Why Should I Get My Senior Cat’s Blood and Urine Tested Every Year?

Cats are independent animals—sometimes so much so that they can project a sense that they don’t even need us. But we know that’s not true, especially when they curl up next to us and start purring loudly when we pet them.

Perhaps because of that independence, it is difficult to tell if there’s something wrong health-wise with a cat. They do not always let us know if they’re feeling bad, and it can be tough to know if there’s a bigger problem going on inside their body. If left untreated, some problems can become much worse as time goes on, especially in senior cats. This is why it’s important to perform annual blood testing in senior cats in Alexandria, VA.

Benefits of senior cat testing

There are many benefits of running tests to check on the health of senior cats. As mentioned, they are independent creatures, so owners need to be proactive in detecting problems before any symptoms start to show themselves. One of the biggest benefits of senior cat testing in Alexandria, VA is early detection of health issues.

It’s recommended to get annual blood testing in senior care. That means scheduling blood tests every year, regardless of any symptoms that may or may not be present. Blood tests will check a variety of things like red blood cell counts, white blood cell counts and biochemical parameters that can paint a more accurate picture of the internal health of your cat.

Blood tests can be crucial for early detection of health issues. Some of these issues include liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes and hyperthyroidism. That last one, hyperthyroidism, is caused by overactive thyroid glands and is especially common in older cats. In fact, there is a specific test for senior cats to check for this.

Blood testing can also check for viral diseases that may not have visible symptoms early in their development. Two examples are feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), both of which can lead to the development of fatal illness if not detected and treated early on. While these diseases are often contracted when cats are young, it’s still important to continue testing cats well into senior age to make sure these issues do not go undetected.

When to get blood tests

A vet will often take a blood sample on a cat’s first visit to establish a baseline and check for any underlying conditions right off the bat. This helps to get a baseline understanding of the cat’s health. Once that’s been established, blood tests are recommended as part of wellness and annual exams. Blood tests may also be taken if you bring in your cat to get checked out for abnormal behavior or other symptoms.

When you are ready to get annual blood testing for your senior cat in Alexandria, VA, call Kingstowne Cat Clinic. As a full-service cat clinic, we specialize in wellness care and are ready to meet all of your cat care needs. We look forward to meeting you and your pet!

Categorised in: Senior Cats

This post was written by Writer