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Picture Tour of Hospital

EBENEZER

ANIMAL

HOSPITAL, P.A.

Instructions for Clients
                  DRAIN CARE
  (Photos are Graphic- Not for the Queasy)

    OVARIOHYSTERECTOMY  (Spay)                 
                      OR 
             CASTRATION (Neuter)
               

IDIOPATHIC CYSTITIS OF CATS (also called Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder)

 

 

  

 

 

 
DRAIN CARE
  Roebling, a senior Bassett Hound, was in an accident with a car. He sustained wounds which required drain tubes.
    Drain tubes are used to keep an opening in the skin from healing closed. This allows fluids that collect in pockets under the skin to flow out so healing can occur.
    Drains are made of either latex or plastic tubing. Normally, drainage flows from around the tube not though it. Home care consists of rest and relaxation in a clean location. Clean means on the floor inside the house, on a deck, or porch. Laying down outside on the ground, in a shed, or garage with dirty floors is not allowed. Should dirt contact the open wounds were the drains exit horrific infections can result. Exercise is limited to walking on a leash just long enough to eliminate. 
   In the photo at the left, the drains exit the skin at the ends of the black arrows. Fluids from the wound flow out from around the drain tubes, not through them, as shown by the arrows.
    Most fluids that escape from wounds are quite sticky. You can expect the fluid when dried to glue the the drain tube to the skin preventing any outflow at all. This defeats the purpose. This is prevented by cleaning by cleaning the drain area(s) at least twice daily with hydrogen peroxide soaked gauze. 
     To help unstick the drain, pick up the tube in your finger and wiggle it. Most patients are not bothered by this maneuver. It is also important to remove discharge from the skin around the drain. Leaving this material there can cause the skin to become very inflammed. After drain removal (usually five days after surgery), try to keep the drain holes open as long as possible.
   
 Call us (366-1950) if you observe:  a) Your pet pulling at the drain tube trying to pull it out. An animal can tear a drain out in a few seconds. It may need to be fitted with an Elizabethan (funnel) collar. b) Discharge or pus coming up through any suture line over a drain where a wound has been closed.
 

HOME CARE AFTER OVARIOHYSTERECTOMY (SPAY) OR CASTRATION (NEUTER)

  
  1. It is essential that the surgery site be kept very clean for 10 days after the surgery. Allowing your pet to lay in the dirt is inviting infection. A clean surface would be: a) in the house, b) on a clean wooden floor of a deck or outdoor building, c) a garage floor covered with blankets, sheets, or newspaper. 
2. It is essential that ACTIVITY BE RESTRICTED. Animals have less post-operative pain than people do and are more active. Repeated motion at the surgery site causes swelling.   
  3. OBSERVE the incision daily for redness, swelling, or discharge. Occasional licking is OK, but constant  chewing at the sutures may indicate a problem. Please call us if any of these are noted (366-1950).
4. Most of the time our patients have incisions with all internal sutures. Return visits are not necessary unless there is a problem. If you do see external sutures, bring your pet back to our facility in 10 days for removal (no charge). If you are not sure, please call - we will be glad to help you.  
   
IDIOPATHIC (cause unknown)  CYSTITIS in CATS

Also Known As: Feline Lower Urinary Tract Disorder (FLUTD)

    This disorder is very common in cats and can occur at almost any age. The average age of onset is 4 years. Symptoms can be blood in the urine, urinating in strange locations, straining to urinate, and inability to urinate from urethral obstruction.

    The latest management options involve two areas. The first is increasing water consumption and the second is reduction of stress.

     Increasing water consumption is important because cats drink very little water normally. Dilution of the urine seems to help. Here are some suggestions:
     1. Use a porcelain bowl filled to the very top.
     2. Consider a "kitty water fountain" which has running water all the time - available in pet stores, specialty pet boutiques, and online.
     3. Switch to canned foods. These are about 75% water. Or add water, tuna juice, clam juice, or bouillon to dry food.
     4. If your tap water has a strong chorine odor or is high in minerals, bottled water may be more appealing to your kitty.

     Stress reduction seems to help a great deal as cats with this disorder appear to be very "sensitive." Some recommendations for reducing stress and "enriching the environment" are:
     1. Provide high level hiding places, like tall kitty condos, where your cats can feel safe.
     2. Increase play with toys or a laser pointer.
     3. Get a fish tank to entertain with.
     4. Consider letting your cat prowl outdoors. This is best only if it can be in a protected environment, such as a fenced area or with 100% human supervision.
     5. Do not add any new animals, especially cats or dogs to the house. If conflicts are occurring with another pet, consider anti-anxiety medications for the kitty with bladder problems. See Ebenezer Animal Hospital for these.
     6. Consider a Feliway Diffuser. This emits a calming chemical that is the facial pheromone of cats, the one they place on you when "affectionately" rubbing their face on you. These are now available at our hospital.
     7. Have plenty of litter boxes. Rule of thumb: have one box per cat, plus one more. Keep them pristine (very clean). Clumping litter seems to be preferred overall. Do not use the scented kind. Do not use litter box covers.
     8. Reduce as much as possible stress related to: changes in residence, changes in the personnel living in the home, loud noise or loud talking.

Other recommendations:
     1. Keep cats from getting overweight, especially males.
     2. Relapses are common - watch for them.
     3. Male cats readily get obstructed, partially or totally. This is an emergency. In 48-72 hours your cat can have irreversible kidney failure. Watch for: lots of time in the litter box with little urine produced, straining hard to urinate (looks like he is constipated), occassionally there is vocalizing (not a reliable symptom!), vomiting, and lethargy.