Beach Park Animal Clinic

Vaccinations are still important for your feline housemate

by Alex Weber, DVM on 03/08/16

We are always trying to keep our cats safe and one of the oldest and most important things we can do is proper vaccinations. Having these done on a regular basis is one of the basics to giving your cat a long, healthy life. Although many people don't think that their cat needs these vaccines because of their indoor status, we need to think of immunization as an insurance policy that we hopefully never need to use. Recently, in Hillsborough county, there have been 2 cats with confirmed Rabies so it is still present in your community and presents as a public health issue.

Having your cats vaccinated and examined on a regular basis is one of the best ways to provide them with a long, healthy life. There are many vaccines out there so call your veterinarian and ask which vaccine protocol is best for your cat's situation.

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Importance of dental health for your cat

by Alex Weber, DVM on 10/29/15

One of the most important things that our veterinary staff does for our cat patients is care for their oral health. Clean teeth are important for maintaining an overall long, healthy life. We integrate an oral exam during the regular veterinary checkup and will make recommendations for proper prevention or treatment.

A important part of the preventative oral plan is brushing of your cats teeth. It can be a difficult task but with some proper guidance and perseverance, you can make it a regular event. We always recommend using a proper pet tooth paste and small tooth brush. Begin by letting your feline friend lick the tooth brush may help get the whole process rolling.

If your veterinarian sees tartar buildup during their exam, a thorough cleaning is required. This involves sedation so a proper ultrasonic scale and polish can be accomplished.

A healthy mouth is an important part of your cat's long, healthy life. Our Tampa cat vets can help you achieve this goal for your pet.

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Importance of regular veterinary exams for cats

by Alex Weber, DVM on 07/13/15

Our feline patients have inherited an incredible ability to hide symptoms of many diseases. This is a trait that was passed on from the bigger cats they are descended from. When living in the wild, hiding signs of sickness was important but with domesticated animals, it just makes it difficult to see when your pet is getting sick. Our cat vets in Tampa recommend maintaining yearly vigilance to help keep your cat healthy.

The first step our cat clinic in Tampa recommends is annual (minimally) examinations. Our veterinarians can pick up on many subtle signs of illness that may go unnoticed at home since you see your cat everyday. These can include weight changes, appetite changes and physical exam abnormalities. Based on the exam findings, additional preventative recommendations can be made to help your cat. These can include dietary advice, proper vaccination information, preventative lab work, and dental care. All of these things will help your cat have a better, longer quality of life.

Second most important thing that will help detect problems with your cat is blood work. Many things will show up in a standard lab panel before your cat is actually showing symptoms. Our Tampa cat hospital recommends annual, preventative lab work so we can stay proactive and ahead of many diseases your cat may have. Renal disease is one of the conditions that will be detected in advance of clinical symptoms. An average cat will not show symptoms of kidney disease until 75% of the kidney mass is not working. This is just one example of the importance of preventative lab work.

These two cornerstones of feline preventative care will help you give your cat the long, healthy life it deserves. Our Tampa cat veterinarians believe that by performing regular examinations, routine lab work, and preventative vaccinations we can catch many things early which will in turn lead to better, safer and less expensive treatment outcomes.

If you have any questions contact our cat veterinary clinic in Tampa at 813-289-3926

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Heartworm prevention in cats

by Alex Weber, DVM on 04/24/14

Normally, you wouldn't think about having your cat on heart worm prevention but the are not resistant to getting heart worms. Since we live in Florida, mosquitoes are everywhere and can spread heart worms to your cats. Symptoms are very similar to asthma or other respiratory problems. Getting your outdoor cats on a preventative monthly will help keep them much healthier and also protect them against fleas and intestinal parasites.

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Importance of dental health for your cat

by Alex Weber, DVM on 01/07/14

A very underrated aspect of your cat's health is it's teeth. At our cat hospital in Tampa FL, our veterinarians see oral disease almost on a daily basis. Since your cat doesn't brush it's teeth everyday, it is up to you and your veterinarian to keep an eye out for any dental problems. Unfortunately, many small problems can go undetected until they are larger and harder to handle. This is why having a yearly exam is extremely important. Your veterinarian will look at the teeth and determine if a cleaning, or any other treatments to maintain proper oral health, are needed.

Routine dental cleaning removes the plaque and tartar that holds the bacteria in your cat's mouth. This bacterial overload can make your pet susceptible to kidney infections, heart valve infections, tooth root abscesses, and bone infections. Once again, the importance of routine cleaning, before heavy amounts of tartar are visible, can not be stressed enough.

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