What To Expect
What to Expect at Your First Visit with Denver Cat Hospital!
At Denver Cat Hospital, you can expect our full attention to your cat’s medical and wellness needs.
What To Expect
When you arrive for your appointment, you’ll be greeted warmly and offered complimentary water! We want humans to be comfortable too!
In your exam room, one of our veterinary assistants will ask about your cat’s medical history, current condition, and the reason for your visit. We know this can seem redundant…at this point, you’ve already provided this information. But we promise, it’s all part of the discovery process in helping your cat.
One of our veterinarians will examine your cat, ask further questions and recommend diagnostic tests if needed. Once the tests have been run (we utilize in-house and reference labs), your doctor will discuss a possible diagnosis and treatment plan.
This is a great time to ask questions. We’ll take all the time you need to adequately address your concerns; our goal is to be thorough and transparent. We want you to be completely comfortable with the information we provide.
After the doctor’s visit, one of our veterinary assistants will wrap things up and provide you with any aftercare instructions. Our front desk staff will check you out, process your payment and schedule follow-up appointments if necessary.
Please note: We work hard to be prompt and see our patients at their scheduled appointment time. Although we have contingencies for emergencies, there are times when the unexpected creates delays. We have processes to minimize delays as much as possible, and greatly appreciate your patience as we tend to these situations.
If you have an upcoming appointment with our hospital, please remember to bring any paperwork, such as medical records from the breeder or rescue, so that we can include these in your cat’s file. To help expedite your check-in process, please complete the new patient form here.
Wellness Exam Checklist
Early detection is key! Cats age faster than we do, so major health changes can occur in a short amount of time. We recommend an annual wellness exam to reduce the risk of cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis, heart disease, and other serious conditions that increase with age. Here’s a list of the most important health screenings for cats that we’ll discuss during visit with us.
Cats | Adults (1-7 years)
- Immunizations
- Parasite check
- Dental exam
- Blood panel
- Urinalysis
Cats | Seniors (8+ years)
- Osteoarthritis check
- Renal disease screen
- Thyroid check
- Blood pressure check
These are in addition to adult exams
Blood Work
Blood tests are as important for cats as they are for humans. The American College of Veterinary Anesthesiology recommends that all animals have a pre-surgical blood test. By performing recommended blood work, we set a baseline for your cat’s health, and may find a small anomaly that would otherwise catch you off-guard or change the course for an upcoming surgery. Our hospital is equipped with in-house diagnostic lab equipment to quickly process blood work. This is particularly helpful in emergency situations when time is of the essence!
Blood tests are also especially important in the aging cat since changes on the blood can be seen before the cat starts to show changes on the outside. This allows us to intervene with the hopes of slowing or stopping the progression of disease.
Here’s what we’re testing for when we run your cat’s blood work:
- CBC – Complete Blood Cell Count
- RBC – Red Blood Cell Count
- WBC – White Blood Cell Count
- CHEM – Chemistry
- BUN – Blood Urea Nitrogen (Kidney)
- ALT – Alanine Transaminase (Liver)
- ALK P – Alkaline Phosphatase (Liver)
- K+ – Potassium
- GLU – Glucose
- GLOB – Globulin (Liver)
- CRE – Creatinine (Kidney)
- NA+ – Sodium Levels
- TP – Total Protein (Hydration)
- ALB – Albumin (Liver Proteins)
- AMY – Amylase (Digests Carbohydrates)
- TBIL – Total Bilirubin
- PCV – Hematocrit Levels (Anemia)
- CA – Calcium
Post-Surgery Tips for Your Cat
The surgery is over! As the anesthesia wears off, we will stay right by your cat’s side and comfort them as they wake up. They will be kept warm with blankets or a heating pad, and we will stay with them until they are fully awake, sitting up, and responsive. When both your veterinarian and technician are confident that your cat is doing well, we will allow them to rest for further monitoring.
When it’s time to go home, our team will thoroughly explain post-surgery instructions and answer all of your questions. As part of recovery, it’s important to keep an eye out for possible complications. Aside from the typical “no licking the surgery area” and “no jumping on furniture,” here are a few additional post-surgery monitoring tips. If you notice any of these post-surgery complications, bring your cat back in to us immediately (or to the nearest emergency veterinary hospital if it is outside of our normal business hours):
Feline Spay:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Recurrent Heat Cycle
- Urinary Incontinence
- Weight Gain
- Suture Reactions
Feline Neuter:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Scrotal Swelling
- Suture Reactions
Tumor or Growth Removal:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Swelling and Drainage
- Suture Reactions