Mary Allen
After an operation, the cat is weak. She now needs a lot of attention and care in order to recover quickly. In the first hours after the operation, one must pay attention to the after-effects of the anesthesia, and later on to the healing of the surgical scars.
Many pet owners hardly recognize their cat when they pick it up from the vet after surgery. The animal appears dazed, has an unsteady gait and, to make matters worse, wears a plastic collar that blocks its view. In addition, the animal patient is shaved around the surgical scar, and in places “naked” the animal looks just as sick and vulnerable as before. The “shock” and the joy of seeing the pet owner again often means that they ignore the veterinarian’s instructions or forget them again immediately.
Take Note Of The Vet’s Instructions
Therefore, take a notebook with you to the practice, in which you enter the following: when your pet can drink and eat again, what it can eat, what medication it is given and in what dosage, and what you particularly want to do in the next few days should be careful. The vet will also be happy to write this down for you if you are too excited to follow his instructions. Also, get a phone number where you can reach him or another veterinarian outside of office hours if your pet’s condition worsens. Usually, you won’t need this number, but it’s safe to say.
The Ideal Hospital Bed For Cats
At home, your protégé needs a warm, quiet, and clean place. You should keep other animals away from him – these usually do not show any understanding that their companion is now weakened and do not behave particularly considerately. They could also lick the surgical scar and infect her with it. Be sure to prepare your protégé a bed on the floor, because after the anesthetic he may still move a little unsteadily and could fall off a bed on the sofa or bed and injure himself. Cats can remain in the well-padded transport container for the first few hours after the operation, provided it is spacious enough for the cat to lie, stand and sit comfortably.
Warmth Is Especially Important Now
Of course, the sickbed should also be warm. Bed the animal on a thick layer of blankets or pillows. An infrared lamp provides additional warmth. However, make sure that your patient does not get too hot. It is best to spread a freshly washed sheet over his sickbed because cat blankets contain a lot of hair that can irritate the wound. The animal patient is usually allowed to drink freshwater soon after the operation. When it comes to eating, the following generally applies: as soon as the animal can move in a coordinated manner again and makes an alert impression, it can eat. As long as the anesthetic is still effective, there is a risk that the animal will vomit after eating.
Observe The Cat Closely For The First Few Days
However, there are also operations after which the animal is not allowed to eat anything for a long time. Therefore, ask your veterinarian when he recommends the first feeding. In some cases, he will also recommend a special diet to aid in recovery. During the first few days, you should pay particular attention to your pet’s urination and defecation. If he has trouble with his “business”, let the vet know. As long as the scar has not healed, you should keep free-roaming cats indoors. You should examine the surgical scar once or twice a day. If it smells bad, is leaking, or appears inflamed, call your veterinarian.
The plastic neck collar protects the scar. The collar disturbs the animals considerably because it restricts their vision and freedom of movement. But he protects loved ones from themselves because they cannot gnaw and lick the surgical wound. So stick to your guns when it comes to the collar. And don’t feel sorry for your protégé all the time. Then he actually feels more and more miserable. Better cheer him up when you pet him and tell him what a “brave guy” he is and how proud you are of him. With so much encouragement, the animal patient has no choice but to get well soon.