The Crucial Importance of Routine Health Checkups for Cats

How can we tell how healthy our cat at home really is? Since if they're in pain, they can't tell us in words, and cats are also incredibly stoic, which lets them hide illness remarkably well.

Today we'll show you how to spot abnormalities and go over the basic health checks that reveal important information about your cat's health.

Since cats are creatures that adapt extremely well to illness -- sometimes not showing any abnormal symptoms at all -- we need to regularly observe their physical appearance and behavior for any changes, as well as get regular basic health checkups.

Cat Health Checkups

1. General Physical Exam -- measures vital signs and overall physical condition, such as lung sounds, heart sounds, breathing rate, heart rate, and basic physical checks such as the mouth, ears, skin condition, and body condition score.

2. Blood Test -- after the general physical exam, a blood test is also needed to check organ function, which includes:

• Complete Blood Count (CBC) -- indicates the levels of red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets, which can reveal anemia, low white blood cell count, or abnormal platelet levels.

• Blood Chemistry -- indicates abnormalities in various organs, such as liver function, kidney function, blood sugar levels, and blood protein levels.

• Feline AIDS (FIV) and Feline Leukemia (FeLV) testing with a test kit -- since Thailand is an area with an outbreak of these viruses, screening for these infectious diseases is recommended.

3. Urinalysis -- one of the basic health indicators that reveals kidney function, showing information such as color, sediment, and urine specific gravity.

4. Abdominal Ultrasound -- besides blood tests that indicate organ function, an abdominal ultrasound is one imaging diagnostic method that reveals structural information about various organs, including genetic conditions that cause abnormal organ structure, such as PKD in Persian cats, which causes cysts to form in the kidneys.

Health checkups should be done at least once a year for cats younger than 5 years old, and every 6 months for cats 5 years and older.

An Animal Clinic Open 24 Hours a Day

For pet owners who care about their pets and want round-the-clock consultation and care, with both online and onsite services available, we recommend Thonglor Pet Hospital. We offer a full range of specialized treatment centers, such as our dermatology and allergy center, feline and canine cardiology center. Most importantly, our team of veterinarians, nurses, and staff are always close by, 24 hours a day -- no matter when illness strikes, we're ready to care for your beloved pet at all times (please make an appointment in advance).

Pet owners need not worry, because Thonglor Pet Hospital has 1 international branch in Vietnam, plus over 20 branches nationwide covering every area, including Chiang Mai, Tiwanon, Phuket, Pattaya, Rayong, and many other branch locations. All branches use the same internal system for managing information.

In addition, our veterinary team, nurses, and hospital staff have all been thoroughly trained in understanding pet behavior, giving you confidence that your beloved pet will be happy and safe while you're away on a long trip. If you're interested in our pet boarding services or other offerings, please contact us using the details below.