Should dogs have annual physical exam?
- Thread starter opus753
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I assume you mean cancer that's pretty established and has spread by the time it's found, because it is treatable early. Even if it's caught past the point where treatment is going to cure it or even be an option, I'd rather know in advance. Apart from the matter of wanting to spend that time with the pet, there's the issue of being able to keep the pet comfortable as long as possible.
We went for our annual in December. Was a waste of time as she'd been sick in November and I'd gotten a full blood panel done. He barely looked at Cider. My $60 was used so he could belittle me for not feeding Hills' as that is the root of everyone's issues, and so I could fight with him that his vacc protocols were out of date.
I won, but I feel he spent his time telling me off and calling me stupid and uneducated over food rather than actually giving Cider a check up.. I'm not sure we'll go at Xmas for one.
I won, but I feel he spent his time telling me off and calling me stupid and uneducated over food rather than actually giving Cider a check up.. I'm not sure we'll go at Xmas for one.
I was at the vet's with Tosca last week to weigh her and get some sentinel, and heart worm test (no checkup, not due yet). The head tech brought her out and asked her what I fed her. I told her Canidae and she lit up. She was thinking of switching her dog to canidae and was looking for someone who used it. We talked for quite awhile and she was just getting into nutrition beyond "science diet". She said the only 'educators' she ever sees are those hill's magicians so she decided to research it herself. She already had her cats on Felidae and was going to switch the dog to Canidae ASAP. That clinic pushes Hill's like there's no tomorrow. Fortunately my vet knows better than to even try that with me anymore.
Our cats were both in the early teens.. 12 or 13, on a yearly checkup schedule.
One got sick (tooth abscess actually), so we took it in, and the vet gave it a few months to live with liver cancer. There were a few treatments, but chemo for a 13 year old cat seemed rather excessive. That cat lived another year or two on its own, acting mostly like a normal cat!
Soon after he died, the other cat suddenly starting getting thinner and died quickly. What was never caught with this cat was that it also had advanced liver cancer.
It brings up some points of why wasn't it caught earlier, but even then, the treatment could probably kill the old cat anyway...
One got sick (tooth abscess actually), so we took it in, and the vet gave it a few months to live with liver cancer. There were a few treatments, but chemo for a 13 year old cat seemed rather excessive. That cat lived another year or two on its own, acting mostly like a normal cat!
Soon after he died, the other cat suddenly starting getting thinner and died quickly. What was never caught with this cat was that it also had advanced liver cancer.
It brings up some points of why wasn't it caught earlier, but even then, the treatment could probably kill the old cat anyway...
I've switched clinics sort of. They charged more than most around here for what was not good enough care. After being belittled because I didn't want Cider on 19% fiber hill's I'd had it..
For HW testing I called around and picked a small local clinic, they were nice, he took blood in one try.. (it was FOUR tries at the previous clinic while being told it's my fault she was squirming). Next appointment we'll be trying there again first..
For an industry that is customer service, I've been treated rudely asking minor Qs on the phone just trying to find gauge if a clinic might be okay for us or not.
For HW testing I called around and picked a small local clinic, they were nice, he took blood in one try.. (it was FOUR tries at the previous clinic while being told it's my fault she was squirming). Next appointment we'll be trying there again first..
For an industry that is customer service, I've been treated rudely asking minor Qs on the phone just trying to find gauge if a clinic might be okay for us or not.
Psy, teeth are CRITICAL to a cat's health. Most people don't realize that. They are one of the major mirrors to what's going to happen in the next few years. I really believe this. Bad teeth in a cat will kill it very fast, affecting other systems, kidneys, liver etc. Teeth cleaning of a cat is probably one of the nicest things you can do for it's overall well being and longevity. I cleaned a cat's teeth at age 18. He lived several years afterwards. Cats are not very good with anesthesia, and in the past I would have been very skittish about anesthethizing a senior cat for something like teeth cleaning. Today, I don't really see it as elective, more of necessity to the cat's health.And today, they have newer and less dangerous procedures and drugs to use to anesthetise and recover.
P.S. I agree that chemo in cats is essentially a waste of time in most cases for some reason. In some cases, it kills the cat.
P.S. I agree that chemo in cats is essentially a waste of time in most cases for some reason. In some cases, it kills the cat.
Yes, Phoebe has went every year just for a physical for the last 6 years........and Orson will too. I usually do it the same time as her shot & heartworm check.
They both also stop in just to get on the scale located in the lobby, no charge. The tech always offers a treat & petting afterward. Orson has gotten REALLY good at waking in the front door, getting on the scale, and sitting very still until the tech says the number..........He always makes her chuckle
I like popping by for a weigh in, even though our pet store has a scales, so they can be assured that the Vet isn't just the place where they poke and prod you
They both also stop in just to get on the scale located in the lobby, no charge. The tech always offers a treat & petting afterward. Orson has gotten REALLY good at waking in the front door, getting on the scale, and sitting very still until the tech says the number..........He always makes her chuckle
I like popping by for a weigh in, even though our pet store has a scales, so they can be assured that the Vet isn't just the place where they poke and prod you
Although I will no longer give vaccines to my dogs every year (doing titer tests), they will go for their yearly exams. I like having their blood panels run, as well as a fecal. Also, we get the bordetella vaccine since they are around other dogs quite often.
In the state of Florida, they require a 3 year rabies vaccine, so we will be doing this because we have to =/
In the state of Florida, they require a 3 year rabies vaccine, so we will be doing this because we have to =/