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We believe a thorough exam, along with your input about your cat’s home life, is the starting point of medical care. Wellness exams are recommended for healthy cats on an annual basis until they are seniors, over the age of 10. At that point, we recommend twice-yearly exams, as cats age more quickly than humans, and more frequent check-ups will help identify health-related changes early on. At the time of your cat’s exam, the doctor will explain and discuss the findings. We will review what is working well and also where your cat’s health may need some help, with emphasis on preventative care. The doctors can instruct you on what to monitor at home so that we can work together to keep your cat healthy.

We will discuss nutrition, behavior, and social interaction as well as vaccines, deworming, flea control, and blood testing where appropriate. We understand that vaccination is often a confusing and controversial issue, so we will work together with you to structure a protocol that is safe and relevant to your cat’s particular lifestyle. We will discuss the vaccine recommendations of the American Association of Feline Practitioners for the risks your cat encounters. We also offer blood titers as a way to monitor immunity and create an individualized vaccine plan. All of the vaccines we carry are non-adjuvanted to help prevent unnecessary inflammation at the site where the vaccine is administered.

We encourage adoption of cats from shelters, and will honor any certificate for a first-time complimentary exam.

Continue reading »]]> Oral health is a very important part of your cat’s well being. Conditions such as feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions (FORLs), growths, inflammation, infection, or fractured teeth can affect your cat’s health. Treatment for these conditions may include antibiotic therapy, pain medication, and a dental cleaning. A certified veterinary technician will thoroughly clean your cat’s teeth using an ultrasonic scaler and polish the surface of each tooth. The doctor then performs a complete oral exam, assessing for conditions like pockets in the gingiva or enamel defects. If any teeth are abnormal, an X-ray is taken with a special dental X-ray unit. The doctor may then perform any necessary surgery such as tooth extraction, biopsy of tissues, or removal of growths.

February is dental month in the veterinary community, which helps provide awareness for dental care; be sure to watch for discounts during this month!

Continue reading »]]> The doctors of Corvallis Cat Care combine the best of western and alternative medicine to provide comprehensive care. Alternative therapies and western treatments compliment each other and can be very helpful when used together. The combination is often called “Integrative Medicine.” Traditional diagnostic tools, such as X-rays and analyses of blood, stool, and urine, are used to help guide our doctors. Hair analysis is an alternative diagnostic tool that helps the doctors identify physiological imbalances in the body. Additional options include laser therapy to aid in healing and reduce inflammation, as well as acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Doctor Carter is specially trained and licensed to provide acupuncture as a treatment for numerous conditions, along with Chinese herbal therapy. In some cases, physical therapy and cranial sacral therapy may be recommended as well as referral to other specialists like internists, dermatologists, or specialty surgeons. Dianne Morley is a registered physical therapist who provides treatment for our patients at our clinic on a monthly basis.

Continue reading »]]> If your cat is not feeling well, the doctor may recommend additional diagnostics. Blood, urine, or other body fluid testing can be completed at several reference labs and in our own clinic, using various analyzers. If imaging is recommended, an X-ray can be taken at the same visit. The X-ray is first interpreted by our doctors and then sent out to a board-certified radiologist. Further imaging using ultrasound can be done here at the clinic as well. If advanced imaging is needed, such as endoscopy, CAT scan, or MRI, the doctors can help arrange a referral to a specialist.

Some illnesses require intravenous fluids and medications with close supervision. We understand how stressful it can be when your cat is sick and away from home. If your cat requires a medical stay, we offer a quiet, calm hospital setting with Feliway diffusers, a single use litter box, and soft bedding. If at all possible, our staff will teach you what treatments you can provide, so your cat can recover in his or her home environment.

Continue reading »]]> Nutrition is the basis for good health and our doctors and staff are happy to assess your cat’s diet. We provide a limited number of commercial diets, specially selected for quality and ingredients.  In addition to commercial foods, we may recommend a balanced raw diet.  Prescription diets are also available if needed. To complete a nutrition program for your cat, we carry a number of supplements including those from Standard Process, Nordic Naturals, Vital Nutrients, Energetix, Rx Vitamins, Allergy Research Group, and BodyBio.

Continue reading »]]> Our clinic provides a complete surgical suite for surgeries such as spaying and neutering, thyroidectomy, abdominal exploratory surgery, bladder surgery, mass removals, and many others. Anesthesia safety is our top priority, which begins with a complete physical exam and lab work to ensure the health of your cat. Each cat is treated as an individual and the anesthesia protocol is tailored to fit his/her needs. We use a balanced protocol that includes sedation, pain medication, and an inhaled gas anesthetic called sevofluorane. Sevofluorane is used to keep your cat under anesthesia safely and is the same anesthetic used for human infants. To support your cat’s cardiovascular system and kidney health, they are administered intravenous fluids during the entire procedure and are continuously monitored by a certified veterinary technician. The technician uses an electrocardiogram, pulse oximeter, capnograph, and doppler to monitor the function of your cat’s heart, oxygenation, and blood pressure.

After anesthesia, your cat is closely monitored until they are awake and able to lift their head. We continue to check anything that prompted special attention during the procedure like temperature or blood pressure. When they are back to normal and have eaten, we send them home. We rarely keep cats overnight for routine surgeries, believing that they will be much happier at home.

Continue reading »]]> We are more than happy to accommodate any emergency during our normal business hours.  Please try to call ahead so our staff and doctors can be prepared for your visit.  If you have an emergency outside of our normal business ours, we recommend one of the nearby 24 hour emergency clinics.

• River’s Edge Pet Medical Center  541-924-1700
• Willamette Veterinary Hospital  541-753-2223
• Emergency Veterinary Hospital 541-746-0112.