Tips For A Successful Trip To The Vet

Spaying your cat is a smart move if you no longer want to deal with unwanted pregnancies, and while most cat owners are happy to do it, some forget to take care of their pets after the surgical procedure. This is something that you do not want to do, not before the wounds have healed. Failure to protect the wounds before they have healed completely can result in bleeding or infection. Worse yet, the wounds may open up and expose the internal body organs. So what measures are you supposed to put in place to ensure that your cat's wounds will heal without complications?

1. Limit Your Cat's Physical Activities

Many cats are naturally inclined to play and chase things, but this is no fun could if the wounds are still fresh. Activities such as jumping can stretch the wounds and force the stitches to break. Therefore, try to keep your cat indoors and calm for the first 14 days of recovery.  If you do not have a place where you can keep your cat safe and confined, invest in an airline-style dog crate. A big enough crate should have a room where the cat can relax as well as space where you can place food and water.

2. Do Not Give Your Cat A Bath

Water is not good for the wound. By washing your pet's body, you risk introducing bacteria into the wound. If you must bathe your cat, use water-less shampoo. But even the shampoo can't be used around the surgery section.

3. Don't Allow Your Cat To Lick The Surgical Wounds

As fur starts to grow around the surgical area, the wounds may feel itchy and your cat may develop an irresistible urge to lick the wounds. If the cat uses its tongue forcefully, there is a chance that it will pull a stitch or two out. You will then have to pay your vet surgery a visit for another round of stitches. However, if you buy an Elizabethan collar (E-Collar) for your cat, you can prevent this from happening.  An Elizabethan collar is a medical device that is worn around the neck by dogs and cats. Its main job is to prevent the pet from licking at its body.

It takes around 14 days for incision wounds to heal completely. You must enforce these measures during this period to guarantee your cat a smooth recovery after the surgery.  Also inspect the wound twice a day, in the morning and at night. It is not odd if the surgical wound is slightly red during the first few days of healing, but excessive redness accompanied with swelling is a sign that you should go back to your vet.