I just got my cat spayed and a hernia removed. but she keeps trying to lick the stitches and the hood we have her wearing is causing her to spaz out and jump around. i'm scared she's gonna jump around and break open the stitches. she won't calm down and she won't lay down. i'm scared she's gonna die. someone please tell me what i could do.
2007-01-16 17:25:21 · 18 answers · asked by star 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Hi there...has your veterinarian recommended crating her to help keep her from becoming too active? This can sometimes help, however you need to let her out every few hours so she can use the litter box and have a bite and something to drink as well.
2007-01-16 17:29:53 · answer #1 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Elizabethan collar is probably driving her crazy, but the vet obviously is using it for a reason. If she had just been spayed, I would take the collar off, but it's the hernia that is more serious. Call the vet and ask if he can give you some nasty tasting cream to put on her stitches. The cream (I can't remember the name) has a mild antibiotic in it, but it tastes aw-full so the cat won't lick the stitches. I worked for a vet and we sent people home with this cream all the time. I'd even ask the vet for a mild sedative to use for a couple days, but I'll bet that she'll calm down when the vet gives the okay to remove the collar.
2007-01-16 17:55:37 · answer #2 · answered by notjustthreads 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I hope the vet has a pain patch on your cat, this helps them, if it don't have one, then call. I would tell the office also how your cat is acting, sometimes that collar may not have to be on so long. I bet she is in pain and or needs some kitty cat sedative. After you call, you may have to take her in and have her in the office for a few days so they can give her the sedative she needs. Good Luck. I bet you got to get rid of that hood. If it has been a few days, I bet it might be time, but ask the vet to be sure, a phone call never hurts to ask. And make the rep ask the vet.
2007-01-16 19:19:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Small, dim spaces make cats feel more calm; so you should put her in her carrier or into a dog crate (dog crates are bigger so you can put food & litter in; it's your choice which you use). To reduce the light and calm kitty down, put a sheet over the carrier, possibly leaving one side uncovered if seeing you helps your cat. Basically you are creating a little cave for her--this is how they calm down ferals after neutering; so it uses a cat's basic instincts to help her.
If your cat is one of the few that doesn't calm down when put into such a "nest", then you might have to call the vet. There are ways of sedating a cat--not actually anesthesia, but perhaps short-term tranquilizers--which could make her tired enough to get the rest she needs. Possibly, if catnip makes her calm and lazy, you could try that--be sure you know its effect on her, though; some cats get more playful.
If you can keep her calm simply by petting her, then hey--go for it. If kitty purrs, so much the better--a cat's purr is said to help them heal, which is why injured cats and cats in labor often purr.
2007-01-16 18:33:46 · answer #4 · answered by lisa450 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Remove the collar and confine kitty in the cat carrier (I hope you have one that is large and confy enough for her to lie down in). make a sort of bed for her in there. Let her out for 1/2 hour to an hour when she need to go the the litter box or to eat and drink. Keep her this way for maybe 3 days. By then the stitches will be on its way to healing.
2007-01-16 18:05:40 · answer #5 · answered by Phoebhart 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Leave the collar on, she's a lot more likely to pull the stiches out herself. Put her in a carrier or cage until she calms down. Most cats dont like the collars, but they will get use to it. Its imortant to keep her quiet, so confining her is the best option. Place her food and water in there, and her litter pan if its big enough. If not, let her out every few hours to go.
2007-01-16 17:30:26 · answer #6 · answered by cs 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
My cat did the same thing. We took the cone off because my cat was getting hurt worst by bouncin around etc.
As far as the stitches go.... my cat ended up taking out his own stitches within a day or two of the surgery. I took him to the vet immediately. He said he was fine. It happens all the time.
2007-01-16 17:33:42 · answer #7 · answered by GEE-GEE 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
My vet didn't send us home with a cone when our kitty got fixed. She did fine without one. I would bet my last dollar that if she had one she would have had a high speed come-apart!! She's a little mentally unstable as it is. I would ask the vet if it's absolutely necessary to have the cone. I KNOW that would be more torture for my cat than the actually incision line itself. Blessings to you and kitty over the next few days.
2007-01-16 20:14:58 · answer #8 · answered by squealy68 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would doubt that she would hurt herself by chewing too hard, but then I never second guess a cat. If you really are concerned, then a stuffed toy animal will probably give her just as much chewing pleasure, without any hard surfaces.
2016-03-29 01:08:59 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't feel that crating her is okay, confine her - say to a bathroom (so you can have water, litter box, etc.) It does help to reduce the stimulation but you don't feel like you're being mean.
(But do go and check on her like once an hour)
I had to keep my kitty in the bathroom for a day or two, but she was fine after.
Best of luck!
2007-01-16 17:35:47 · answer #10 · answered by tigglys 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋