Please don't let your cat suffer in silence...

... a wellness checkup is the closest you cat will get 
to communicating it's health needs!

Many owners assume that euthanasia is the saddest and hardest part of being a vet but for me it is actually much worse to know that a cat is suffering because their owner doesn't comprehend when veterinary help is needed. I aim to try and bring an understanding of cat's needs to all owners so that cats can lead a much improved quality and quantity of life right to it's very end. 

I often encounter owners that have cats with obvious and often perfectly treatable ailments that insist that their cat is "just getting old" and that they seem "fine". I am sure these owners don't intentionally let their cats suffer, but it is often easier and cheaper to explain away subtle signs with "it must be age" especially when the cat also gets stressed when visiting the vet.  Part of my role in caring for cats starts with educating owners on the subtle clues of ill-health.

An example

A typical example is the poor older cat that no longer jumps up onto the bed. It is commonplace for owners to say "but they don't seem to be in any pain". This assumption is often based on the fact that their cat is not moaning/crying/complaining as we expect a human may do. Adaptable little creatures, cats will simply alter their behaviour to "cope" with their pain/hardships or simply just avoid situations which provoke pain. It is this natural survival instinct that drives them on in the face of adversity but it doesn't mean they are not suffering.

Put yourself in Puss's boots...

I am sure most people can recall a time when they have suffered a thumping headache or nausea and had to "soldier on" regardless (especially if you are a mother!), but what if this was a daily occurrence and help was out of your control? 

Imagine this situation from a cat's point of view....

• You have no means of getting access to drugs or a doctor 
  
• You are unable to communicate to anyone how you were feeling 
  
• An onlooker might observe that you didn't quite seem your "usual self"....  You might have left a few bites of your sandwich...but you still ate most of your lunch (which you later threw up in private) and you were seen drinking some water. You still seemed to get on with your work and even drove home via the shops to grab some milk.

Even if this went on intermittently for a long period of time, you would have little choice but to get on with your life but what a miserable existence that would be! You'd probably secretly be hoping that someone perceptive enough would notice and seek help on your behalf

Clues your cat may be suffering from a treatable disease

Have you noticed any of the following?

• activity level changes– “slowing down” or sleeping more, hyperactivity/unsettled behaviour
• mobility issues - stiffness, avoidance of stairs or jumping up (using alternative routes to gain height)
• breathing - heavier, faster, mouth open
• fainting episodes
• weight changes (up or down)
• appetite changes (up or down)
  
• toileting habit changes - location, frequency, material produced
• drinking habit changes - volume, frequency, location
• vomiting - froth, yellow fluid, food, hairballs etc
• behaviour changes- increased irritability, being less interactive with the family, grooming less, vocalization at night?

If you answered YES to any of these, or are unsure, then please contact me to discuss booking a wellness checkup.