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You can easily
maintain the health of your cat at home. Before going to see a veterinarian,
check your cat's health with a mini-physical exam. Several steps are involved in
giving your cat a mini-physical. Some of the most important are:
Put
your hands on your pet.
Grooming
provides you with an excellent opportunity to examine your cat. When you do,
check the following for scars, fleas, rashes, and other potential problems:
- Feet
- Mouth
- Tail
- All
other body parts.
Report any
painful spots or abnormalities to your veterinarian.
Check
the ears.
Your cat's ears should be clean and odor free. The
problems to watch for are:
- wax
buildup
- foul
smelling discharge
- brown,
dirty flakes.
Never insert
anything into the ear canal to clean the ear. Always use a cotton ball or swab
and call your veterinarian if you notice any hazards.
Examine the eyes.
They should be clear with little to no discharge.
Tear overflow, especially in Persians, can stain the face. Accumulation of mucus
in the corner of the eyes can be gently cleaned away with a cotton ball
moistened with warm water or weak saline solution. Persistent tearing or
discharge requires veterinary care.
Smell
your cat's breath and examine his teeth.
The following are warning signs of health problems:
- strong
odor
- plaque
buildup
- broken
teeth.
To remove
plaque use a damp piece of gauze wrapped around your finger, a soft toothbrush,
or finger-brush especially designed for cats. Your cat may be more positively
responsive to having its teeth brushed if you use a toothpaste specially
formulated for cats. Once plaque hardens into tartar it will require removal by
your veterinarian.
Check
your longhaired cat for a clean under-tail area.
Keep this area clipped short. Matted hair can
restrict defecation and cause skin problems. Skin that is in constant contact
with urine, due to matting, is prone to irritation and infection.
Trim
the claws and check for redness and swelling.
To trim your cat's claws, do the following:
- Press
the paw gently to expose the claw.
- Cut only
the tip.
- Do not
cut the pink area, or quick, since this can cause pain and bleeding.
If you are
unsure about the procedure, ask your cat's veterinarian show you by example.
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