Home Care Sheets
Bringing your catto Cairns Vet Clinic
At Cairns Veterinary Clinic, we love cats as much as you do! Cats are very unique creatures and have very different social and psychological needs from dogs. That’s why we want to offer some tips to make your cat’s visit to the vet as stress-free as possible.
The Cat Carrier
Cat carriers provide safety for both you and your cat during transport and also help to make your cat feel secure when they are in an unfamiliar environment. As cats are highly territorial, as soon as they leave this territory, they can feel threatened. Make the carrier familiar to them by placing the cat carrier out a few days before the visit, as this can help them accept it as part of their territory. Placing some soft bedding, catnip or treats into the carrier can also help. If you don’t have a cat carrier, we have them available to loan (at no fee, just a refundable deposit).
Use Feliway spray
Feliway is a pheromone spray that helps cats feel relaxed and secure. We use this spray around our clinics to reduce stress in our kitty patients, and we also have it available to purchase. Spraying your cat’s carrier one to two hours prior to use can help to calm your cat during transport. As the solvent can be off-putting to cats, we recommend not spraying the cage immediately before use.
Use towels to make your cat feel protected and secure.
Covering the carrier with a towel helps your cat feel hidden away and less threatened during transportation and whilst in the waiting room. Placing a towel or other bedding inside the carrier can also help them feel more secure by providing them with a warm, non-slip surface.
Transporting Your Cat to Our Clinic
Moving carriers can frighten your cat, so during travel, ensure the carrier is secure by placing it on the floor or by using a seatbelt.
We Can Offer Medication to Reduce Travel Anxiety
Some cats still find veterinary visits stressful despite taking the steps above. If your cat is particularly stressed, have a chat with our friendly vets about medicating your cat with anti-anxiety medication before their next trip, as we want to make their journey as stress-free as possible.
As a cat-friendly clinic, our staff have completed additional training to ensure that your cat’s visit is as stress-free as possible. If there are any other ways we can assist you in making your cats’ visits more stress-free, please let us know.
CARE AFTER DENTISTRY
Your pet has had an anaesthetic and dental treatment, which will require you to perform some basic after-care at home for a few days to ensure your pet recovers fully from the procedure.
Recovery after dentistry usually takes a few days, and during this time, it’s important to observe your pet closely to ensure any problems are detected early. If at any time during your pet’s recovery, you have any questions or concerns, please contact the clinic for advice.
Homecare Information
Your pet may be drowsy for 24-48 hours due to the anaesthetic. This is normal and is because the drugs used can take a number of hours to wear off. You may also notice a slight cough for a few days. This is caused by the breathing tube, which is placed in your pet’s trachea and delivers oxygen and anaesthetic during the procedure.
On arrival home, it’s important to keep your pet warm and comfortable, ideally in a quiet and draught-free room for at least 24 hours. Unless otherwise instructed by the veterinarian, offer your pet fresh water.
After a few hours, small meals, little and often, can be offered. The meal provided should be of a soft consistency (especially after extractions) and bland. White fish or chicken is ideal.
Please keep your pet indoors overnight, providing a couple of toilet breaks before bedtime.
If your pet has had any medication dispensed, please administer as instructed. If you are experiencing any difficulty in dosing your pet, please contact us.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding your pet’s recovery or if your pet is unwell, depressed or vomiting, please contact the clinic immediately.
CARE AFTER SURGERY
What should I do when my pet arrives home after the operation?
On arriving home, you should keep your pet warm and comfortable by providing a soft, clean bed, ideally in a quiet and draught-free room at approximately 20-30°C. Unless otherwise instructed, your pet should be offered a drink of fresh water. After a few hours, a small amount of food may be given, such as white fish or boiled chicken. Please keep your pet indoors overnight, or longer if instructed, and allow the use of a litter tray. You should discourage any jumping or activity that will cause excessive stretching of the wound, especially during the first few days post-operatively.
My pet seems very sleepy, is this normal?
Your pet has been given a general anaesthetic and/or a sedative. These drugs can take a number of hours to wear off and may cause some patients to appear drowsy for a day or so. Over the next day or two, their behaviour should return to normal; however, if you are at all concerned, do not hesitate to contact us. Most pets sleep even more than normal in the first week after surgery.
Why has my pet’s foreleg been clipped?
This is where the anaesthetic or sedative was administered. There may also be a small dressing on the leg; if so, this can be removed the following day unless otherwise instructed.
My pet has developed a slight cough since the operation. Is this anything to worry about?
Your pet may have had a tube placed in their trachea (windpipe) during the anaesthetic - this can occasionally cause mild irritation and a slight cough as an after-effect. If so, it will settle down over the next few days; however, should it persist, then contact the surgery.
Why is there a dressing on the surgical site?
A light dressing may be placed to cover the surgical incision. This is to reduce the chance of getting an infection in the hospital or after the surgery. Please peel the dressing off (like a Band-Aid) 2 days after the surgery. If the dressing gets wet or dirty, please remove it earlier. If you are having trouble removing it, try dampening the edges or give us a call.
What should I do if my pet is licking its wound or chewing the stitches?
It is only natural that your pet may try to clean the operation site; however, if this becomes excessive, then there is a danger of the stitches being pulled out or infection being introduced into the wound. If you have been given an Elizabethan-type collar to prevent your pet from chewing, then please ensure it is used; otherwise, please contact the surgery and ask for one. Not surprisingly, many pets find these collars strange at first and will attempt to remove them. However, after a short period, most animals will settle and tolerate wearing the collar. Once accustomed, it is better to keep the collar on permanently, rather than to take it on and off. Remember - it only takes a few seconds of unobserved chewing for your pet to undo its stitches. If your pet does succeed in removing any of its stitches, then please call the surgery as soon as possible.
What should the wound look like, and when should I be concerned?
The wound should normally be clean with the edges together and the skin a normal or slightly reddish/pink colour. In pale-skinned animals, bruising may be seen around the wound. This may not appear until a few days after the operation, and in some cases can seem excessive in comparison to the size of the incision; however, this is due to seepage of blood under the skin edges. In some cases, a small amount of blood may seep intermittently from a fresh wound for up to 24 hours, especially if the animal is active.
Please contact the surgery if you see any of the following at the wound:
- Continuous seepage or a large quantity of blood.
- Intermittent blood seepage continuing for more than 24 hours.
- Any swellings, excessive redness of the skin or discharge.
When do the stitches need removing?
In general, most skin stitches (also called sutures) are removed 10-14 days after the operation, depending on the type of surgery performed. You will be instructed when the most appropriate time is for your pet.
When can my pet resume a normal active life?
This will depend upon the nature of the operation. In the case of a minor procedure involving a small incision, some restriction of exercise should be maintained until a few days after the skin stitches are removed. However, if a major operation has been performed or a large incision is present, a longer period of convalescence will be required, which may involve keeping your pet housebound or even crate- or cage-bound for a number of weeks.
What if my pet becomes unwell or stops eating?
If your pet is not recovering well after the first 24 hours, please contact us for advice. Not eating or being lethargic may be the first signs of a more serious problem. If you have concerns about your pet, please contact us immediately.
How should I give my pet the prescribed medication?
If you have been given any medication, please READ THE LABEL CAREFULLY and ensure that all medication is administered as instructed. If you are experiencing any difficulty in dosing your pet, please contact the surgery for advice.