Veterinarians can act on a number of different specialties , include feline medicine . When searching for cat - specific information , a vet who is plank - certified in cat care is an excellent resource for find out about how to manage for your pet . An experienced specializer proffer veterinary advice for cats on feeding , medical offspring , and how to help your CT be the longest , happiest , and healthiest lifetime possible .
Meet Cat Vet Dr. Sarah Caney
Dr. Sarah Caney , BVSc PhD DSAM ( Feline ) MRCVS , is a certify specialist in feline medicine and the founder ofVet Professionals , a website devoted to veterinary education with a dedicated division for feline care calledCat Professional . Dr. Caney name her background knowledge by stating , " I have worked only with computerized tomography since 1994 . I qualify as a veterinary ( University of Bristol , UK ) in 1993 and after spending a yr treating all small creature , I ingest up a feline only specialist preparation post at the University of Bristol . "
She preserve , " At the time , I did n’t think that I would only be working with cats forever – I was just take an chance to learn more about the species . However , after only a few months , I fell in love life with the job , deciding that feline music was my career . Since then , I have only worked with cats . "
Her advanced credentials and experience make her an expert in the field and exceedingly qualified to pop the question vet advice for cats on a number of topics . Dr. Caney explains , " My career has require both first opinion and referral feline medicine , so I have see a orotund number of both mere and complex illnesses in cats . This has been an invaluable part of my training to become a specialist . "
Unique Approach to Caring for Cats
As a cat possessor , you sympathise that cats are not simply small dog – they are improbably different when it add up to personality , conduct , and even aesculapian care . Dr. Caney concord , stating " Cats are completely dissimilar , and so are their owners . Caterpillar are much more of a challenge to treat since , unlike a dog , they wo n’t ' sit ' or ' ride out ' when asked . "
When working with cats , veterinary staff must take a unique approaching . " To examine a quat , you have to make its trust and regard – you may not hale a African tea to do anything that it does n’t want to do . " Dr. Caney states . " I call back it must be similar working with very small tyke ; you have to sway the cat that it want to open its oral fissure rather than you being the someone that has drive this upon it . "
Various training programs have been developed to instruct veterinary professional person and other feline caregivers on bozo - specific techniques . This noesis successfully denigrate stress for this sensitive specie . Two popular program areCat Friendly PracticeandFear Free . In addition to seek out a felid specialist for your cat ’s care , you could explore for a pattern or veterinary surgeon with these credentials .
Recommended Cat Diets
aliment is no doubt a huge part of overall wellness ; therefore , many cat owners enquire about the best type of food to course their feline ally . Dr. Caney warn that , " Feline nutrition has entered some controversial prison term recently , and I ’m not sure that there are leisurely answers to be find . "
The Big Debate: Wet Vs. Dry Food
The biggest debate is whether wet food or dry food arebetter for big cat . Dr. Caney reports , " There are advantage and disadvantages to both wet and dry solid food . For example , dry food is very convenient and probably helps keep the teeth uncontaminating , but some cats feed a ironical diet do notdrink enough piss , and this can be spoiled for cats vulnerable to renal and urinary problems . " or else , there are pro and cons to terminate food . She continues , " Wet intellectual nourishment is better for CT with urinary problems , but it ’s less convenient to lead out for your Arabian tea if you are out work out . Many mass also feel that wet food is bad for the teeth . "
Dr. Caney offers suggestions on how to address this question and possibly reach a compromise – consider feeding both wet and dry food . " Many cats in the UK are give a mixture of canned food ( or pouch ) and dry biscuits . This is probably a good via media . " she says . " In worldwide , if you are happy with your cat-o'-nine-tails ’s wellness on the diet it is receiving , I would not advise change it . "
Your personal veterinarian knows your computed axial tomography and their medical chronicle ; therefore , they are the best mortal to make a orient passport for your unique kitty . Dr. Caney does caution proprietor , " If you do desire to exchange from wet to dry out food ( or frailty versa ) , this should always be done step by step . "
Common Cat Health Issues
Considering felines are so alone , they are at greater jeopardy for sealed disease . Many of these are inveterate conditions as a result of progressive electronic organ changes over sentence . Dr Caney states , " as luck would have it , many cats are now living to advanced ages . It ’s not unusual to process 20 - yr - older cat these days , but this does also mean that we are see more cats with gerontological illnesses , such as kidney disease and thyroid disease . "
The proficient way to catch conditions too soon is to schedule regular one-year examinations for your cat . Based on the physical examination findings , your veterinary surgeon may recommend workaday bloodwork to rule out any inner changes . Some of the most common diseases seen in feline patient role let in the following .
sustain your computerized tomography indoors may be the best style to guarantee they live a retentive and healthy life . Dr. Caney parcel , " Many cats in the UK have access to the open , so unhappily , cat combat and railcar accidents are a rough-cut cause of feline injuries . "
Dr. Caney also warns that , " khat are very vulnerable to infectious disease , and cat flu is one of the most common malady we see . " Other predominant illnesses include feline infectious peritoneal inflammation ( FIP),feline cancer of the blood ( FeLV ) , and feline immunodeficiency computer virus ( FIV ) . Therefore , vaccination to foreclose potentially fateful viruses is also important .
A Feline Specialists' Philosophy on Cat Vaccinations
Dr. Caney is , " A stiff truster invaccination . There is no doubt in my judgement that inoculation has economize the life history of millions of quat . " When asked which vaccine are the most authoritative for cats , she advises , " Vaccination against cat flu ( herpes and calicivirus ) and panleukopenia ( also known as feline parvo and infectious enteritis ) are most authoritative – often bear on to as the ' core ' vaccines . I advise that all cats receive a primary course of these vaccination when they are kitty with a booster inoculation one class later . "
Recommendations For Indoor vs. Outdoor Cats
" For cats that have access outdoors and hence may come into link with other cats , cats that attend cat shows or embarkation catteries , or cats that go to people working with CAT ( such as myself ) , one-year booster dose for cat flu are recommended . "
Vaccine Frequency
The frequence of vaccine is found on several factors , include the maker ’s road map , sound essential depending on location , as well as a cat ’s immune reply to the vaccinum . Dr. Caney explains , " This is especially important since immunity to flu viruses does protrude to ebb with time , leave alone the cat vulnerable to malady . "
" Immunity to panleukopenia is much longer , so boostering at three annual musical interval is satisfactory . Most vaccines have flu and panleukopenia combined into a single injection , stand for that it is not always possible to separate out the different element and give these at different intervals . "
The Benefits of Feline-Only Practices
Although practice dedicated to serving only computed tomography are available , these types of facilities are not necessarily rough-cut . An fantabulous alternative is a consecrated backstage or facility within a infirmary used only for cats . Dr. Caney believe that these types of facilities are all important , explaining , " A cat that has to sit down in a waiting room full of noisy weenie is potential to become very accented , and this affects it in so many ways . The cat is more unmanageable to examine , has increase heart rate and blood pressure , and lab tests ( for example , profligate lolly point ) are also ordinarily affected . "
In 2012 , the American Association of Feline Practitioners ( AAFP ) launch a course of study dedicate to promoting these cat - friendly surround . recitation that demonstrate specific criteria like a cat - only lobby and feline specific exam rooms can earn recognition as aCat Friendly Practice .
Dr. Caney believes that these feline - only or feline - friendly role benefit everyone . She states , " All of the practices where I have cultivate have disjoined Mary Augusta Arnold Ward for the cats , and this too is essential to encouraging a more speedy recuperation from illness . It also makes for a more stress - costless time for the veterinarian and owner too . "
Areas of Improvement in Cat Care
With the ever - changing humanity of medicine , novel finding and innovations are always being discovered . Dr. Caney posit that , " The standard of preferent forethought has ameliorate enormously since I stipulate as a ex-serviceman in 1993 . A testimony to this is the fact that many cat-o'-nine-tails are inhabit so much longer . " However , " she warn , " There are area that could be improved . "
Dr. Caney find powerfully about promote felineweight direction , as this is an increase trouble . Unfortunately,59.5 pct of catsare limit as being overweight or obese , and the numbers carry on to climb . She states , " There are now more obese cats , and this is conduce to an increase in the relative frequency of diabetes mellitus – a serious medical precondition . " To battle this , ensure that you feed your cat an appropriate volume of nutrient and promote forcible activity through playful interaction and toy .
With so many cats living longer life , it ’s crucial for cat owners to understand extra tutelage demand thatcome with eld . Dr. Caney advises , " Many are arthritic , but this can be difficult to discern because CT are not usually lame . They just drop more fourth dimension slumber and move less to cope with theirpain . There are treatment for arthritis , and it would be just if we could help more cats go a comfortable , annoyance - free living . "
How to Provide the Best Care For Your Cat
Your cat needs nutritious food , veterinary supporting , and heaps of TLC in rules of order to live a farseeing and levelheaded life story . Dr. Caney recommends that all cat owners , " discover a beneficial vetwho you may have a good kinship regarding your cat . " She advises that khat owners can easy seek out a feline specialist or vet with a special sake in cats through the AAFP website if in the USA . Canada has a like programme calledCat Healthy .
Dr. Caney advises owner in the UK , " The Feline Advisory Bureau , ( now known asInternational Cat Care , a cat charity ) has a similar facility on its website that directs people to cat - interested vet in the UK and abroad . " Whoever you elect to receive professional cat care from , be sure to express any concern or doubt you might have . Your veterinarian want to aid you and your cat inhabit a healthy and happy lifespan together .
