Kittens may need lab work if they are sick and should have a blood test called a leukemia FIV test performed at the time of adoption and then 60 days later. Young cats should have blood work run anytime they are sick, and we recommend annual preventative lab work. Senior cats should have blood work run at least annually, and depending on their health status, we may recommend semi-annual exams that might include blood work. Any time that your pet is sick, depending on the case, we may recommend blood work.

There are several ways to draw blood from a cat. We can draw it from the jugular vein, located in the neck, or a back leg vein, where the cat lays on their side and we draw it from the inside of the back leg. The method used depends on the cat, as we aim to decrease any stress the cat might be feeling. We understand that one of the major concerns with bringing a cat into the veterinary office is causing stress or discomfort to the cat, which we strive to avoid.

Drawing blood from a cat is similar to humans having blood drawn. Reactions vary, with some individuals not bothered by the process while others may find it distressing. If we have a cat that is extremely stressed or nervous, we will not push them. Instead, we will discuss the situation with you and may suggest bringing the cat back in on a mild sedative to help alleviate the stress.

No, physical therapy and rehabilitation is usually very comfortable for cats. While they may feel some methods like acupuncture a little, it's not painful. Other methods like laser treatment and massage are not felt at all. This is all about comfort, so there shouldn't be any pain involved.

Physical therapy for cats is generally very safe. If your cat is very nervous or has a heart issue, it's best to contact us first because cats can get very stressed out. But generally, this is about as safe as it gets.

The need for physical therapy in cats is diagnosed through working with your general vet. We may need to get x-rays or perform advanced diagnostics. When we do our physical rehabilitation assessment, we measure limbs, assess muscle mass, check the range of motion of the joints, and observe their walk. We use our experience and training to determine what needs to be addressed first. It's always good to have as much information as possible. Therefore, I recommend seeing your veterinarian first, doing whatever diagnostics need to be done there, and then coming to see us where we're highly trained in this particular area.

Physical rehabilitation for animals requires specialized training, so it's recommended to find someone who is certified in this field. It's not as simple as just using a laser. I highly recommend finding someone certified in physical rehabilitation to work on your cat.