24 HOUR EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE FOR YOUR PET

                     Always here...always ready

              Call us at: 803.865.1418

Please be patient while we build our new website!

What We Recommend for Kittens

 The following services are considered routine for a new kitten.

*Refills on flea control products, other medications, or further diagnostics or treatment for problems found on the exam will involve additional charges                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

Physical exam:   Just like people, pets should have an annual physical to look for problems that may have arisen since the last visit.  In addition, many owners have specific areas of concern they want addressed at the physical, including masses or lumps they’ve felt, itchy skin, ear infections, or other problems.  Estimates can be prepared for the further diagnosis or treatment of problems found.  Often, the doctor can detect a problem on the annual exam before it is bad enough for the owner to notice anything is wrong.  In this way, potentially serious problems can be controlled or cured before the pet has even begun suffering or showing symptoms. 

 Fecal test:   We have a big problem with intestinal parasites here in the South. Cats should be tested yearly for intestinal parasites, which include roundworms, hookworms, and coccidia among others.  All of these parasites can cause serious health problems for cats.  Tapeworms are one parasite that can be hard to detect with this test, but usually this can be diagnosed other ways. For a fecal test, the client can bring in a fresh stool sample from their cat(s) as long as it is less than six hours old.  Otherwise, we can often retrieve a sample here.

FeLV/FIV combo test:     All outdoor cats and some of those in multi-cat households are at risk for contracting feline leukemia (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV).  There is no vaccine for FIV.  This virus is very similar to HIV, but is not contagious to people.  FIV is most frequently spread by bite wounds.  FeLV is highly contagious, and outdoor cats are very likely to be exposed to this virus frequently.  There is no cure for FeLV, but there is a  vaccine to help prevent it.  See below for more information on this virus.  Annual testing for both diseases is strongly recommended.

FVRCP-C vaccine:     This is a combination vaccine that helps provide protection against feline viral rhinotracheitis (FVR - a herpes virus that frequently causes upper respiratory infection), calici virus (which can cause sores in the mouth and upper respiratory infection), panleukopenia virus (a.k.a. “distemper” , which can cause severe diarrhea and respiratory problems), and chlamydia psittaci, a disease usually contracted from birds which can also be transmitted to humans by either birds or infected cats.

FeLV vaccine:     This vaccine helps provide protection against the feline leukemia virus. Cats can experience upper respiratory infections, anemia, general immune system suppression and even cancer from infection with this virus. There is no cure available.  In the past, an older vaccine rarely (some estimated one in five thousand) caused development of a sarcoma (cancerous mass) under the skin where the vaccine was given. The risks of contracting FeLV though were much greater for outdoor cats and vaccination was still strongly recommended. **For the past two years we have been exclusively using a vaccine that is free of the aluminum adjuvant which is suspected to be the cause of these rare tumors. Merial, who makes this vaccine, has announced that this vaccine will not be available until at least April of 2005 due to manufacturing difficulties. After doing thorough research, we are now offering the FeLV vaccine which has been shown to be the safest currently available until the Merial adjuvant-free vaccine is again available.**  The vaccine is recommended, but not required, for cats boarding at our facility.

Rabies vaccine:    Vaccination for this disease is required by law.  More importantly, there still is no cure for rabies, even in humans. We also recommend boostering this vaccine any time a cat current on rabies vaccine gets in a fight with an unknown animal.  All owners should be aware that cats may rarely (some estimate one in five thousand) develop a sarcoma (cancerous mass) under the skin where the vaccine is given.  We now offer a rabies vaccine that is free of the suspected causative agent of these rare tumors, for a small additional fee. 

Bordetella vaccine:  All cats that go outdoors or board in a kennel are at risk for contracting Bordetella bronchiseptica.  This bacteria causes respiratory infection in both cats and dogs, and can lead to a fatal pneumonia.  This vaccine, like the FIP vaccine, is given in one or both nostrils once yearly.  FIP vaccine:  Feline Infectious Peritonitis is a virus that kills almost all of its victims.  There is no effective treatment or cure for cats ill from this disease.  The virus can be picked up from the soil, and is shed by other cats in their stool.  The vaccine to protect your cat is administered in one or both nostrils once yearly. 

Heartgard for cats:  Heartworm disease is a growing health concern for cats.  Previously thought to only infect dogs, now heartworms are known to cause serious problems such as heart and lung disease in cats as well.  Heartgard is a once-monthly oral preventative recommended for all outdoor cats that are not on Revolution.  Frontline is the best complement to Heartgard for flea control.         

Revolution for cats:  This is a once-a-month topical liquid that prevents heartworms, ear mites, roundworms, hookworms, and fleas in cats.  Just apply the contents of one vial between your cat’s shoulder b lades once monthly to control  these parasites.  Revolution is ideal for outdoor cats. 

 ***The list of services above are our best recommendations for the routine annual visit.  If you do not wish one or more of these services to be performed, we ask that you clearly inform the attending staff member.  Thank you for choosing Two Notch Road Animal Clinic, and on behalf of your pet, thank you for giving him or her the best possible care!***

Send mail to sheltiezoo@aol.com with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2006 Palmetto Regional Emergency Hospital for Animals
Last modified: 04/29/08