7.6 Cat and Dog Vet Visits

Cats and dogs might routinely visit the veterinary clinic in order to be vaccinated, have a wellness exam, and get parasite prevention. They also come to the clinic when they are experiencing health problems. This section will give an overview of some wellness visits you might encounter, as well as a couple common emergencies.

Vaccination

The purposes and benefits of vaccination are outlined in Chapter 6. Each species has its own recommended vaccine protocols that vary depending on geographic region and risk of exposure (Kustritz, 2022a).

In North America, many clinics follow the vaccinating guidelines for dogs and cats set out by the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) (Ellis et al., 2022; Stone et al., 2020). Generally, puppies and kittens start their first vaccine series at 6–8 weeks of age and are vaccinated every 3–4 weeks until they are about 16 weeks of age (Ellis et al., 2022; Stone et al., 2020). This can vary depending on circumstance, and it is important you refer to your clinic’s guidelines for when vaccines should occur. Puppies and kittens require a revaccination about 1 year after completion of the initial vaccine series to develop protection against disease (Kustritz, 2022b). Required frequency of rabies vaccination is regulated by province in Canada. In some provinces, it is legally required for dogs and cats to have up-to-date rabies vaccines (e.g. Ontario), while others it is not (e.g. Alberta).

Core vaccinations are the sets of vaccinations that are suggested for all dogs and cats regardless of where they live or what activities they do. The additional vaccines, termed non-core, are given depending on the lifestyle of the pet and the risks they encounter (Kustritz, 2022c).

Common Core Vaccines

Vaccines often combine multiple viruses into one vaccine. For example, the DAP or DHP vaccine contains three core canine vaccines: distemper, adenovirus/hepatitis, and parvovirus. The feline equivalent core vaccine is RCP or FRCP standing for rhinotracheitis, calicivirus and panleukopenia. The “F” stands for feline.

Common Non-Core Vaccines

Parasite Control

In dogs and cats, we generally try to prevent external parasites like lice, fleas, and ticks, and regularly treat for internal parasites like intestinal worms. Deworming for internal parasites is often a crucial part of the first few veterinary visits, because puppies and kittens tend to get worms from their dams. Different intestinal parasites require specific deworming medication, so we often run fecal tests to determine which internal parasite is present and which treatment is required (Root Kustritz, 2022d).

Another type of internal parasite we protect against is heartworm. This parasite is transmitted by mosquitoes and lives in the bloodstream, eventually going to the heart. Due to the difficulty in treating this parasite, we often aim to prevent it, rather than treat it (Root Kustritz, 2022d).

External parasites can cause intense skin irritation and itchiness, but they can also transmit diseases. For example, the deer tick can transmit Lyme disease, and fleas can transmit some intestinal worms (Root Kustritz, 2022d).

Many different anti-parasite drugs exist and they cover a varied scope of parasites. These drugs can be topical, meaning they are applied to the skin, or oral, meaning they are given by mouth. The frequency with which they are given depends on the drug, the season, and the patient. The choice of drug is very patient-specific for what they require protection against, their lifestyle, and where they live (Root Kustritz, 2022d).

Routine Visits 

• Annual exam
  • Most pets are recommended to visit the vet yearly for check-ups and to maintain a valid veterinary-client-patient-relationship.
  • This check-up allows owners to discuss wellness procedures like flea or tick control and vaccines, and increases the probability that diseases will be caught early.
• Spay/Neuter
  • Surgeries to remove gonads in male and female dogs and cats are very common in North America.
  • Females – ovaries and uterus removed
  • Males – testes removed
  • Age at which this is best done depends on health conditions, breed/size, and lifestyle. It should be discussed with a veterinarian.
• Anal gland expression
  • Anal glands and sacs are paired and located on either side of the anus. They are supposed to secrete their content as fecal matter pushes against them, but not all pets are able to do this properly. Some pets come in for regular anal gland expression, which means to empty them.
• Dentistry
  • Can be provided via routine teeth cleaning, which usually requires general anaesthesia
  • X-rays of the mouth are often taken to further visualize dental disease that is not visible during an oral exam
  • Further procedures might include extractions

Common Emergencies 

• Hit by car (HBC)
  • Animal has been hit by a car
  • Can lead to broken bones, hemothorax, and other life-threatening conditions
  • Treatment depends on what is going on, but diagnostics to determine extent of damage are important
• Blocked cat
  • Cat that is not peeing, or only dripping urine
  • Most common in male cats
  • This is an emergency, because the bladder can grow and burst if urine cannot be released.
  • Treatment might include passing a urinary catheter to unblock the cat, and supportive therapy moving forward. Surgery is sometimes considered.
• Foreign body
  • Animal has eaten something they should not have that can cause a blockage in the digestive tract
  • Treatments might include inducing vomiting, depending on what the object is and how long ago it was consumed, and exploratory laparotomy to remove the object
• Toxicities
  • It is common for dogs and cats to eat things that are toxic to them, especially around holidays
  • These might cause neurological, kidney, and/or gastrointestinal issues, among others
  • Severity depends on what was eaten, and in what quantity
  • Treatments might include inducing vomiting, giving activated charcoal, gastric lavage or supportive therapy
  • Some examples include:
    • Food like chocolate, coffee, tea, grapes, onions, garlic
    • Plants such as lilies for cats
    • Cleaning products
    • Antifreeze
    • Pesticides
    • Rat poison

References

ASPCA. (n.d.). Animal poison control. https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

Ellis, J., Marziani, E., Aziz, C., Brown, C. M., Cohn, L. A., Lea, C., Moore, G. E., & Taneja, N. (2022). 2022 AAHA canine vaccination guidelines. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 58(5), 213–230. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36049241/

Root Kustritz, M. (2022a). 4. Vaccines and vaccinations: Production animals. In Veterinary preventive medicine. University of Minnesota. https://pressbooks.umn.edu/vetprevmed/chapter/chapter-4-vaccines-and-vaccinations-production/

Root Kustritz, M. (2022b). 3. Vaccines and vaccinations: Individual animals. In Veterinary preventive medicine. University of Minnesota. https://pressbooks.umn.edu/vetprevmed/chapter/chapter-3-vaccines-and-vaccinations-individual/

Root Kustritz, M. (2022c). 2. Vaccines and vaccinations: Introduction. In Veterinary preventive medicine. University of Minnesota. https://pressbooks.umn.edu/vetprevmed/chapter/chapter-2-vaccines-and-vaccinations/

Root Kustritz, M. (2022d). 5. Parasite control. In Veterinary preventive medicine. University of Minnesota. https://pressbooks.umn.edu/vetprevmed/chapter/chapter-5-parasite-control/

Stone, A. E., Brummet, G. O., Carozza, E. M., Kass, P. H., Petersen, E. P., Sykes, J., & Westman, M. E. (2020). 2020 AAHA/AAFP feline vaccination guidelines. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 22(9), 813–830. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32845224/

Image Credits
(images are listed in order of appearance)

KC Vaccination by Matea David-Steel, NorQuest College. Used with permission.

Bravecto by Matea David-Steel, NorQuest College. Used with permission.

Easter lillies in June by fishin widow, CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

Chocolate bars on white surface by Vie Studio, Pexels licence.