When are cat surgeries considered elective, non-elective, or emergency?
Elective surgery is when something isn't going to save a life in that exact moment. These are procedures like spays, neuters, and declawing, which we don't personally do here. Non-elective surgeries are things that have to get done, like if your cat's broken its leg and needs an amputation or your cat's been hit by a car and has a large chest wound. Then there are emergency procedures, like treating broken bones or injuries from a dog or cat attack.
Dr. Meghan Denney
4 Paws at Fulshear Veterinary Clinic
What are the most common cat surgeries?
The most common cat surgeries we perform are spays and neuters. Another common procedure is treating abscesses, which can develop about a week after a cat's been in a fight due to their bites getting infected.
Will cats need lab work done prior to having surgery?
We strongly recommend preoperative lab work for all of our patients. It's optional for those under four years of age, but these labs help screen for liver or kidney dysfunction, infection, or a clotting disorder. Although most of the time the labs are normal, we occasionally find a crucial issue that may affect the decision to put a patient under anesthesia.
What do I need to know before my cat has surgery?
You should know the surgery date, and that no food should be given after nine the night before. Water is fine, but no breakfast the morning of. You should also know what time to drop your pet off and have all anesthetic paperwork filled out. Be sure to ask your vet when it is planned to take your pet home.
Who will be monitoring the cat while under anesthesia?
We have two to three technicians during surgery days, and I'm right there with them. We're taking vitals every five minutes. We're very cognizant of monitoring our patients.
How long is recovery after a cat surgery?
Most patients are awake and recover within an hour after their procedure. I like to keep them for a good three or four hours to ensure they wake up okay and their pain control is alright. Depending on the procedure, the full recovery may take 10 to 14 days. For a dental with no extractions, cats usually require 24 to 48 hours.
What can be done to help your cat recover at home after surgery?
Keep things quiet. Cats typically hide if they don't feel well, so it's important to keep their stress levels down. Limit their roaming of the house, and make sure they have their own food, litter box, and water in a quiet room. A very loud, rambunctious house will cause your cat’s stress level to rise, and they aren’t able to heal well when they are stressed, so keeping things relaxed is key.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (281) 801-1444, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram
Cat Surgery - FAQs
Dr. Meghan Denney
4 Paws at Fulshear Veterinary Clinic
What questions should I ask my veterinarian about my cat's surgery?
You should ask about the length and date of the surgery, the drop-off time, how to decide the pick-up time, and the cost. It's also important to ask for a treatment plan to avoid surprises later on. If there's anything additional that you want done while your cat is under anesthesia, please make sure to communicate that to the technician checking you in in the morning. Keep your phone with you. You'll receive updates about when the patient has been given their pre-meds, when they're in prep, when they're moving into surgery, and when they're in recovery. If anything unexpected happens during the procedure, we need to be able to contact you quickly.
Will my cat go under anesthesia during surgery?
Yes, your cat will be under anesthesia during the surgery. Unfortunately, we can't use local anesthetics on pets as we can't ask them to hold still.
Will my cat be intubated for surgery?
Yes, ideally, all our patients are intubated for surgery. Intubation means that we place a breathing tube down their trachea and inflate a cuff to make sure that we protect their airway and if they do regurgitate or vomit, nothing gets down into their lungs. We're protecting those lungs. If something does happen,we want to ensure we have control of the pet’s airway. If there is an intubation tube and we need to administer CPR, we know we are getting oxygen directly into the lungs.
How will my veterinarian communicate with me after my cat surgery?
We communicate a lot with our clients through text messages and phone calls. We generally don't use email as it's not a fast enough mode of communication.
Will my cat be in pain after surgery?
If the surgery is performed correctly, your cat shouldn't be in severe pain. We provide multimodal pain control to manage discomfort post-surgery. They are given pre-surgery medications, medications during surgery, post-op pain medications, and medications to go home. In certain cases, we can use laser therapy to help alleviate pain as well.
If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (281) 801-1444, or you can email us at [email protected]. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can. Don't forget to follow us on social media Facebook, Instagram