What is a health plan? A health plan is a schedule or list of recommended tests, treatments, and vaccinations designed to maintain optimum health. This health plan is designed for your pet’s current stage of life. Following our recommendations will allow your pet to thrive rather than merely survive. Your pet will likely spend most of his or her life in close contact with you and following the plan aids in preventing disease from passing to you and your family.

Wellness Examinations: Kittens should be examined every 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age, then once per year after that. Adult cats should be examined once per year. As your pet enters its golden years (7+years), we recommend biannual exams. Early detection of common geriatric illnesses improve your pets quality of life.

Diagnostic Testing

Fecal floatation for intestinal parasites should be done on the initial visit and then once per year. Fecals are repeated after treatment of any parasite to insure infestations are resolved. This test is ran in house and we will have the results within 10-15 minutes.

Leukemia/Feline Immunodeficiency Virus Test or FELV/FIV Test is recommended for all cats that have not been tested or that have been exposed to other cats that are not current on vaccines. Leukemia and FIV are viruses that the are not curable. Cats can be tested as early as 9-10 weeks of age.

Senior Pet Diagnostics: Include Chest and Abdominal X-rays, Urinalysis, Comprehensive Blood Profile to check organ function, Complete Blood Cell Count, Thyroid/Cholesterol Panel, and an Electrocardiogram to check the heart.

Parasite Prevention

Catego (Topical 30 day Product) or Bravecto (Topical 12 week Product) should be used for indoor or outdoor cats. It prevents infestations of fleas and ticks, that can transmit blood borne diseases to your family. We recommend treating your home and yard with a Siphotrol brand product if an infestation occurs.

Deworming: Dewormer is always dispensed on the initial visit, with the first dose given immediately and again in 2 weeks. Then your pet should be dewormed every 6-12 months.

Spaying or Neutering: Can be done as early as 16 weeks of age, if done in females before first heat cycle chances for mammary tumors are decreased considerably. Neutered males are less likely to roam, and it may decrease inappropriate spraying, mounting and aggressive behaviors.

Microchip Placement: Can be done at time of spay or neuter, but can be done at any time, helps to aid in recovery if your pet becomes lost. All shelters and veterinarians have scanners. We use Home Again microchips.

Blood Test and ECG: Presurgical screen and ECG screen are done at the time of surgical procedures to assure safe anesthesia

Diet: We recommend a meat based diet such as: Purina Pro Plan, it is Purina’s highest line of nutrition.

Hygiene

Brushing hair coat helps to reduce shedding. Brush teeth daily.

Vaccinations

FVRCP (Feline Rhinotracheitis, Calici, Panleukopenia) protects against the following:

  • Rhinotracheitis is an upper respiratory virus that is similar to the human cold. It causes sneezing, coughing, runny nose, and eyes. Once a cat is infected with the virus it may be permanent and it may show symptoms periodically.
  • Calici is an upper respiratory infection, which can lead to fever, runny nose and eyes.
  • Panleukopenia, also known as distemper, is highly contagious and usually fatal. Nine out of ten cats that get distemper will die. Since the disease is easily transmitted from cat to cat, chances are very high that your cat will be exposed to it during his/her lifetime. Symptoms include depression, loss of appetite, fever, vomiting and diarrhea. This vaccine is given at 6-8 weeks of age. A booster is required every 4 weeks until 16 weeks of age, then a year later. After that the vaccine is given every 3 years.

FELV (Feline Leukemia) is the leading cause of death in cats. One out of every 4 cats that are exposed to the outdoors will contract this most often fatal virus. Symptoms can be as vague as chronic diarrhea, lethargy, or anemia. The virus impairs a cat’s ability to fight off infections of any sort. Cats with the virus often die from diseases that they could normally resist. The virus is spread by casual contact such as grooming each other or the sharing of food and water bowls. Your cat should be vaccinated if he or she goes outside or has contact with another cat that does go outside. After a negative test, the first vaccine is given as early as 10 weeks of age. A booster is required within 4 weeks, then yearly.

RABIES is a fatal infection of the nervous system that attacks all warm-blooded animals including humans. Rabies is a public health hazard and a risk to all pet owners. Rabies is transmitted through the bite of an infected animal. Even a pet kept indoors can come in contact with a rabies carrier in a basement, garage, or attic. There is no cure for rabies for people or pets. West Virginia state law requires that all cats and dogs be properly vaccinated against rabies by 3 months of age. Boosters are required after the first year and then every 3 years thereafter.

Please note that any vaccine given late or for the first time should be boosted in 4 weeks with the exception of Rabies which should be boosted in 1 year. Vaccines must be boosted to work effectively.