Your Cat's First Vet Visit
By Kurt Schmitt

So you've got a new cat, and she needs a checkup. On your first vet visit, your vet will take the lead and give you some basic information, and probably will go through a fairly standard routine.

Upwards of 90% of the information you need, however, will be based on the questions that you ask your vet. Somewhere, typically towards the end of the checkup, your vet will ask you if you have any questions.

Usually, by that time, your adrenaline has been pumping, and you've been overloaded. Your cat has been stressed and so have you.... you are both ready to leave. Do not let this opportunity pass you by.

Take this time to take the lead, and ask your questions. What questions? Well, the ones that you'll forget if you don't already have them written down. Yes, write them down now.

Much of the information being distributed today on feline diet, health, and cat care in general is either fear based (e.g. raw meat diets, vaccination scares), or profit based (i.e. advertising). It's important, therefore, to get your vet's take on some of these issues.

Here is a list of issues that you can use to formulate your questions. This is by no means all inclusive, and you'll probably have some specific ones of your own.

The important thing is that this will spark a dialogue between you and your vet that will help both of you to better care for your cat.

Here are some subjects to create your questions around...

Vaccination options: there are options for both type and schedule, and there are risks, so be sure to find out what your vet recommends for your cat.

Diet and nutrition: ask about commercial cat foods and brands as they are not all the same. What about alternatives like home made cat food, raw meat diets, and feeding table scraps?

Common cat owner mistakes: ask your vet which common mistakes to avoid.

Emergency procedures: find out what emergency procedures your vet has now, should you need it later.

Indoor or Outdoor: this is a big subject as it greatly affects your life, and the life span of your cat.

Cat litter and litter boxes: many choices can be narrowed to only a few by asking your vet for advice.

Common diseases and their signs: understanding what the common signs of disease are will help you detect problems in your cat early, and may save her life one day.

Use the above list to get started. As you write your questions, more will come to you. Write them down, even if the answers appear obvious. There is no question too small to ask your vet about the health of your cat.

About The Author:
Kurt Schmitt is an experienced cat owner and the author of "7 Questions to Ask Your Vet... A Guide for Cat Lovers."





How to Choose a Veterinarian
By ContentMart Editor

1. Get some opinions. Ask around to see where people take their pets, why they take them there, and if they are happy with the veterinarian.

a. Ask friends, family, and co-workers, but be sure to ask them why they see this particular veterinarian. Pet owners often take their pets to a certain clinic just because they always have and always will, or because the veterinarian is a long-time family friend. This doesn't make it the best choice for you.

b. Ask groomers, petsitters, kennels, and other pet service facilities.

c. Ask breeders

d. Ask people at a breed club

e. Ask your local humane society or other animal-welfare groups

f. Ask private pet rescue organizations

2. Educate yourself on the veterinarian's background

a. Education

b. Board certification

c. Record with the state's medical board (Have any complaints have been filed?)

d. Record with the local humane society

e. Membership with any professional veterinary associations

f. If the veterinarian is a specialist (behavioral, surgical, ophthalmology, etc.), check to see how he or she qualifies to be a specialist. Be sure that he or she has experience, education, and certification in their specialty.

3. Office Hours, Appointments, and Emergencies

a. What are the regular office hours? Are they compatible with your schedule?

b. Are appointments required?

c. Can you request an appointment with a specific veterinarian? Seeing the same veterinarian will allow him or her to become more familiar with your pet and better able to evaluate whether your pet is ill because he or she has seen your pet before.

d. How many veterinarians are in the practice?

e. Are there technicians and other professional staff members?

f. Who covers the practice when the doctor is unavailable?

g. Is the doctor available to occasionally answer questions over the phone?

h. Will the veterinarian take calls or answer phone messages if a crisis befalls your pet during the evening or weekend?

i. How are emergency calls handled during regular office hours?

j. How are emergency calls handled after office hours?

- Does this clinic provide emergency after-hours assistance, or is there a nearby emergency clinic you will be referred to?

- If your veterinarian refers patients for emergency care, get the address and phone number of the facility and be sure to drive by the emergency facility so you'll know where it is.

- Is the emergency clinic staffed while your pet is there?

- Will there be any time period when your pet will be unattended to?

4. Fees, insurance, and payment methods

a. Do ask about fees, but don�t base your decision solely on the cheapest clinic. When evaluating fees, be sure to find out what is included, some clinics will include anesthesia, monitoring equipment, and aftercare in the cost of a surgery, while other clinics will have them as separate charges; so you aren�t always comparing the same fees and services.

b. Is the veterinarian a specialist in an area that you do not require for your pet? Fees may be higher for specialists and it might not make sense to pay more for a specialist that does not apply to the needs of your pet.

c. Are discounts offered for senior citizens or multi-pet households?

d. Is payment expected on the day of the visit?

e. Does the clinic accept your insurance plan?

f. What methods of payment are accepted? Are credit cards accepted?

5. Condition and location of the facility

a. Is the facility clean, comfortable, and well-organized? Examine the lobby, waiting room, parking lot, and lawn for cleanliness and odors.

b. Are the magazines and literature in the waiting room current or out-dated?

c. Are the posters and bulletin boards well-kept? Or are they ripped, stained or out-dated?

d. What types of products do they sell? Are they focused more on providing medical care or pushing products?


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