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NUTRITION A healthy diet that provides proper levels of energy and nutrients is the foundation for well-being and disease prevention. Your cat needs a protein-rich food with the highest quality amino acids, such as those found in most premium Pet foods. Your Pet also needs "life cycle feeding," which means a diet that corresponds to your cat's age. For example, a kitten needs a diet rich in calories and minerals for a more active lifestyle and for healthy, growing bones and muscles. An older cat on the same diet could quickly gain weight. The best food for older cats is restricted in fat and supplemented with fiber. At Banfield, nutritional counseling is included in every Wellness Plan. We're always ready to help you make a lifetime of good decisions about nutrition for your Pets. Royal Canin Veterinary Diets are the preferred veterinary and maintenance diets of Banfield, The Pet Hospital. Learn more about Royal Canin Veterinary Diets here > ^ top VACCINATION Vaccination protects your cat from many viral diseases, including feline infectious peritonitis (FIP); feline leukemia virus (FeLV) infection; giardia; and herpes virus infection. These organisms cause a wide range of disease symptoms, from sneezing to death. Just like a child, your cat needs to be protected at an early age and given boosters as an adult. At Banfield, we will develop the safest possible vaccine schedule for your Pet; if your cat is on a Wellness Plan, he or she is covered by our 100% Vaccine Warranty. ^ top PARASITE CONTROL Many kittens are born with worms, which attach to the intestinal lining and can cause painful diarrhea or life-threatening conditions. Intestinal worms stunt your cat's growth and energy level by competing with your Pet for nutrients, and some types of worms can be transmitted to humans. At Banfield, we use a microscope to check for worm eggs in your cat's stool sample. All Wellness Plans cover these routine fecal checks, and we will always recommend the safest and most effective deworming medication at the appropriate time for your Pet. In fact, all kittens are routinely dewormed to prevent or treat intestinal worm infections. Ask your Banfield doctor to design a deworming plan for your Pet's needs. For example, cats at risk for heartworms—a different type of worm that causes severe cardiovascular disease—will need a preventive dewormer specifically for that parasite. We'll also help you with the pests that assault your Pet from the outside, like fleas, ticks, lice, and mites. ^ top SPAYING AND NEUTERING As your Pet's voice and keeper, you will make many important preventive care decisions, one of which is whether to spay or neuter your cat. Scheduling this important surgery early in your Pet's life helps prevent many future problems, among them uterine infections, cat fights, roaming, spraying, and overpopulation. Spays (which are technically known as ovariohysterectomies) and neuters are routine and generally safe, but they are major surgeries that require general anesthesia and an all-day stay. Banfield uses safe, human-quality anesthetic agents, sevoflurane and propofol, for a faster recovery. Spays and neuters are usually performed when the Pet is four to six months old. ^ top ROUTINE CHECKUPS Think about the regular care you receive throughout your lifetime from pediatricians, dentists, physicians, allergists, ophthalmologists, and so on. Why settle for anything less for your Pet? Now think about the fact that Pets age an average of seven years for every one of ours, and it's clear why regular care is so critical. At Banfield, we recommend health checkups twice a year for your cat. These professional evaluations will help you make sure you're on track with your cat's health care. Keeping your Pet up to date on all aspects of health care gives your cat the best chance for a long, happy life. ^ top Authored by Brent Carroll, DVM |
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