During a physical exam, the veterinarian will examine the cat to look for signs of ill health that could cause vomiting, and also feel the abdomen for masses or blockages. The following steps discuss the various aspects of a physical exam. Your vet will lift your cat's lip to look at the color of the gums. These should be pink, much like our own gums. Pallor (very pale pink or even white) gums indicate anemia, and a yellow stain suggests jaundice. These give the clinician clues as to where to look to identify the problem. A useful way to assess if the cat's circulation is coping, or if the cat is in a state of shock because of fluid loss, is the capillary refill time. This is the amount of time it takes for the gum to become pink again after the blood is pressed out of it. A normal capillary refill time is under 2two seconds, and usually, the refill is too brisk to count. A refill of more than two seconds is delayed. To measure the capillary refill time lift the lip and press a fingertip firmly to the gum, such that the gum goes pale or white. Release the finger and watch closely to see how many seconds it takes for the gum to become pink again. Lift the scruff away from the shoulders and then let it go. The skin should return to its normal position instantaneously. Dehydration decreases the skin's elasticity which means that it returns slowly when released. Severe dehydration results in "tenting" which is when the skin remains in a peak, rather than sliding back down. In the case of a vomiting cat, this may indicate that the cat is losing more fluid than she is taking in. This finding indicates a cat in need of urgent replacement fluid, such as being put on an intravenous drip. Intravenous fluids are given via a catheter which is placed in the vein in the cat's front leg. A giving set and bag of saline are attached to the catheter and the fluids drip directly into the bloodstream. Typically it takes 24 to 48 hours to slowly correct an underlying fluid deficit, during which time the cat will need to be hospitalized. Although this sounds like a strange thing to do when investigating vomiting, there is an underlying connection. Conditions such as hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid gland) can cause vomiting and is also associated with a racing heart. A resting heart rate of 180 beats per minute is abnormal, and the vet will feel the cat's throat area to see if an obviously enlarged thyroid is palpable. A cat's temperature should be below 39 degrees Celsius (102.2 degrees Fahrenheit), and if it is above this, it is an indication of fever. A vomiting cat with a fever may be suffering from an infection. To do an abdominal palpation, the veterinarian uses his fingertips to gently feel the cat's abdomen. He or she is checking that the gut, kidneys, bladder, spleen, and liver feel like they are a normal size and shape, and are not painful. Organ enlargement can indicate infection, inflammation, cancer, or a blockage to outflow from that organ. He or she will also feel for any abnormal formations. If your cat is not unduly ill, not running a fever, is well hydrated and keeping most of her food down, the vet may suggest getting her up to date with preventative treatments such as worming. A heavy worm burden can cause a physical obstruction in the bowel, or irritate the stomach lining and cause vomiting. The treatment for hairballs includes a gentle liquid paraffin based laxative that you put on your cat's paw. One such typical product is Lax-a-paste, of which you put about an inch onto the cat's paw twice a day for two to three days. The idea is that this seeps in through your cat's paw and gently lubricates any hairballs that are rattling around in your cat's stomach and causing inflammation, and helps them to either be passed out in the feces or vomited up.
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One-sentence summary -- Schedule a physical exam for your cat. Know that your vet will check your cat's mucous membranes. Look at the capillary refill time. Check hydration status. Know that your cat's heart rate will be checked. Understand that the cat's temperature will be tested. Understand what an abdominal palpation is. Update your cat's worming medications if the physical exam does not help you determine what is wrong with your cat. Treat your cat for hairballs.

Fresh snow weighs less than older snow so you should clear snow as soon as it has fallen. As snow sits on the ground it compacts and becomes wet, making it heavier. It can also then turn into ice and become very difficult to remove. Wait until the snowplow has come by before finishing the driveway. A snowplow will usually "plow in" the driveway at least a bit, pushing more snow onto the edge of your driveway. It can be easier to deal with just clearing the driveway once. Use extra care when shoveling snow pushed onto your driveway by the plow. Plows pack the snow, making it much heavier than undisturbed, freshly fallen snow. One shovelful of snow can weigh 20 pounds (9kg) or more! You will need to consider what is the most efficient snow removal plan. You will also have to avoid piling snow where you'll have to just remove it again, so do not block access to snow that still needs to be cleared. If you are clearing a rectangle, it is better to work from the center out. First clear a strip of snow around the perimeter of the rectangle. Then, starting in the center, push snow towards the cleared area. From there, lift the snow out of the area. Use a brush to get snow off cars before clearing around the car to prevent extra work. Pushing snow is much easier than lifting and can reduce the risk of injury. If you begin early and if the snow is not too deep, then it is better to simply push it off driveways and sidewalks. This is a good way to clear away snow while it is still falling, to reduce accumulation. Spread your hands far apart on the handle, with one hand close to the blade. This will provide more leverage while lifting snow. If you need to dig (to get to your car, for instance), dig using a steady, easy motion. If you are "pushing" (as you might when clearing a driveway), hold your shovel at a slight angle and begin making passes back and forth width-wise along your driveway. You should rarely need to move your shovel above waist height. Make sure you clear around your mailbox every time it snows. If your mail carrier cannot easily reach your mailbox, then they cannot deliver your mail! Be careful with salt, as it can hurt your lawn, landscaping, and your watershed. It can also damage driveways and other paved areas. Use salt only if the temperature is warm enough (above 0 degrees F/-17 degrees C). Sand provides traction, but if more snow falls on top, it will become useless. Salting the ground before or during a storm can actually increase the amount of snow on your sidewalks and driveways because dry snow sticks to a salted paved area but does not stick to an unsalted paved area.
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One-sentence summary --
Start early in the day. Have a plan. Clear cars first. Avoid lifting snow by pushing it instead. Place your hands in the correct positions on the shovel. Begin shoveling. Don't forget your mail carrier. Salt and sand as needed.