Cat

Vaccinations can prevent may diseases and promote good health and a longer life for you pet. Our veterinarians will prepare a schedule of vaccinations designed for your pet to protect against diseases that place your pet at risk. Below are the annual vaccinations and testing suggested by our veterinarians for you cat.

RCPN (Rhinotracheitis/Calicivirus/Panleukopenia/Chlamydophila)
FelV (Feline Leukemia)
Rabies 
Fecal Test

Additonal testing or vaccinations may also be suggested for your kitten or cat:
Leukemia/FIV/Heartworm Test (Suggested test for kittens and/or strays, prior to vaccination)
FIV(Feline Immunodeficiency Virus)
FIP(Feline Infectious Peritonitis)


Feline Diseases

Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis & Feline Calicivirus
Like the human common cold, these viruses cause upper respiratory tract infection. They are easily transmitted from one cat to another. Kittens are particularly affected, but these diseases can be dangerous in any unprotected cat, as effective treatment is limited. Even if a cat recovers, it can remain a carrier for life, possibly infecting other cats.

Feline Panleukopenia (distemper)
Feline distemper is caused by a virus so resistant it can survive up to one year outside a cat's body! Infection rates in unprotected cats can run as high as 90% to 100%. Treatment of the disease is very difficult and even if recovered, a once-infected cat can spread the disease to other unprotected animals.

Feline Chlamydophila
This bacterial disease is responsible for 5% of all feline respiratory diseases and is extremely contagious, especially in young kittens. It causes a local infection of the mucous membranes of the eyes and may also involve the lungs. Chlamydophila can be transmitted to humans by direct contact.

Feline Leukemia
The leading cause of death is cats in North America, Feline Leukemia Virus can result in a multitude of serious health problems for your cat - everything from cancerous conditions such as leukemia to a wide range of secondary infections caused by the destruction of the immune system. After intital exposure to the virus, a cat may not show signs of its presence for months, if not years.

Rabies
This incurable viral disease affects the central nervous system of almost all mammals, including humans. It is spread through contact with the saliva of infected animals (such as skunks, foxes, raccoons and bats) through bites of any break in the skin. Vaccination will provide your pet with a much greater resistance to rabies if it is exposed to the disease. You must be aware that there is no cure once it occurs. For this reason, many municipalities absoltely require that all dogs receive rabies vaccinations on a regular basis. Plus, you will definitely have to provide vaccination records if you want to travel with your dog across the United States or around the world.

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus
FIV attacks a cat's immune system, producing a slow-developing immunodeficiency disease that results in chronic secondary and opportunistic infections. These include respiratory, gastrointestinal, urinary tract, and skin infections, and general unthriftiness. Various cancers may also develop. FIV infection is lifelong. However, FIV disease is relatively uncommon and most cats remain normal for extended periods until immunodeficiency occurs.

Feline Infectious Peritonitis
Feline infectious peritonitis begins as an upper respiratory infection that can progress to a widely distributed inflammation of tissues and organs, including peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal cavity). Although not always present, a classic sign of FIP is abdominal swelling with fluid as a result of inflammation. FIP is caused by coronavirus that is transmitted by contact with infected cats. Once signs of FIP appear, death loss approaches 100 percent. Cats 2 years of age and younger and elderly cats are most often affected.


Parasites and Pest

Heartworm Disease
Heartworm is a parasitic disease that can affect any dog or cat regardless of age, sex or habitat. Heartworms live in the heart and lungs of an infected animal. The disease can lead to heart failure and death. Heartworm disease is spread by mosquitoes and therefore tends to have a higher incidence in areas heavily populated by mosquitoes. Dogs are considered the most common host for heartworms, however heartworms may also infect cats. 

Roundworms
Roundworms are very common internal parasites. They live in the intestines and feed on partially digested food. Cats continue to be susceptible to infection throughout their life, whereas some dogs develop a resistance. In pregnant animals, dormant larvae are stimulated to migrate to the unborn, resulting in healthy mothers, producing heavily parasitized young. In humans, roundworms can cause a serious condition known as visceral larva migrans. Proper hand washing can prevent infection. Deworming of puppies and preventive medication will reduce environmental contamination.

Hookworms
Hookworms latch onto the intestinal wall and feed on blood and tissue. Hookworms can infect a pet at any age but are life-threatening to the very young. Hookworm infection occurs through eating contaminated soil, drinking milk from an infected mother or by infective larvae burrowing into the skin of the paw. Human infection can occur when larvae in contaminated soil penetrate the skin. In humans, hookworm larvae do not migrate to the intestines as they do in pets. Instead, they move around under the skin and eventually die causing an inflammatory skin reaction known as cutaneous larva migrans, or "creeping eruptions."

Tapeworms
Adult tapeworms anchor to the wall of the small intestine by hooks or suckers. They use an intermediate host (rodents/birds) for part of their development. The final host, your pet, eats the contaminated prey and the tapeworm can complete its life cycle. Pets can also become infected when they ingest fleas or biting lice carrying the larval form of the tapeworm. Pets do not develop resitance to tapeworms and are readily reinfected. Segments of the worms may be found in the feces, or in the pet's coat. Humans can be the intermediate host for some tapeworms. Cysts are formed in different organs which can cause a variety of diseases.

Whipworms
Whipworm infection is caused by direct ingestion of eggs in contaminated food or soil. Pets of all ages can be easily infected. Whipworm eggs can survive extreme climatic or environmental conditions and can remain alive in the environment for years.