Comprehensive Cat Health Check-Up Guide: Part 2

Section 1: Routine Health Checkups for Cats

A comprehensive cat health examination typically encompasses three main areas: physical examination, laboratory tests, and imaging studies.

Starting with the physical examination, this involves a thorough inspection of the cat's entire body, which generally includes visual, tactile, and auditory assessments.

1. Mental State:

Observe the cat's level of consciousness and responsiveness to external stimuli. Determine if the cat shows interest or reacts to toys like a wand or to new environments.

2. Neurological System:

Check for any abnormal gait or posture, such as tilting the head or nystagmus, which may indicate neurological issues.

3. Eyes:

Inspect the eyelids for inversion, the clarity of the cornea, and the presence of eye boogers, ensuring symmetry in the eyes.

4. Ears:

Raise the ear flaps to view the outer ear canal and use an otoscope to examine the deeper part of the ear canal for discharge, earwax, or inflammation.

5. Teeth:

Press on the gum tissue to assess the rate of blood flow return after lifting your hand. Look for signs of tartar, missing teeth, or inflamed gums.

6. Nose:

Check for excessive discharge and the smoothness and moisture of the nostrils.

7. Skin:

Evaluate the quality of the fur, looking for excessive shedding, dandruff, lumps, or parasites on the cat's body.

8. Cardiovascular System:

Use a stethoscope to check for normal heart rhythm, any murmurs, regular heartbeat, and for any abnormal sounds during breathing.

9. Anal Examination:

Look for any unusual colors, swelling, or discharge.

10. Musculoskeletal System:

Through palpation, feel for muscle atrophy and pain in large joints like the hips, elbows, and knees.

11. Body Temperature:

The normal rectal temperature for cats is approximately 38.639.2 degrees Celsius, with a slight variation at the root of the thigh.

Section 2: Laboratory Tests, Including Ear, Skin, Fecal, Blood, and Biochemical Analysis

1. Ear Examination:

Collect ear canal secretions and use a microscope as the primary tool, with an otoscope as a secondary aid, to rule out mites and ringworm infections.

2. Skin Examination:

Conduct visual and tactile inspections of the skin, and if suspicious lesions are found, take skin scrapings for microscopic analysis to determine if the infection is bacterial or fungal.

3. Fecal Examination:

Check for parasitic infections, assess the vitality of the cat's gut flora, and evaluate digestion. The presence of white blood cells may indicate intestinal inflammation, while red blood cells could suggest bleeding.

4. Blood Tests:

Focus on white blood cells (indicating dehydration), red blood cells (indicating inflammation), and platelets (indicating endocrine or immunemediated diseases). While blood tests can provide insights into a cat's health, they should be interpreted in conjunction with physical examinations, clinical symptoms, and biochemical tests.

5. Biochemical Tests:

These can detect diseases in the cat's liver and kidney systems, such as protein tests that can measure the liver's synthesis and metabolic functions.

Section 3: Imaging Studies, Including Ultrasound and Xrays

1. Ultrasound:

Full abdominal color Doppler ultrasound is recommended for all cats. For larger adult cats, both abdominal and cardiac ultrasounds are advisable. Ultrasound can visualize changes in abdominal internal organs, such as tumors, and assess the condition of the liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, intestines, and lymph nodes.

2. Xrays:

Provide a general assessment of chest issues, such as lung tumors or an enlarged heart. For added assurance, a CT scan can be performed.

Cat health checkups can indeed be a complex and meticulous process. However, with a better understanding, pet owners can make informed decisions, ensuring a safer and more secure life for their feline companions.