Check up time for two......my vet is great and sshhhh, a raw supporter, I think!!

Our big boy, Mont

I seem always to be getting reminders in the post for one of our cats to go for an annual check up and vaccination. Well this time I've managed to round up two of them into one appointment.

You know my feelings on vaccinations but I do have to reiterate them on the phone each time as last time the syringe was just about to be drawn when I reminded the vet that this was only an annual check up and dental check for the insurance to be valid on their teeth. We follow the protocol which is the kitten vaccinations, with the first year booster and then a three year boost after that, however I may just get them titer tested at that time UK Vaccinations

Catteries insist, as they do for support animals, for a full vaccination record. Insurance companies vary however, we are with Petplan and you are covered but not for anything which they could be immunised against in their annual vaccinations.............. in our case the cats are indoor with a cat proofed garden, no cats have got in so they have extremely limited contact with any feline which they could contract disease from.

Handsome Harvey

Well I have to say the consultation went really well. Monty our vast Shorthaired Curly Selkirk Rex, did as he always does play an Ostrich. Head down, eyes shut and loses the use of his limbs. The poor vet had to uncurl him, however the complements kept coming, perfect coat, bright eyes, great size.....what!!! I was a little worried as he his a big unit....but she said he is huge across the shoulders and the width between his hips is vast so he is perfectly covered for his shape. Just one tiny area of plaque on one back tooth but not bad at all. Harvey always gets comments as he is a Cream Colourpoint BSH and again he came out with an A*, just a little plaque again on a back tooth. Harvey doesn't mind the vets but it is not the place he would search out, luckily they are never stressed out that much as we transfer them via harness in the car, as they've done this since being kittens, a carrier would be most alien to them.

So the result is to do as we have been doing but I will just up the size of the chunks of muscle meat, sinew and bone in their food to ensure more chewing thus more abrasion on their teeth. It is interesting to note that the cats, in our household, that eat predominately the whole prey i.e. Docs and reptile frozen food mice have never had any comments made regarding their teeth i.e. Luna, and Bertie. White sparklers.

We do have our favourite vet, the partners in the firm are good however they do promote one specific company regarding food, loads being on the shelves, and the nutrition nurse obviously has been told to tow the line regarding being anti RAW, giving me the hell and damnation talk initially that they'll all have salmonella, get bones stuck in their stomach, lack a full range of nutrition and should not be around people with compromised health issues!!! I do however use human grade food prepared in a clean environment taking note of all hygiene procedures, they also have a short obligate carnivore intestine which allows raw to be processed through in a matter of 6 hours and not the dried plant proteined kibble that stays sluggishly in the intestine to fester and produce stinky problems after a long transit. I only give non weight bearing bones which are chewed easily from appropriate animals, I would not give them a beef leg bone, it is both weight bearing and the bone is too hard, a rib bone from a rabbit or  a chicken  (no bone ever cooked) would be chewable and suitable, no splintering. I continue to read extensively regarding feline nutrition , probably accruing way more up to date data and information than that which is given in the very few nutrition lectures provided by pet food manufacturers within veterinary school, and ensure supplementation and balance when and if needed.

Four out of five cats - Vet visits this week

Well what a week that has been…. we just never go to the vets apart from the annual check and neutering however this week was different.

Harvey

Monty

At the beginning of the week Harvey seemed out of sorts. Cats are notorious for hiding pain but he was not eating  and he was sitting in a very crouched bent back position. For a day I did not see him laid out resting, always in the same position. I was adding all the best treats on the food and nothing was enticing him so on Monday we went off to the vets. On examination he had no bladder, kidney or constipation  problems however as she pushed her thumbs along his back he was visibly wincing around his lower back. So metacam, antibiotics and a vitamin injection later we came home.

Bertie and Luna

Only to notice then that Monty had obviously scratched/hurt his eye which was junky and weeping. The next day we had to be at the vets early for Bertie's neutering so off the two went. Monty sorted and Bertie in the afternoon then collected! Bertie was fine just a lot of sorting out and cleaning needed to make him happy.

Reuben

As we then brushed Luna I noticed a lumpy matt which then I had a go at. On further examination their seemed to be detritus from outside within the matt and then when I opened the matt up further I found a small one penny sized flap of skin opened up. Off to the vets again. I felt very abashed that I had not noticed quicker as the vet said it had probably happened a couple of days ago as the edges of the tear were dying. Luna has a lot of loose skin being a kitten of 8 months so the vet said she had probably pulled it on a thorn outside and continued to walk not noticing. The vet was able to use a local on Luna as she is one very relaxed calm cat, she cut off the dead flap and glued the edges together. Another antibiotic injection and a £42 cost.

So we have one day left of the week and one cat that hasn't been……please Reuben just let our next visit only be for your annual check.





I have to say I know the vets are expensive but I have to say

Harvey was examined for 15 minutes and had Metacam, vitamin and an antibiotic = £34
Bertie neutering/ Monty exam = £52
Luna Saturday morning exam, local, flap excised, glued, and antibiotic = £42

Does not seem excessive but just a little unfortunate in one week.