Frequently Asked Questions - Medical

Here are some medical questions that we are frequently asked.
If you have additional questions that aren't covered here, please feel free to give us a call at (360)892-0224.

1. What is the reason the doctors recommend blood work?

    We recommend annual blood work for patients that are 8-10 years of age or older in order to 1-establish a baseline against which we can compare future blood tests and 2-to aid in the early detection of disease (for instance, with kidney disease, kidney values often elevate before the patient begins showing any clinical signs). Blood work is also recommended for almost all sick patients we see, as it helps us determine the cause of illness and subsequently enables us to focus our treatment on the problem(s) at hand. Finally, we run routine blood work on cats that are on chronic medications, including methimazole (for hyperthyroidism), prednisolone (used for problems such as skin allergies and inflammatory bowel disease), phenobarbital (an anti-seizure medication), and drugs to treat behavioral problems (such as Prozac, used for inappropriate elimination).

2. What is the purpose of checking my cat's urine through urinalysis?

    A urinalysis is a commonly performed test. This test helps us determine whether the patient's kidneys are functioning properly, whether there is sugar in the urine (a test for diabetes), and whether the patient has a urinary tract infection/inflammation (as assessed by the presence of white blood cells, bacteria and/or red blood cells. We run this test on any patient that is drinking and/or urinating large amounts or is exhibiting signs of urinary tract disease (blood in the urine, squatting frequently, straining to urinate, urinating outside the box), as well as on most sick patients. We also recommend this test as part of the annual health check in our older patients.

3. When can my cat be spayed or neutered?

    Spaying or neutering can be done at approximately 4 months of age and 4 lbs. A physical exam is given prior to surgery to make sure your cat is healthy enough to undergo the surgical procedure. Current vaccinations are required at the time of surgery.

4. How long do the stitches stay in after my cat's surgery?

    Procedures involving stitches (such as abscess surgery or mass removal surgery) require them to be removed 10 days following the surgery.

5. Is it a good idea to let my cat have at least one litter?

    No, there is no advantage to letting your cat have one litter. However, there are plenty of advantages to having your cat spayed or neutered. These advantages include decreasing the chances of breast tumors later in life, decreasing the chance of uterine infections later in life, decreasing the desire to roam the neighborhood, helping to prevent spraying and marking, and also decreasing the surplus of unwanted kittens.

6. What is the hospital's policy on declaws?

    We strongly recommend trying alternatives to declawing before subjecting your cat to this permanent procedure. We generally will perform declaws on cats who are under two years of age. Please call us if you would like to have a handout on alternatives to declawing sent to you.