When to Take Your Kitten to the Vet in Dubai: 7 Signs of Illness
Any pet owner in Dubai should know when their beloved kittens need veterinary attention.
Unlike puppies, kittens tend to hide their symptoms, which is why you need to be aware of any changes in their health and behavior. When you see these symptoms, you need to take them to the vet immediately.
If you’ve just adopted a kitten from a Dubai animal shelter or a cat owner with a new litter of kittens, here’s a guide to knowing when to take your kitten to the vet.
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7 Signs Indicating When to Take Your Kitten to the Vet
Kittens have unique personalities. However, there are common signs in kittens that mean that they are sick.
Here are the seven warning signs to watch out for to know if your kitten is sick and if you need to take it to an emergency vet clinic in Dubai.
1. Digestive and excretion problems
Any changes in your cat’s digestion, bowel movement, and urination can indicate illness.
Loose bowel movements might mean that your kitten has an intolerance to certain foods, or it could be a sign of stomach parasites. You should also watch out if your kitten has been vomiting or has blood in its urine and stool.
2. Appetite and thirst changes
A kitten should be eating well for its growth and health. A sudden loss or decrease in appetite could lead to very serious health problems. This is also true when your kitten suddenly eats too much, which might cause obesity.
You should also be aware if your cat suddenly drinks too much or too little water. Too little water might cause dehydration in your kitten, while too much water could mean that it’s not feeling well.
3. Breathing difficulties
Respiratory problems are always a big problem in any pet. Observe if your kitten is breathing too fast, wheezes, or constantly coughs. When you see any of these issues with your kitten, check if its gums or tongue has changed in color as well.
Any signs of breathing issues should already be a signal for you to take your kitten to the vet.
4. Mobility issues
Kittens are often playful, and they love to play, run, and climb. If you suddenly notice that your kitten is scared or reluctant to move, you should already be alarmed.
Check for stiffness in its movement or possible limping when it walks. If a cat vet doesn’t check these signs immediately, a more serious problem might develop.
5. Behavioral changes
If your kitten suddenly shows changes in behavior, like hiding or becoming aggressive towards you, then it must be feeling ill. Excessively grooming itself is also another sign of sickness. This is because kittens try to hide themselves when they feel sick.
When this is the case, you should bring your kitten to the vet as soon as possible.
6. Unusual discharge
Any form of discharge from a kitten’s eyes, ears, nose, and other areas of its body isn’t normal or a sign of a healthy cat. This symptom could mean that your kitten has an infection or has parasites.
The only way to be sure is through diagnosis procedures from vet clinics with the right equipment and trained staff.
7. Skin or coat abnormalities
A kitten’s skin is more sensitive compared to an adult cat’s skin. It’s susceptible to bumps, lesions, and rash. When any of these symptoms appear on your kitten’s skin, you should take it to the cat vet for a checkup.
Your kitten’s coat would normally shed as it grows, but if it’s shedding too much, you might be facing an underlying health issue.
How to Monitor Your Kitten’s Health
However, any cat vet would advise that you take your kitten for scheduled consultations to find any underlying health issues early.
During the first weeks of a kitten’s life, you’d probably go to the vet often for vaccination shots and neutering or spaying procedures. A good cat vet in Dubai would not only do the necessary procedures but also perform health checks every time you and your kitten visit.
After any vet procedure, treatment, and vaccination shot, you must observe for any side effects or changes in your kitten. While rare, negative side effects might appear in your kitten, so you must be an observant pet owner.
Keeping Your Kitten Healthy and Happy
Pet emergencies can happen at any time. If you observe any changes in your kitten, especially the signs on the list, you can prevent health issues from worsening.
To sum it all up, any changes in behavior and physical appearance in your kitten might mean something else. It could be a symptom of an illness that can become worse if left untreated.
Fortunately, there are many vet clinics in Dubai that offer pet emergency services for urgent cases. You should always have your vet’s emergency number on your phone.
Still, prevention is so much better than vet treatments for many reasons. Make sure to give all the love, attention, and care your kitten needs. Only give your feline friend healthy cat food and clean drinking water. Also, make sure to provide it with a clean environment to sleep, rest, and play.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How often do you take cats to the vet?
Many vets in Dubai recommend taking cats for a check-up at least once a year. For kittens, you need to stick to their vaccination schedules since your vet will be administering the shots. Depending on your cat’s health condition and age, the frequency of vet visits may vary.
When should a kitten have its first vet visit?
A kitten should see a vet for the first time at around 6 to 8 weeks old for its vaccinations and regular health checks.
How do I know when my kitten needs to go to the vet?
You need to observe any physical, emotional, or behavioral changes in your kitten. Any changes in these aspects could mean it’s sick or has an underlying health problem.
What happens if I never take my kitten to the vet?
If you never take your kitten to the vet, you’ll miss its necessary initial vaccinations. In Dubai, cats must have the core vaccines that include rabies shots. You won’t be able to get your kitten microchipped as well, which is required by Dubai law. And most importantly, your kitten is at risk from undiagnosed health problems, which may worsen over time.
Is my cat depressed or sick?
Cats show depression or sickness in different ways. But, a common sign that it is feeling bad is a change in its behavior. You must take your cat to the vet immediately if you feel that it’s experiencing any emotional distress.