Approach to the Feline Patient: General and Dermatological Examination

Abstract

As a naturally solitary species that is both highly territorial and not naturally social, veterinary visits for the cat and the cat owner can be extremely challenging. The fact that the cat has been removed from its home territory (where it feels safe) and brought to the clinic (an unfamiliar environment) means that any cat will naturally experience anxiety, fear, and stress during the visit. For these reasons, it is important that any veterinary visit follows “cat-friendly” principles to ensure stress is minimized. This will help reduce the severity of stress-induced changes in laboratory parameters, facilitate an easier clinical examination, and ensure that owners will be willing to bring their cat back to the clinic when needed. This chapter will deal with how to perform a general and a dermatological examination, including the description of skin lesions and diagnostic procedures, in the feline patient.