Senior Feline

Age: 10+ years

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Core Vaccines & Schedules

Vaccine

Booster Recommendation

Comments

CORE VACCINES

Rabies

After 1-yr and then every 3-yr

Follow local regulations.

‍Feline Panleukopenia Virus (Panleukopenia; FPL)*

After 1-yr and then every 3-yr

Included in FVRCP

Feline Herpesvirus-1
‍(FHV-1)*

After 1-yr and then every 3-yr

Included in FVRCP

Feline Calicivirus (FCV)*

After 1-yr and then every 3-yr

Included in FVRCP

ADDITIONAL VACCINES

Feline Leukemia Virus*

Annual

Recommended for cats at risk of exposure

*Repeat once 3-4 weeks after initial vaccine if not previously boostered appropriately

Annual Senior Wellness Visit Summary

Service Provided

Product / Service Info

MEDICAL SERVICES

Physical Examination

Nail Trim

Maintenance

IMMUNIZATION

Rabies 3-years vaccine

NOBIVAC 3-RABIES (Merck)
VANGUARD RABIES 3 YEAR (Zoetis)
RAB VAC 3 (Elanco)
PUREVAX FELINE RABIES 3 YEAR (BI)

FVRCP Vaccine

PureVax Feline 3 RCP

Nobivac Feline 1-HCP Vaccine

Feline Leukemia Vaccine

NOBIVAC FeLV 2 year DOI (Merck)

PUREVAX Recombinant FeLV (BI)

VANGUARD Feline FeLV (Zoetis)

TRUFEL ULTRA FeLV (ULTRA Fel-O-Vax FeLV; Elanco)

DIAGNOSTICS

IDEXX Fecal Ova and Parasites (501)

Lifestyle screen (i.e. only if the cat is outdoor orcatches mice)

Senior Screen with Fecal Dx Profile, LabFeline Triple Test and Reflex UPC(45109999)

Chem 25 with IDEXX SDMA® Test, IDEXX CBC®,fecal ova and parasites, hookworm, roundworm and whipworm antigen immunoassays, Lab FelineTriple® Test, total T4, urinalysis with reflex urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) if indicated

Tonometry
‍
Or
‍
Comprehensive Ophthalmic Evaluation

Routine Screening

Includes Tonometry, Schirmer Tear Test andFluorescein Eye Stain

AFAST/TFAST Wellness Ultrasound scan

*Ultrasound-guided cystocentesis also performedduring routine AFAST for routine urinalysis

Blood Pressure- Doppler Ultrasound

Routine screening

PREVENTATIVES

Profender for Cats and Kittens

Single dose applied/provided

NexGard COMBO

12 month supply provided

Dasuquin Sprinkle Caps

Joint supplements

Diagnostics

There are four main categories of wellness testing for senior cats: complete blood count (CBC),biochemistry profile, urinalysis and thyroid hormone testing. Comprehensive testing is recommended for senior cats due to the higher risk of underlying disease. Senior Screen withFecal Dx Profile, Lab Feline Triple Test and Reflex UPC (45109999) (ID 133013, $199) covers the necessary elements for early detection and prevention of common diseases and, therefore, the recommended test by The Vets Internal Medicine expert, Dr. Andrea Johnston. Possible

alternatives are outlined below.

Test Name

Info

Price

TIER 1

Senior Screen with Fecal Dx Profile, Lab Feline Triple Test and Reflex UPC (45109999)

Chem 25 with IDEXX SDMA® Test, IDEXX CBC®, fecal ova and parasites, hookworm, roundworm and whipworm antigen immunoassays, Lab Feline Triple® Test, total T4, urinalysis with reflex urine protein:creatinine ratio (UPC) if indicated

$199

TIER 2

Adult Annual with Fecal Dx® Profile and Lab Feline Triple® Test (38819999)

Chem 18 with IDEXX SDMA® Test, IDEXX CBC®, fecal ova and parasites, hookworm, roundworm and whipworm antigen immunoassays, Lab Feline Triple® Test

$216.98

T4, Total Add-on (22)

$20.98

IDEXX Urinalysis Add-on (9101)

$55.18

TIER 3

ADRChek® Profile Plus with Spec fPL® Test—Feline (27329999)

Chem 25 with IDEXX SDMA® Test, IDEXX CBC®, Spec fPL® Test, total T4

$286.98

IDEXX Fecal Ova and Parasites (501)

$41.98

FeLV/FIV Combo ELISA Test - In House

$44.78

IDEXX Urinalysis Add-on (9101)

$55.18

Parasiticides Comparison

Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) Data

Discussion Points for Pet Parents

ASPCA Animal Poison Control

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control

If you think your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, call (888) 426-4435.
List of toxic plants with images. Most dangerous toxic plants: Sago palms, azaleas, and rhododendrons.
List of toxic human foods. Most dangerous human foods: chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, chives, and products containing xylitol sweetener.

Raw food diets

The AVMA and AAHA discourage the feeding of raw animal-source protein due to the high risk of illness to both pets and humans. Pathogens found in raw protein diets can be transmitted to the human population by contact with the food, pet, or environmental surfaces.

Indoor versus outdoor cat?

While many cats enjoy an outdoor lifestyle, we recommend trying to keep cats indoors to reduce risk of disease and harm to native flora and fauna. It has been suggested that indoor cats live longer than outdoor cats and have reduced risk of infectious disease [1].

Feline Sterilization

The AVMA recommends sterilization of cats not being used for breeding and supports recommendations made by the American Association of Feline Practitioners (catvets.com) regarding feline sterilization. [Literature references within linked document] Additional resources, including client handouts on pet sterilization, can be found at [Elective spaying and neutering of pets | American Veterinary Medical Association (avma.org)].

Breed Associated Health Risks

Health risks by breed can be searched at (icatcare.org) under the Cat Health A-Z query. Limited largescale publications on cat breed survival risks are available [1].

‍
Osteochondrodystrophic (Scottish fold) and achondroplasia (Munchkin) cat breeds

Cats with heritable bone and cartilage disorders may benefit from joint supplements (no supporting literature) and many will ultimately require multimodal treatment for pain. Intervertebral disk disease has been reported.

‍

Congenital cardiovascular disease

In young cats with murmurs, ~0.14% have congenital heart disease [2]. In mixed breed cats, ventricular septal defects are the most common congenital heart disease followed by aortic stenosis and hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. Some breeds, including the Maine Coon, are predisposed to congenital heart disease [3]. A genetic screening test for Maine Coon hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is available (Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) in Maine Coons | Veterinary Genetics Laboratory (ucdavis.edu) but does not rule out the development of HCM. If a murmur or arrhythmia is detected on an annual physical exam, a thoracic radiograph or EKG should be pursued. If these are abnormal, a cardiology referral is recommended [4, open access with helpful diagnostic flow chart].

‍

Congenital kidney disease

Polycystic Kidney Disease: (Cats) Persian and related cat breeds.

Diagnosis: cortical kidney cysts present on ultrasound in juveniles, a genetic test is available at UC Davis but is usually unnecessary for diagnosis [5].

‍

Congenital hepatobiliary disease including vascular anomalies

Ductal plate malformations (polycystic liver disease, choledochal cysts): Rare in cats, usually identified in adult cats.

Diagnosis: cystic malformations of the liver and/or biliary tract on abdominal ultrasound.
‍
Portosystemic vascular malformations (Extravascular portosystemic shunts): Uncommonly diagnosed in cats.
Clinical signs and physical exam findings include drooling, lethargy, poor appetite, polyuria/polydipsia, small size, copper colored eyes, and rarely seizures. Lower urinary tract signs may develop secondary to ammonium biurate urolithiasis. Many cats with vascular anomalies have no physical abnormalities or overt clinical signs.

o Diagnosis: Paired serum bile acids. If a paired serum bile acids test is abnormal, CT angiogram will be needed for definitive diagnosis. Protein C cannot be used to diagnose portosystemic shunts in cats.

o Treatment: Cats with a portosystemic shunt should be started on medical management (lactulose and gut flora modulation).

Ductal plate malformations (polycystic liver disease, choledochal cysts): Rare in cats, usually identified in adult cats.
—Diagnosis: cystic malformations of the liver and/or biliary tract on abdominal ultrasound.
Portosystemic vascular malformations (Extravascular portosystemic shunts): Uncommonly diagnosed in cats
—Clinical signs and physical exam findings include drooling, lethargy, poor appetite, polyuria/polydipsia, small size, copper colored eyes, and rarely seizures. Lower urinary tract signs may develop secondary to ammonium biurate urolithiasis. Many cats with vascular anomalies have no physical abnormalities or overt clinical signs.
—Diagnosis: Paired serum bile acids. If a paired serum bile acids test is abnormal, CT angiogram will be needed for definitive diagnosis. Protein C cannot be used to diagnose portosystemic shunts in cats.
—Treatment: Cats with a portosystemic shunt should be started on medical management (lactulose and gut flora modulation).

‍

PARASITICIDES

Resources

Sources

O'Neill DG, Church DB, McGreevy PD, Thomson PC, Brodbelt DC. Longevity and mortality of cats attending primary care veterinary practices in England. J Feline Med Surg. 2015 Feb;17(2):125-33. doi: 10.1177/1098612X14536176. Epub 2014 Jun 12. PMID: 24925771.
Schrope DP. Prevalence of congenital heart disease in 76,301 mixed-breed dogs and 57,025
mixed-breed cats. J Vet Cardiol. 2015 Sep;17(3):192-202. doi: 10.1016/j.jvc.2015.06.001. Epub 2015 Sep
Saunders AB. Key considerations in the approach to congenital heart disease in dogs and cats. J Small Anim Pract. 2021 Aug;62(8):613-623. doi: 10.1111/jsap.13360. Epub 2021 Jun 27. PMID: 34180062.
Meurs KM. Genetics of cardiac disease in the small animal patient. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 2010 Jul;40(4):701-15. doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2010.03.006. PMID: 20610020.
Beck C, Lavelle RB. Feline polycystic kidney disease in Persian and other cats: a prospective study using ultrasonography. Aust Vet J. 2001 Mar;79(3):181-4. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2001.tb14573.x. PMID: 11301745.