Posts in Category: The Cat’s Meow

It is national cat health month, and Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is all about celebrating kitties! Learn all about good cat preventive care and how to keep your feline friend healthier and happier. 

No matter how great we are at something, there’s always room for improvement. The New Year brings with it a sense of promise and possibility, and for pet owners, it’s the perfect time to reassess. If you don’t already have some pet care goals for the New Year, we are happy to help you get started. After all, it’s all for the greater good!

The Broad Strokes

One of the best ways to orient yourself toward establishing and meeting pet goals is to schedule a wellness exam. If it’s been a little while since we’ve seen your pet, we would be so happy to welcome them back. We can check and compare their weight, appearance, growth, and development to track where they’ve been and where they’re headed. 

Kittens experience rapid growth and development in their first year, and we typically see them every 3-4 weeks to complete vaccinations. Once they are 4-6 months old, they’ve likely received all the preventive care necessary to thrive, including spay/neuter surgery, microchip, and parasite prevention. At this point, annual cat wellness exams are the norm (unless they need emergency care). 

The differences between the first and second year might be subtle, but as cats age, health concerns increase. Some illnesses present obvious clinical signs, others are far more sneaky. This is just part of the reason why annual cat wellness exams are recommended at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital. 

Most of us tend to have a really special relationship with our older cats. Chances are that they have seen us through a lot by the time they reach their golden years.

Senior cat care is a little different than care of a younger animal, and it can hold a great deal of impact on how your cat ages. Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital understands how important your cat is to you, and that is why we are excited to share our favorite senior cat care tips. 

Allergies are unquestionably irritating to pets and people alike. They have the potential to completely ruin a day, but if left alone, allergies can create long-term health complications. While they can be uncovered early on in life, cats can develop allergic reactions at any time and for many possible reasons. We’ll go into the most likely causes and the three best ways to treat your cat’s allergies.

There is a good reason that parasites are lumped together: they’re all bad! Fleas, ticks, and heartworm-carrying mosquitos are responsible for a great deal of animal suffering. In addition to painfully itchy skin, secondary infections, and more, these pesky parasites can also spread disease. Of the most well-known vector-borne illnesses, Lyme disease is a serious threat to animal (and human) welfare. As such, tick prevention for cats is an important priority. 

Cats are incredibly intelligent, but beyond properly using their litter box, we do not expect a whole lot from them. Why is that? Is it because cats universally give off a vibe that they’re “above” being trained? They are undoubtedly capable of being trained, but perhaps it’s the way they’re approached that matters most. If you’ve ever wondered if you could (or should) leash train your cat, this could be the moment you’ve been waiting for.

If your dog is losing fur in circular patterns and has red, scaly patches on his skin, they may be infected with ringworm. Regular pet grooming will alert you to changes in your animal’s coat and treatment for disease and infection. If you notice that something isn’t right, make an appointment with your veterinarian right away. Your vet can confirm a ringworm infection by diagnostic testing at our clinic. The team at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital is here to explain what ringworm is, how it affects your pets, and how to help: 

We get lots of questions about dental treats at Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital. While grabbing a chew bone that advertises dental health support may seem too good to be true, dental treats for pets can (and do) have some value. Learn how they can be a valuable part of your pet’s home dental care routine: 

While cats may be known for liking fish, that doesn’t mean that their breath needs to smell like a can of tuna. Dental disease in cats is a real problem and Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital wants you as a pet owner to be aware and ready to help.