? What can I expect from surgery and aftercare?

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AliceMeowliss (GA)

AliceMeowliss (GA)

Member Since 2019
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This week, Wednesday the 12th, Alice will go under the knife for the first time ever. She has a right lateral mass, could be a fatty tumor or mammary tumor, and she is going to have it removed. Because it could be hormone-encouraged, she will be spayed at this time as well. (Yes, she is almost 13 and she never reproduced but I never spayed her because I didn’t “need” to.) As far as we know, the lump does not seem to be “attached”.... it does not feel connected to any deep tissue.

I have never put any of my animals through surgery or any anesthesia, except for two male cats I had neutered.

So I have no idea who to expect at all, never mind when you throw in the FD. She is also being asked to fast, so what does that mean for her dosing of insulin? Can I give a token dose early Tuesday night and a snack before fasting starts? Normally her shot is at 9, they want her fasting no water no anything by 9.......
How long is recovery typically from something like this? The mass is basically like a nipple swollen up like the size of a fingertip or cigarette butt or something kind of like that.

Alice just cleared 7lbs this evening. :)

What kind of pain medication is typical? How will this affect her BGLs? Will I be able to sleep or will I be up with her for a few days again? With recent DKA in the picture, how does this affect my insulin and food approach?

I’m going to call my vet tomorrow and would also like to have a list of questions for the vet put together. What kinds of questions would you normally ask?

The vet is not staffed 24 hours so Alice will be in in the morning then stay all day, but will not stay overnight. They do not have R in case of an emergency. I don’t know if this matters.

What food and instructions should I send with them for after she is awake and able to eat? Should I allow them to give her full 4u dose or request a lesser dose? Would you recommend I bring my own meter for them to check her blood sugar with? (This would both save money and keep my numbers on the human meter scale.)

Please ask me any questions and tell me any stories and give me any information of any sort. Thank you!
 
AliceMeowliss&Cassandra said:
What food and instructions should I send with them for after she is awake and able to eat? Should I allow them to give her full 4u dose or request a lesser dose? Would you recommend I bring my own meter for them to check her blood sugar with? (This would both save money and keep my numbers on the human meter scale.)
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Take some food and ask them to give her some when she's awake enough but I'd forget the insulin until you get her home and are testing and see how she's doing. Anesthesia can cause the blood glucose numbers to be lower than normal. Also, you don't want them giving insulin at (for example) 2pm because it would put you WAY off schedule. Best to just wait until 9pm and go from there.

If they'll use your meter, that's great and will save you some money, but most vets refuse and will only use their AT....talk to them about it in advance.
 
I've had great success with transdermal BUPE especially when they don't feel like eating. Don't worry too much, a good vet will allow for her age, weight and current condition. Are there other animals in the home? I've always been told the others will sense weakness but I've only seen the opposite.
Good luck Alice. :bighug:
 
Chris & China (GA) said:
Take some food and ask them to give her some when she's awake enough but I'd forget the insulin until you get her home and are testing and see how she's doing. Anesthesia can cause the blood glucose numbers to be lower than normal. Also, you don't want them giving insulin at (for example) 2pm because it would put you WAY off schedule. Best to just wait until 9pm and go from there.

If they'll use your meter, that's great and will save you some money, but most vets refuse and will only use their AT....talk to them about it in advance.
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Thank you. I was not aware until today that anesthesia could lower her BGL.
Should I be skipping her dose the night before, too?

She has watched me test Alice’s ear or else I think we tested together with my meter, before. She was not used to the lancets as she was used to freehanding with a needle, so I had to show her how they opened. But she’s not against the human meter, I just don’t know if they will choose to use mine instead if I bring it. ....How often should I request that they check, if they will use mine?
 
Noah & me (GA) said:
I've had great success with transdermal BUPE especially when they don't feel like eating. Don't worry too much, a good vet will allow for her age, weight and current condition. Are there other animals in the home? I've always been told the others will sense weakness but I've only seen the opposite.
Good luck Alice. :bighug:
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I don’t know anything about administering pain meds at home. Will they affect her appetite? How much pain is she likely to be in? :\

There are 3 other cats and a rabbit, but Alice is kept separate. She was always the alpha even though she was also always the smallest. She hates all other cats except her deceased brother. She sort of had a bunny buddy she put up with last year, but he’s gone now too.

I honestly don’t know.... how long will she take to heal? Will she be able to use the litter box on her own? Will she have a cone? I’m so lost, it seems almost silly to me.
 
AliceMeowliss&Cassandra said:
how long will she take to heal? Will she be able to use the litter box on her own? Will she have a cone?
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It will depend somewhat on how involved the tumor surgery ends up being, but cats heal pretty quickly so if it's not too advanced, she'll probably be acting pretty normally within a few days.

She should be able to use the litterbox when she comes home....she will probably have the dreaded cone, but if you can afford it, they have "donut" collars that look like they'd be more comfortable (at places that sell pet supplies like PetSmart, Petco, etc)
 
AliceMeowliss&Cassandra said:
pain meds at home
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But you've pilled a cat right? Some will comply, some need a pill gun. If I recall my oral BUPE came with a dropper but both cats hated it so that's where the transdermal BUPE comes in. Mine came from a compounding pharmacy and took a few days to make. That was for long term pain, your drama would or should be gone by the time it takes to make. Never had a problem with balance or cognition even at a higher dose.
 
Chris & China (GA) said:
It will depend somewhat on how involved the tumor surgery ends up being, but cats heal pretty quickly so if it's not too advanced, she'll probably be acting pretty normally within a few days.

She should be able to use the litterbox when she comes home....she will probably have the dreaded cone, but if you can afford it, they have "donut" collars that look like they'd be more comfortable (at places that sell pet supplies like PetSmart, Petco, etc)
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I’m always broke, so no fancy come, but the cone can come off if I supervise her at least right? Just so they don’t lick stitches? How long is it usually worn for?

Vet is very busy, waiting on a call back at the end of the day for her, shortly..... they do want her to have insulin tonight, but I’m not sure if that would be better as a token dose.....? Insulin time is 9pm and fasting begins at midnight.
 
Noah & me (GA) said:
But you've pilled a cat right? Some will comply, some need a pill gun.
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I can barely give the ginger boys topical flea meds much less pill them, but Alice is easier with everything because she trusts me and has known me her whole life.


What am I going to do to help soothe Alice when she fasts tonight? I’m so sad I can’t even tell her why I can’t feed her later.
 
saw a picture posted on Facebook -- a cowboy cone -- dog's head through the top of a straw cowboy hat (might have been a child's size)

am sure most any sort of stiff Elizabethan ruff would work -- Alice is so dainty I'm not sure they make them small enough

we had one sitting around, Catcat-the-plastic-eater chewed punctures in it, about a third of the way around -- have no idea why he's impelled to lick or chew plastic, just have to keep an eye on him (he doesn't actually eat it, just licks and bites)

anyway, we will be thinking about you and praying and sending good vines
 
explain it to her, picture things in your mind, I won't say that cats can read minds, but they do seem to catch a meaning if you visualize strongly

alternatively, sing to her .. amazing how much that relaxes both of you -- thanks for whoever it was that told me to do this -- sorry, senior moment
 
CandyH and Catcat said:
explain it to her, picture things in your mind, I won't say that cats can read minds, but they do seem to catch a meaning if you visualize strongly

alternatively, sing to her .. amazing how much that relaxes both of you -- thanks for whoever it was that told me to do this -- sorry, senior moment
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I’m younger than you and I don’t remember who said what to me when about anything. Haha.

Thanks, Candy. I’ll probably stay up with her and sit on the floor and pet her a lot, tonight. She’s getting some Sheba portions this evening before cutoff, for sure. :D
 
AliceMeowliss&Cassandra said:
the cone can come off if I supervise her at least right? Just so they don’t lick stitches? How long is it usually worn for?
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Yes, but usually only at mealtimes....don't assume you'll "catch her" licking her stitches any other time. Cat's are masters at being sneaky.

Usually 7-10 days.

Do you know what time her surgery is scheduled for?
 
Chris & China (GA) said:
Yes, but usually only at mealtimes....don't assume you'll "catch her" licking her stitches any other time. Cat's are masters at being sneaky.

Usually 7-10 days.

Do you know what time her surgery is scheduled for?
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I know that they open at 9 and she has to be there by 9:30, so I assume about 10. I haven’t gotten a call back yet and the office closed 30 minutes ago so unless she’s busy closing, maybe she didn’t get my message to please call me.....

They did confirm no food or water after midnight not 9, so should she get a small dose of insulin tonight at her usual time?

I don’t know if I should start fasting her for two hours prior to shot, which would begin in 20-30 minutes, or if I can free feed her through until cutoff.......
 
Vet recommended I give her her full dose of insulin about an hour late tonight then they can give her insulin after she is awake and eating around +13 then...... thoughts, anyone?
 
If they shoot at +13, wouldn't that change your next shot time to 11pm? (if you shoot an hour late tonight, plus they shoot an hour late tomorrow)

I'd still suggest not having them shoot tomorrow unless you're sure they'll keep a close eye on her and test frequently (and only if you can deal with the 11/11 shooting schedule until you can work your way back to 9/9)
 
Chris & China (GA) said:
If they shoot at +13, wouldn't that change your next shot time to 11pm? (if you shoot an hour late tonight, plus they shoot an hour late tomorrow)

I'd still suggest not having them shoot tomorrow unless you're sure they'll keep a close eye on her and test frequently (and only if you can deal with the 11/11 shooting schedule until you can work your way back to 9/9)
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Good point, I had to stop and think about what that would do to AM which is the time I need to consider my partner’s schedule..... if I still do insulin at 9 tonight then that gives me three hours to feed her, too, which is better than 2......

So just missing one dose AM tomorrow would be okay, and BAU once PM cycle starts...? Thanks for responding. :) decisions must be made by 9 tonight.
 
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