Managing Chronic Illness
Diabetes, Kidney Disease, Hyperthyroidism, Cancer, Arthritis
Although we love cats of all ages, (nothing cuter than a kitten), our favorite patients are our older kitties (we have some older kitties of our own). And older kitties often have chronic disease.
Our goal is for your older cat to be blissfully unaware of any medical problems they may have. We strive to do this in the following ways: Regular monitoring – we want to know about a possible problem BEFORE it happens and prevent it. To do this we may recommend regular examinations and blood work.
Easy to administer medications – we do everything possible to find a method of giving your cat medications that is not stressful to either one of you. Some cats do well with liquids, some with good tasting chews, some do better with tablets, and still others do best with transdermal gels (the medication is applied to the skin where it is absorbed into the bloodstream). Occasionally injections may be necessary and if it isn’t something that stings, we can teach you how to give these at home.
Counseling – We have all walked in your shoes. Our own older kitties have had medical problems and we know how difficult it can be to make decisions regarding their care. We will provide you with the information to make the right decision for your cat. When the time comes when there it nothing more we can do, we will let you know, and help you make that decision too.
And when it comes time to make the decision to prevent suffering (one that none of us ever wants to make), we will walk with you as you make your decision and stand by you during the process. We have adapted the "Quality of Lfe Scale" from Dr. Alice Villaloboos to help you determine the state of your kitty's quality of life. Click here to view.
