Clinique Vétérinaire Lasalle

A cute little four-legged creature has just make its way into your life? We recommend that you immediately make an appointment with your veterinarian. Whether you cat is a very young kitten or an adult, it is important to ensure that he/she is in good health. Don't forget that certain diseases are transmittable to humans. When you visit us, we will give you all kinds of useful information and we will answer all your questions.

If you are adopting a cat for the first time, we recommend that you take the time to read a book on felines. You will be better able to understand his behaviour at home and his way of interacting with other members of his family.

We believe that preventative medicine is the best way to maintain your cat in good health for as long as possible. We recommend a general health examination once a year.

Your cat cannot talk so he cannot tell you when he is not feeling well. Our experience shows that the animal is often ill for a certain time before his master notices. The veterinarian will examine his fur, eyes, skin and ears; he will feel his abdomen and use a stethoscope to listen for the smallest sign of illnesses. He/she will question you to find out if there have been changes in your cat's habits. Does he drink more? Are his stools liquid? And yet more questions... You will also meet with an animal health technician who will answer all your questions concerning the maintenance of your animal: cutting claws, cleaning ears, taking care of teeth, diet, behaviour, etc.

Vaccinating your animal is important. It is the only secure way to make him produce antibodies to defend himself against potentially dangerous diseases during his and your life (rabies for example). Routinely, we vaccinate against viral rhinotracheitis, calcivirus and panleukopenia. Other vaccinations are not given routinely but, if your cat goes outdoors, we will also recommend vaccinations against rabies, leukemia and FIV (Feline Immunodificiency Virus).

The normal vaccination program for a kitten begins with the basic vaccine at his first visit at 8 weeks old followed by a recall every 3 to 4 weeks until the kitten is more that 12 weeks old. This may vary if vaccination began earlier. Subsequently, during annual health examinations, we will give him all the necessary vaccines according to his needs.

We recommend that all kittens be tested for FIV (Feline Immunodeficiency Virus) and leukemia when they come for one of their first visits. FIV and leukemia are transmitted by the mother when pregnant. If your kitten was born outside, he may also have been infected by another cat..
TO FIND OUT MORE…Read the technical file Feline Leukemia

It is important to have your kitten's stools analyzed during his first visit, even if he was previously dewormed. There is a wide variety of parasites, all of which are not affected by conventional deworming agents. We recommend various stool analysis during your animal's first few months -- at 8 weeks, at 16 weeks and when his stools are soft, liquid, contain blood and/or when he is vomiting. In the adult cat, stool analysis must be done annually.

Deworming your animal against roundworms and hookworms, even if the stool analysis is negative, is recommended. The latest scientific studies indicate that numerous analysis may be falsely negative depending on the degree of infestation in the cat and the stage at which the parasites are laying eggs. Taking into consideration the larval migration to humans, mainly children, and the contamination of the environment, specialists recommend deworming your cat every two weeks until the age of three months then once a month until the age of six months. For adult cats, deworming is recommended four times a year.

Sterilization is recommended for all non-reproductive cats. it is important to prevent behavioural and health problems. Sterilization must be demystified. First, it is false that a female cat must have been in heat at least once or have had one litter before she can be sterilized. It is proven that sterilization before the cat first comes in heat diminishes the risk of mammary cancer (equivalent to breast cancer in women!). A fertile cat will have two or three litters per year. She will devote all her reserves of energy to this process and will therefore live far less long, while her uterus will become an ideal area for infection (pyometer) and cancer.

After sterilization, a good diet and exercise can prevent eventual weight gain often wrongly associated as a direct consequence of sterilization.

At all times, make sure that fresh water is available to your cat. As far as diet is concerned, some cats prefer eating meals while others nibble all day long. It is important to determine what is best for your cat since certain health problems such as obesity and anorexia could develop if the ideal quantity of food is not given.

Your cat may have access to food at all times if he is not a glutton! We recommend regular and separate meals for cats with a tendency to loose weight easily. Meal frequency may vary from cat to cat – discuss it with your veterinarian at your next visit.

Bones and food scraps should be banned! Bones can be crushed and small pointed ends could pierce the stomach or intestines or even remain lodged in the rectum! Food scraps in small amounts (less than 10% of the daily food quantity) will not hinder a balanced diet but watch out for obesity! Cookies are treats that you can give to your cat in reasonable quantities. Choose high quality treats to prevent urinary crystals, tartar and obesity … which are frequent problems!

Your cat will not eat the same food all its life. We have a complete selection of foods adapted to the age and physical condition of your animal.

We recommend you buy the food we sell at the Clinic. Generally, it is of the best quality for about the same price…we have compared prices. One of our workshops deals with this subject and you can register to this workshop at all times. If you do not have time to attend such a workshop, one of our Technicians will be happy to answer your questions when next you visit our Clinic … you can even make an appointment to specifically talk about your cat’s diet. This service is free.

Cats often experience urinary problems. Various factors are responsible for these problems : genetic predisposition, diet, obesity, lack of exercise, being kept indoors and using a litter box. Typical symptoms are : a cat has difficulty urinating, urinates in small quantities or at changing frequencies or is unable to urinate (urinary blockage), has visible blood in his urine or urinates outside his litter box.

There is no doubt that a cat who has such symptoms must be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible. However, please note that in the case of urinary blockage, we only have a few hours to take action! To prevent these problems, it is generally necessary to :

Fleas can cause skin problems and can be carriers of diseases and intestinal parasites. It is important to prevent infestation during high-risk periods, i.e. from June to November, or if you travel to warm countries with your cat outside this period. In the case of home infestations, we will concentrate on discussing possible treatments. Very easy to use and efficient products are now easily available and can simplify our lives by preventing and/or treating the problem. Talk about it with your veterinarian.

Your cat will have permanent teeth at about six months of age. Meanwhile, arm yourself with patience and give him lots of teething toys along with various forms and textures.

To keep your cat’s teeth healthy, brushing 2 or 3 times a week is ideal and must be started when he is very young to facilitate his acceptance of this level of handling. Toothpaste designed for animals should be used since your cat will swallow it. Dental diets, specially designed to reduce the accumulation of plaque and tartar, are available from the Clinic.

During the annual general examination, the veterinarian will examine your cat’s teeth and make recommendations. When necessary, the veterinarian will recommend tartar removal and teeth polishing for your pet. These procedures will always be done under general anesthesia and allows us to extract teeth, if necessary, while doing a more in-depth examination of your animal’s mouth.

Your cat does not require regular baths. If your cat dirties himself accidentally or if he is having skin problems requiring baths, you must use a non-detergent, hypoallergenic shampoo and rinse well. If your cat develops a skin problem, contact your veterinarian to find out what is the most appropriate treatment. Cats can be brushed regularly, especially long-haired ones.

Nail Clipping must be done once a month or more often depending on your cat’s needs. Handling his paws very often when he is still very young will help him accept the procedure and encourage his cooperation. The technique and instrument used are also important factors to avoid injuring your cat, which could in turn make future handling even more difficult! Ideally, ask your Technician to give you a good demonstration and discuss what instrument he/she thinks is the best to use for your cat. If you are not comfortable with this procedure, we will be happy to do it for you at our Clinic.

Cats do not need to have their ears cleaned regularly. However, should your cat need to have his ears cleaned, the veterinarian will give you the necessary advice. It is important to use a product which cleans, dries and dissolves wax at the same time. We have designed a workshop to explain how you can do this and what products to use. Register now!

According to comparison charts, when a cat reaches the age of 7 years, it is the equivalent of a human reaching 44 years old. Your cat is half way through his life. At this age, he becomes susceptible to developing certain diseases such as diabetes, kidney infections, cardiac problems, cancer… From age 7 on, we recommend a complete health profile of your cat on a regular basis. Discuss this with your veterinarian.

Perhaps you just adopted a kitten and are not ready to think about the end of his life? You have lots of time!

If bad luck hits and your friend is ill, or he is getting on in years and his departure is beginning to worry you…do not hesitate to talk with us. We are at your disposal to give you all the information you will need to make a serene decision…You can count on us to help you. Many members of our staff have had to face this painful decision for their own animals so they can understand how you feel.