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GROTON CITY ANIMAL HOSPITAL

"Caring For Pets And Their People"
Providing Care For Horses, Alpacas, Llamas, Goats, Sheep, Dogs, Cats & Pocket Pets

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Feline Recommendations

We at Groton City Animal Hospital are concerned about providing the best overall medical care. Thus, we recommend the following exams, treatments and products for our feline patients. The veterinarian may vary some of these recommendations depending on your individual animal’s age, breed or other risk factors. Vaccinating your cat is a very important preventative health measure. The purpose of vaccination is to enhance the cat's own immunity to disease. The vaccine does not guarantee complete protection, but does provide the safest stimulant to the immune system available, enabling the cat to resist disease. An important factor in the success of a vaccination is the physical condition of the cat. The healthier the cat, the better the cat can respond to the vaccination and fight off sickness. Routine Physical Examination:
Yearly examinations are recommended in order to quickly detect medical problems. Early treatment and prevention can help your pet lead a healthy, long life. Feline Leukemia (FeLV)/FIV Testing:
Strongly recommended. 1 in 12 cats is silently infected with one of these two diseases. All new animals should be tested prior to introduction to a household. The veterinarian may also suggest doing this test if your cat is sick. Feline leukemia can be spread easily between cats through saliva, respiratory secretions and urine. Sharing litter boxes and food dishes is a common way the disease is spread. FIV is the feline form of AIDS. FIV is usually spread by bite wounds, and is only a disease of cats. Both diseases are fatal and there is no treatment available at this time. There is only a vaccine available to prevent feline leukemia at this time.
Vaccinations:
Rabies Vaccination

All cats are required by state law to be maintained up to date. First vaccine is given at 12 weeks of age. The first vaccine and any vaccine given overdue is good for one year. We are currently using Purevax feline rabies vaccine, the safest feline vaccine available. We have had rabies positive animals in Groton this year. Protect your family. Follow the law. FVRCP Vaccine (Feline Distemper)
Strongly recommended. Kittens require a series of boosters starting at 6 weeks of age. Adults require an annual booster followed by a three-year vaccine. This vaccine protects cats against a handful of common respiratory infections and distemper, a deadly gastrointestinal and neurologic disease. Feline Leukemia (FeLV) Vaccination
Strongly recommended for outdoor/indoor cats. This is a vaccine that can be started as early as 8 weeks. When first started a booster is required, then is repeated yearly in order to maintain protection. Indoor-only cats in households with other leukemia negative felines do not need this vaccination. Flea and Tick Control:
Recommended (April-October). We recommend Frontline. This is a monthly topical treatment guaranteed to kill adult fleas/ticks. Heartworm Prevention:
Optional . Heartworm is a disease transmitted by mosquitoes. The microscopic larva is injected into the blood where the worm matures and grows. As an adult it can be up to a foot long and lives in the heart where it causes congestive heart failure and then death. This is a rare disease in cats. However, when contracted the treatment is very risky and the disease is often fatal. If you have more questions about heartworm prevention for cats, ask our veterinarian at your next visit or give us a phone call.