are being boarded or go to the dog park often.

4. Fecal Flotation – a sample is evaluated for presence of worm eggs. Most dogs on regular heartworm prevention do not have intestinal worms, but there is increasing resistance with many of these worms. The most commonly found worms in canine feces include whipworms, hookworms and roundworms. Some facilities require a fecal done annually before boarding.

5. Nail Trim – a complimentary pedicure for all dogs seen at their annual exam. Done mostly to save your hardwood furniture and upholstery. We have yet to meet a dog that enjoys a nail trim.

6. Heartworm Test +/- Annual Bloodwork – we require a negative heartworm test annually to renew any heartworm medication prescriptions. This is a blood test, typically sent to an outside lab that also tests for exposure to a few tick borne diseases. We also offer two different types of annual bloodwork that include a heartworm test.

• Junior Profile: a mini-chemistry panel checking liver and kidney values, blood glucose, thyroid (T4) levels, a complete blood count looking at red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, and of course, a heartworm test. We recommend this bloodwork for dogs once they turn 3-4 years old and annually after that until your pet reaches their “senior years.”

• Senior Profile: a full chemistry panel with a more in depth look at liver and kidney function, electrolytes, blood glucose, thyroid (T4) levels, a complete blood count looking at red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, a urinalysis and a heartworm test. We recommend this bloodwork for dogs once they reach 7-8 years old. This is also a good panel for any dog that has been sick or having urinary issues. If you would like more information on senior pet care, click here. 

7. Full Physical Examination - there is nothing more valuable to a veterinarian than a physical examination. Looking at every aspect of your pet every year helps to keep track of your pet as they age. We can make sure any lumps or bumps are not changing significantly and check for early signs of arthritis or other disease. There have been many cases where a dog comes in for annual vaccines, and a very significant disease has been found and treated just from a good physical examination. 

Milly stay healthy because she gets her exam and vaccines every year!

Hopefully this has been a good break down of our typical canine yearly examination. Please post a comment if you have any questions. Call us today at 615-377-4959 to schedule your pet’s annual exam! 

Better a day late, than never - Rabies

Did you see Old Yeller? If not, go watch it stat. I saw it when I was about eight, and I think it changed my life for three reasons. One, it is partially responsible for me becoming a veterinarian. Two, it solidified my love of Labradors. Three, it made me very afraid of Rabies. Why the movie reference? Well, I had grandiose plans of making a blog post in honor of World Rabies Day. However, World Rabies Day is September 28^th, so I missed my deadline by a day. My apologies, but we are still going to do an overview of the worst, most fatal viral disease, rabies.

Rabies is a viral disease (a Rhabdovirus to be exact – thanks Dr. Gyimah!) that is almost always fatal in animals and humans. It is secreted in salvia and typically transmitted from a bite by an infected animal. Rabies affects only mammals, mainly skunks, raccoons, bats foxes and coyotes. In household animals, cats are most commonly affected and have been since 1988. This is partly due to decreased compliance with rabies vaccines in cats (note: vaccinate your cat!). It also affects dogs, cattle, horses and other livestock.

Once an animal is infected with rabies, the virus travels along nerves from the wound site to the brain. It can take weeks or months for the virus to travel to the brain, depending on where the infection occurred. From there, the clinical signs begin. The signs are variable, but include your Hollywood perception of foamy mouth, aggression, staggering, etc. This is known as the furious form of rabies and is often referred to as “mad-dog syndrome.” There can also be fearfulness, seizures, difficulty swallowing (paralytic form), depression, light sensitivity or just acting in an unusual manner. Once clinical signs appear, the disease is nearly always fatal.

Diagnosis of rabies is an unpleasant topic. A definitive diagnosis is usually required if rabies is suspected. A rabies test involves humane euthanasia and decapitation. The head is then sent to a qualified laboratory for immunofluorescense microscopy.

Rabies control is the main mechanism of disease prevention. Annual vaccinations are a MUST for all dogs and cats. These days, many rabies vaccines are good for 3 years, with a new rabies tag being issued at each annual visit. As a bonus, rabies tag numbers can be used to help locate a pet’s home if they get lost. Also important is to limit your pet’s exposure risk. Keep your pet in a contained environment, such as inside or in a fenced yard. Avoid wild animals and never attempt to keep them as pets.

If another pet or a wild animal bites your dog, please give us (or any veterinarian) a call immediately. Even if the pet is current on vaccines, there are many risks associated with puncture wounds from animal bites. An observation period may be needed, depending on the situation. Unfortunately, if your pet is not current on vaccines and is exposed to a rabid animal, the only options are euthanasia or a strict isolation for 6 months. I cannot express enough how important it is to keep your pet current on their rabies vaccines.

How does this affect the pet owners? If an animal ever bites you, wash the wound immediately and see a doctor. If the animal is a pet, get information on the vaccination status and report the incident to the local health department. These cases are evaluated based on risk assessment, which may be too complicated to discuss in a brief blog post.

So, the moral of this story and the classic film Old Yeller? Vaccinate your pets EVERY YEAR! Questions? Let me know!

- H