our advice: ASK DR. CATE
Vet Rap by
Dr. Ryan Cate
Seven Things You Should
Ask at a Vet Appointment
T
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aking your dog or cat to their vet appointment can
be a bit overwhelming, especially if you don’t know
what to expect. Here are some helpful questions we
suggest you ask at your next appointment:
1. What diet do you recommend?
Choosing the right diet for your pet is one of the most
important things that you can offer them. Unfortunately,
it is not a simple question, even for a healthy pet. There
are literally thousands of different pet foods with new
ones every week. The only way to know is to break
down the health concerns, see what we know about
nutritional requirements with these concerns and then
feed the diet and monitor what happens. Dogs and cats
are individuals and what the same food does in differ-
ent bodies is highly variable.
2. How much exercise should my pet get?
How much exercise a pet needs can vary greatly
depending on factors like age, breed, weight and health
status. A customized plan should be developed for each
pet and adjusted accordingly, just as with diet.
3. What are the most common diseases based on my
pet’s breed/age?
There are many breeds that are predisposed to certain
diseases. If you know what to look for, the disease can
usually be diagnosed sooner and therefore, treatment
will be more effective.
4. What blood tests should be done to help detect
disease and at what age?
As veterinarians, we often wish we could just ask our
patients to tell us where it hurts. Unfortunately, evalu-
ating sick pets is much more complicated, which is
why blood work is such a valuable diagnostic tool.
Routine blood testing can help determine causes of
illness, verify organ health prior to anesthetized medi-
cal treatments, and aid in the general maintenance of
healthy pets. It is important to get a baseline blood
panel around 6 months of age and then another screen-
ing panel around 4 or 5 years. Then at age 8, annual
blood panels are recommended. If the animal is on a
long-term medication, blood work should be performed
every 6 months.
5. How do I brush my pet’s teeth and how often do
they need a professional cleaning?
A daily teeth brushing regimen is a great way to combat
tartar build up, and hopefully prevent periodontal
disease. Have your goal be three times a week at first
Dr. Ryan Cate
and if the pet is cooperative, it should ideally be done
daily. It is important to have a veterinarian examine your
pet’s teeth and gums during an exam. If there are signifi-
cant issues, brushing their teeth could be quite painful.
During an exam, your pet’s veterinarian can give you a
recommendation on having a professional cleaning. Some
small breed dogs need annual deep cleanings, but it really
depends on the oral hygiene being done at home.
6. What are these lumps and bumps?
Are you seeing lumps, bumps or growths on your pet? No
matter what you call them, masses of all kinds, from harm-
less skin growths to malignant tumors, are common in
our furry friends. While most are benign, we recommend
examinations and fine needle aspirates for all new growths.
This simple procedure allows the veterinarian to determine
the nature of the growth by collecting a sample of cells and
viewing them under a microscope. Occasionally, a biopsy
may also be needed. This involves collecting a small tissue
sample and sending it to a laboratory for examination.
7. What expenses should I expect annually for a healthy
pet?
Having a dog or cat can often feel like having a child
dependent. That’s why it’s useful to know what the realistic
health expenses are so you can be better prepared (both
financially and mentally). Typically, for a healthy pet to be
on a good wellness plan, you should expect the following
each year: annual or bi-annual exam(s), parasite prevention
medication(s), vaccinations, fecal tests, bloodwork (heart-
worm testing for dogs). Some other very common reasons
we see dogs and cats outside their routine preventive care
include ear infections, skin infections, itchy skin, diarrhea,
vomiting, and lameness. We highly recommend purchasing
pet insurance for your pet while it is young and healthy,
before “pre-existing conditions” can develop.