{"id":2861,"date":"2021-08-18T15:05:21","date_gmt":"2021-08-18T15:05:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.humanepa.org\/?p=2861"},"modified":"2021-08-18T15:11:47","modified_gmt":"2021-08-18T15:11:47","slug":"august-22nd-is-national-take-your-cat-to-the-vet-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.humanepa.org\/?p=2861","title":{"rendered":"August 22nd Is National Take Your Cat To The Vet Day!"},"content":{"rendered":"
By Dr. Simoneau, Chief Veterinary Officer for Humane Pennsylvania\u00a0<\/em><\/h5>\n

Did you know that August 22nd<\/sup> is National Take Your Cat to the Vet Day?<\/p>\n

\"\"This is your friendly reminder to schedule your annual wellness exam if your kitty hasn\u2019t been to the vet this year. Establishing a relationship with a vet for a wellness visit is essential; it helps ensure that your vet can see your cat should your cat ever have any urgent needs. If your cat is up-to-date with vaccines, a yearly exam is still an important step to make sure your cat remains healthy. A head-to-tail exam for every cat is necessary to assess dental health, monitor body weight, check lumps and bumps, and check lab work to detect early disease in senior cats.<\/p>\n

On a head-to-tail exam, a veterinarian assesses the skin for common issues like ear and skin infections, as well as evidence of external parasites such as fleas and new lumps or masses. Mouth examinations help locate signs of dental diseases. A cat\u2019s bodily condition, or fluctuation in weight, is a great way t\"\"o signify that blood and urine tests should be ordered so that vets can screen for organ or endocrine dysfunction.\u00a0In addition, fecal samples are recommended annually to screen for intestinal parasite eggs.<\/p>\n

Common cat diseases to look out for:<\/strong><\/p>\n