Cats are animals that can tolerate illness very well. It is not easy to tell that a cat is uncomfortable until the condition becomes extremely serious. Therefore, it is very important for cats to have regular health check-ups! The growth rate of cats is about 4 to 5 times faster than that of humans. One year of a cat can be said to be four years of a human, so it is best for older cats It is best to have a health checkup every six months. Even for young cats, it is better to have a health checkup once a year!

1. Health check-up allows owners to understand the normal physical parameters of cats

The biggest advantage of regular health check-ups is that you can understand the various values ​​​​of your cat’s normal health. The general standard is based on collecting data on many healthy cats. However, the values ​​of some healthy cats may not be within the range, and may be higher or lower. If you usually know the values ​​of your own cats, you can compare them with yourself. Immediately determine whether it is abnormal and whether further inspection is required. Especially if the cat enters an advanced age, regular health examinations are indispensable!

2. Three common health problems in elderly cats

1. Chronic kidney disease

After cats enter their advanced age, the proportion of cats suffering from kidney disease is very high. Therefore, middle-aged and senior cats over seven years old must undergo "blood tests" and "urine tests"! The first symptom that will appear when kidney function becomes low is that the urine will become lighter; however, the urine is usually absorbed by the cat litter , few owners can discover it on their own. The kidney is an organ that is not easy to detect abnormalities. By the time the owner feels something is wrong, the situation is usually quite serious! If abnormal values ​​are found in urine tests, usually more than 2/3 of the kidney function has been damaged; and when abnormal values ​​are also found in blood tests , the kidneys have usually lost more than 3/4 of their function! But even so, as long as the cat's condition can be discovered, treatment can be given. As long as you are careful not to continue to burden the kidneys, it is still possible to survive for a long time!

2. Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism is also one of the diseases that is likely to appear in elderly cats. As long as the thyroid hormone value is high during blood tests, it is necessary to suspect hyperthyroidism. Thyroid hormone can improve the body's metabolic function and activate body functions. Therefore, the initial symptoms of hyperthyroidism are increased food intake and increased water drinking. If you don't pay special attention, you will mistakenly think that the cat is very healthy and energetic recently, which often makes owners It cannot be discovered immediately.

As the disease progresses, cats will suddenly lose weight. Most owners will only find out at this stage and take their cats to the doctor. If you find that your cat seems particularly energetic recently, look at it.Bright eyes, meowing in the middle of the night, sudden weight loss after eating a lot, etc. are symptoms of hyperthyroidism. You must go to the hospital for a detailed examination as soon as possible!

3. Oral problems

Through oral examination, you can observe the status of cat’s dental calculus, whether there is stomatitis or periodontal disease, whether there are any abnormalities under the tongue, etc. Cats generally don't like having their mouths touched, so some cats must use anesthesia. Usually when a cat has an oral problem, the first symptom that can be noticed is bad breath. In addition, things like head shaking when eating, food falling easily, drooling, making noises when eating, front feet being easily buried when wiping the mouth... etc. are all symptoms of oral problems. If it hurts, the cat will also become less interested in grooming. Periodontal disease and stomatitis are both oral diseases that cats are prone to. There are many causes of stomatitis, most of which are caused by diseases with insufficient immunity such as feline AIDS and feline leukemia. Tooth extraction is a more effective solution. After the affected teeth are extracted, 60% of cats will get better. In addition, cats with poor kidneys are also prone to ulcers in the mouth, stomach and intestines due to uremia.

In addition to the above three common diseases, senior cats, like humans, are more likely to suffer from certain tumors/cancers as they age. Therefore, please be sure to develop the habit of taking your cat for regular health check-ups. Early detection and early treatment!