Declawing
Dental Procedures
     - why does my pet need dental care?
     - prevention tips.
Ear Mites
Neutering
     - why neuter your cat?
     - about the procedure.
     - neuter follow-up
Spaying
     - why spay your cat?
     - about the procedure.
     - spay follow-up

Declawing the Cat:

This is a routine procedure commonly done on the front claws of the cat. Occasionally, the back claws are also removed but this is usually not necessary. The procedure involves removal of the claw and the nail bed of each front toe. Unless the nail bed is removed, the claw will tend to grow back. Following removal of the claw tissue glue is applied and the incision is sealed shut. Leg wraps are applied the first 24 hours to prevent the cat from bothering the feet and to reduce the possibility of hemorrhage. Upon going home, please keep the following in mind:

1. Expect the cat to be sore for about l-2 weeks. They should not he lame however. They should be using both feet within a day or two past discharge.
2. Please use shredded newspaper, styrofoam peanuts, or "Yesterday's News" (pre-formed paper pellets) in place of clay litter for the next 7-10 days
3. Check toes daily for swelling, discharge or open incisions. Call as soon as possible if any problems or questions arise.
   

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Dental Procedures -

• The AVMA recommends having your pet's teeth checked at their yearly examinations for potential dental problems.
• Start by withholding your pet's food and water after 10:00pm the night before the procedure.
• Pet's having a large accumulation of tartar and/or gum disease need to be started on antibiotics five days before the dental cleaning, to reduce bacteria septicemia.
• Dental X-rays can & should be done to diagnose the full extent of periodontal disease present.
• Doing a pre-anesthetic profile determines your pet's ability to tolerate the anesthesia, and also provides a baseline for future diagnostic blood work-ups (optional but recommended).
• A thorough cleaning and scaling of all teeth with a modern ultrasonic scaler is done first. Then high speed polishing is pre-formed The polishing delays the return of tartar buildup by eliminating tooth etchings. Any teeth that are decayed or very loose will be removed, so they cannot harbor dangerous bacteria deep in the gum lines. Retained baby teeth should also be removed as they can cause deflection of the permanent teeth and malocclusion.
• Then a complete Intraoral Exam is performed both gingivally and subgingivally.
• Pet's having morning dentals are able to go home by mid-afternoon. Be sure to feed soft foods for the next two days, and return to the regular diet once the short-term oral pain has subsided.

     - why does my pet need dental care?   When dental calculus (tartar) forms on your pet's teeth it is composed of various mineral salts, bacteria, organic material and food particles. In the early stages of accumulation, the material is soft (plaque), but it later hardens and adheres to the teeth. Continual accumulation causes inflammation of the gums and eventual recession of the gums and loose teeth.

Animals get periodontal disease, gingivitis and tooth decay just like humans. The breath becomes very odorous and the mouth becomes a dangerous source of infection. You may notice your pet having problems eating or maybe they are listless. As most of us know, the gums and teeth can be very painful. "Red gums means pain." What you don't see is the untreated tooth and gum disease allowing bacteria to enter the bloodstream and causing not only infections but also eventually damage to the valves of the heart, kidneys and the liver. Regular dental check ups, cleaning and brushing at home can add years to your pet's life and prevent many disease processes.

     - prevention tips:

1. Feed hard or coarse foods, no sweets.
2. Brush your pet's teeth with pet tooth pastes (human tooth paste froths too much) &/Or Oral Gel
3. Antibiotic Pulse Therapy every three to four months on the pets who already have gum disease and teeth problems to keep already present bacteria down.
4. Provide rawhide, hard rubber or nylon chew toys or hard treat foods. Remember that the treat foods are a source of calories and may lead to obesity if given too often.
5. Regular dental check ups and professional cleaning by your Veterinarian is the most effective way to ensure good health for your pet.

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Ear Mites-

• Treatment begins by thoroughly removing excess wax and debris from ear canals with the Auriflush therapudic ear cleansing system.
• Cats are then treated with newer one-time applications of the topical meds.
• If the ears are seriously inflamed or infected a Topical Steroid/antibiotic/ antifungal agent may also be used.
• Ivermectin can be used in addition to the above treatment. Injections are typically given every 1-2 weeks for 2-3 treatments. Their use is solely off-label hence this treatment option should be discussed with your veterinarian prior to its use.
• The animal should be checked at least once during the treatment period to assess progress and again at the end of treatment to assure the infestation has been eliminated.
• Topical treatments such as Revolution should be used monthly to treat any mites living outside the ears. Since the mites may live off the animal for a period of time, the environment should be thoroughly cleaned and treated with an insecticide as for flea control.

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Neutering the Cat-

     - why neuter your cat?   Neutering your pet may add years to his life and prevent heartache in yours. Altered pets are often less likely to get out of the yard, spray in the house, get into fights, and the occurrence of medical diseases such as prostate cancer, cysts, prostate hypertrophy, and other reproductive linked diseases are almost totally diminished with early neutering. It is often thought that "if I have my pet neutered, he will become a whimp and not be the same." This is only a partial truth. Your pet will not have the sexual drive which leads to misbehavior so he will not be the same in this aspect, but he still is able to function as a watch dog or cat, now with more dedication to his job without wanting to find a girlfriend.

Neutering at 8-10 months of age is not only easy for you the pet owner, but also carries fewer complications than at an older age. At 8-10 months your pet should have been immunized sufficiently enough to prevent nosocomial infections (ones caught from other animals while in the hospital). Their urethras have had time to develop with the benefit of testosterone, and at this age he is less likely to have complications with anesthesia and the healing time will be faster.

A major problem today in the pet industry is the destruction of unwanted pets due to overpopulation. Having your pet neutered is doing your part in the prevention of these unnecessary and unwanted strays. Also pet overpopulation is the major source for the perpetuation of diseases such as Distemper, Feline Leukemia, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. Because these unwanted strays never receive adequate immunizations they harbor and spread disease to the rest of the pet population, and your animal.

     - about the neutering procedure.   This is a simple, routine surgical procedure. The testicles are removed through two incisions in the scrotum and the cord to which they are attached is tied. Unlike dogs, no sutures ate used to close the incisions. A germicidal spray is commonly sprayed over the surgical area post-operatively. Your cat will generally remove this through normal grooming. Although a routine procedure, please keep the following in mind:

1. Expect some sleepiness/depression the night he goes home. Allow him to rest comfortable.
2. You may allow him a small amount of water in the early evening and later, a small amount of food. Appetite and attitude should return to normal in a day or two.
3. Check for swelling or drainage of any type from the incisions by checking under the tail daily for 4-7 days. Call as soon as possible if any problems or questions arise.

     - neuter follow-up:  Your pet has undergone a routine surgery. Although routine, please keep the following in mind:

1. Expect the cat to be sore for about l-2 weeks.
2. Please use shredded newspaper, Styrofoam peanuts, or "Yesterday's News" (pre-formed paper pellets) in place of clay litter for the next 7-10 days
3. Check scrotum daily for swelling, discharge or open incisions. Call as soon as possible if any problems or questions arise.
   

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Spaying the Cat:

     - why spay your cat?   Spaying your pet may add years to her life and prevent heartache in yours. Altered pets are often less likely to get out of the yard, spray in the house, get into fights, and the occurrence of medical diseases such as breast cancer, uterine cancer, uterine infections, and other reproductive linked diseases are almost totally diminished with early spaying. It is often thought that "if I have my pet spayed, she will become a whimp and not be the same." This is only a partial truth. Your pet will not have the sexual drive which leads to misbehavior so she will not be the same in this aspect, but she still is able to function as a watch dog or cat, now with more dedication to her job without wanting to find a boyfriend.

Spaying at 6-8 months of age is not only easy for you the pet owner, but also carries less complications than at an older age. At 6-8 months your pet should have been immunized sufficiently enough to prevent nosocomial infections (ones caught from other animals while in the hospital) and also there are less age related complications with anesthesia and surgery at this time.

A major problem today in the pet industry is the destruction of unwanted pets due to overpopulation. Having your pet spayed is doing your part in the prevention of these unnecessary and unwanted strays. Also pet overpopulation is the major source for the perpetuation of diseases such as Distemper, Feline Leukemia, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus. Because these unwanted strays never receive adequate immunizations they harbor and spread disease to the rest of the pet population, and your animal.

     - about the spaying procedure.   After anesthetic induction the patient has the hair clipped away from her belly and the skin is cleansed until a sterile field is reached. Once transported into the surgical suite, the patient is hooked up to heart and oxygen monitors. The spay procedure begins with a mid-abdominal skin incision down into the abdominal cavity. An Ovariohysterectomy (OHE) is the complete removal of both the ovaries and the uterus (full female reproductive tract removal). To do this, ligation with absorbable suture material of the ovarian blood vessels, the uterus, and the uterine blood vessels are done and the organ is excised out after hemostasis has been accomplished.

Closure is done with three suture lines - muscle wall with absorbable sutures fatty layer just under the skin with absorbable sutures, and skin non-absorbable sutures that must be removed. It is possible to perform the OHE during estrus (heat), however the surgery is a little more involved and Spaying before the 1st heat is always recommended for better health. Full recovery from the anesthesia usually takes 4-12 hours depending on the length of the surgical time. Most patients go home the same day as the surgery and return for a recheck at the suture removal appointment.

     - spay follow-up:  Your pet has undergone a routine abdominal surgery to remove the ovaries, uterine horns and uterine body. Although routine, please keep the following in mind:

1. Expect some sleepiness/depression the night your pet goes home. She should be allowed to rest comfortably. If excessive depression is noted either that night or during the next few days, please contact us as soon as possible.
2. Restrict food and water the night your pet goes home. Offer a small amount of water in the early evening. You may offer a small amount of food later Appetite and attitude should return to normal within a few days.
3. Please monitor the incision daily. Check for problems such as excessive swelling, drainage from incision, extreme redness or irritation of the incision.
4. Sutures will need to be removed in l0 to 12 days as they are non-absorbable. Please schedule an appointment. Again, should any questions or problems arise, please contact us as soon as possible

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