Other than it being an injection, which could cause a bit of discomfort, there are no notable side effects. We can pick it up sometimes on an x-ray. However, we do not x-ray cats to find the microchip, we scan them. Only shelters, us, and the microchip company can get your information off a microchip.

The microchip can migrate, but if they're placed in the appropriate area, they don't tend to. However, some do migrate down on the legs or down the back. That's why we perform a scan over the whole pet before and after inserting the microchip to ensure we're not missing anything and the pet doesn't end up with two chips.

The microchip is inserted right between the shoulder blades of the cat. It does not go into a muscle but is just underneath the skin behind the neck. The microchip is inserted with a needle, which can be a little large. The cat can be awake or asleep during this process, although we recommend the latter as cats are a bit more reactive to things. We can definitely microchip your cat during other procedures if you're worried about them potentially getting out.

Often, we uncover underlying problems in our pets, especially as they age. If we diagnose a condition, such as early kidney disease, we will recommend bringing the cat back after a certain timeframe to check the values again. This is also applicable if we see an elevated liver enzyme, which might be transient and can return to normal after a couple of weeks. If we uncover something, we will follow a diagnostic pathway with you and work with you as a partner to do what's best for your pet.

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.