An animal that has just been spayed or neutered does not feel well. A male animal has just had his testicles removed; a female has just had abdominal surgery to render her sterile. These home methods will help make your pet feel better while costing little more than time and attention.
Things You'll Need
- Prescription medication
- Ice pack
- Old sock
- Uncooked rice
- Microwave oven
Instructions
After bringing your cat home from the animal hospital, make time to supervise your pet's recovery. If you can't monitor her, delegate someone in your home who has more time. Allow your cat to find a place where she feels comfortable and can hide out while she recovers. Make sure the spot she selects is fairly clean. Move her bed, food and water bowls nearby. Include her litter box, but make sure to place it at a distance from her food and water. Give her plenty of fresh water and put a small amount of kibble in her bowl. She will need to take in water to rehydrate herself, and she needs food to regain strength and aid in the recovery.
Give your cat her prescription antibiotic as ordered by her veterinarian. To do so, draw up the prescribed dose of medication into the syringe and put the syringe nearby. Now, place her gently on your lap, place one hand over her face and open her mouth with your hand. Put your thumb on one side of her mouth and your fingers on the opposite side. Make her open her mouth by pushing your thumb and fingers in between her upper and lower teeth, then slide the filled syringe gently into her mouth. Push the plunger down so the medication squirts down your cat's throat. Let her close her mouth so she doesn't spit the medicine out; encourage her to swallow the medicine by gently stroking her throat. Make sure she has access to water after getting her medication.
After a predetermined amount of time has passed, your cat's veterinarian will order that you apply an ice pack and a hot pack to your female cat's abdomen. In order to keep from hurting your cat, wrap the ice pack in an old cloth so the cold is soothing but not intense. The vet will usually order that your cat have the ice pack applied twice a day for 10 minutes at a time.To make the hot pack, find an old sock with no holes in it. Pour 1/3 cup uncooked white rice into the sock and tie the top of the sock securely closed. When it is time to apply the hot pack, microwave the rice sock in increments of 20 seconds at a time. Test the heat on your inner wrist. When the hot pack is comfortably warm, gently pick up your kitty and apply the hot pack as ordered by the vet--10 minutes twice a day.
Sometimes the unexpected happens, even though you are following the vet's instructions religiously. Your cat isn't showing any further signs of improvement, and, in fact, seems to be getting sicker. If this seems to be happening, look for diarrhea and vomiting. Check your cat's incision for unusual swelling. If you see these symptoms, call your vet right away and request a follow-up appointment. Your cat could have developed an infection, or she could be having a reaction to the sutures.
Most vets will provide an E-collar--a cone-shaped plastic device that you can tie around your cat's neck. This E-collar is to prevent her from licking or biting at her stitches. Your cat will be tempted, and will lick and try to bite her stitches. In order to prevent an avoidable infection, make sure she wears the E-collar at all times. If it gets in her way while she's eating or drinking water, remove it, but then put it back on as soon as she's finished. The shape of the E-collar means that it extends just past her face, blocking her peripheral vision. She will have a hard time navigating and will bump into walls and furniture.