Home Care Following Abscess Surgery

An abscess is a pocket of infection that contains pus. The overlying skin is hot, looks red and swollen and is painful. Abscesses often result from puncture wounds, such as scratches or bites. Sometimes the skin surface seals quickly, trapping bacteria below the skin sur-face. This bacteria produces the abscess.

PRE-SURGICAL CARE

PHYSICAL EXAMINATION: Your cat was given a pre-surgical physical examination and appeared to be _____________________

PRE-ANESTHETIC SAFETY SCREENING TEST:
You have elected the pre-anesthetic blood test. Yes No
The blood test was within normal limits Yes No
If not please comment _______________________________________

You have elected preventive urinalysis Yes No
The urinalysis was within normal limits Yes No
If not please comment _______________________________________

FLUID SUPPORT: You have elected: p subcutaneous fluid support
intravenous fluid support
I have declined any fluid support

SURGICAL PROCEDURE
The operation was performed under general anesthesia.
The recovery was uneventful Yes No

HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS

PROPER RESTRAINT
Please protect your pet when leaving the hospital by using either a leash or carrier. If your pet is recovering from surgery and gets loose, excessive activity or injury may result.

RECOVERY
Your pet has received a general anesthetic and, as a result, may appear more tired than normal and possibly a little uncoordinated. This is to be expected and the grogginess should disappear in the next day or so. Some pets require up to 48 hours to fully recover from anesthetic, but your cat should be walking steadily and interested in food and water within 24 hours. If your cat is very dull and unresponsive, he may have a postoperative fever and require VETERINARY CARE. General anesthesia lowers body temperature, so you should keep your cat warm and dry.

FOOD AND WATER
No food should be given for the first 12 hours after your pet has come home. Normal feeding may be resumed the next day. Do not become alarmed if the cat does not wish to eat very much for a day. Water is allowed in small amounts and frequently. Too much water at once may cause vomiting.

EXERCISE AND ACTIVITY
Exercise should be restricted for the first 7 days. Jumping and excessive activity is discouraged as this may slow the healing. We recommend small children not handle or bother your pet for 24 hours. Please confine your cat indoors until the wound is healed completely.

PREVENTION OF CHEWING ON INCISION / DRAIN/ SUTURES
Your cat was given an Elizabethan collar, which prevents him/her from licking the wound and chewing on the sutures and drain. Keep the collar on all the times. You may remove it temporarily if it is causing major discomfort, but in this case your cat has to be monitored constantly and your pet must not be given the opportunity to remove its drains or sutures. Cats usually handle the collar very well. Some may be disoriented for a day or try to walk out of it but most of them will adjust very well. The majority of cats are able to eat and drink.

WOUND CLEANSING
Please use a clean cloth or gauze square soaked in diluted Hibitane cleanser in warm water to gently express discharge from wound opening and wipe away dried crusts and debris. In addition to the cleaning, you should gently move the end of the drain back and forth at least twice daily to keep the openings draining. Prior to taking your cat home, you will receive verbal instruction, as well as having the clean procedure demonstrated to your satisfaction.

ELIMINATION HABITS
Many patients may not have bowel movements for one or two days after surgery. This is normal if the patient is acting normally. If the constipation persists you should contact our office.

INTERACTION WITH OTHER CATS
Some cats (from multi-cat households) after arriving home may be perceived as an enemy and attacked by the other cats. It is fairly normal to hiss and fight. In this case you should separate them immediately. It is also recommended to rub a towel on the returning cat and then on the other cat in order to transmit the smell onto each cat. Repeat this procedure for each additional cat.
MEDICATION _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

PAIN TREATMENT _______________________________________________________________________________________________________

APPOINTMENTS
Please book an appointment for wound cleaning in ________ days

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS _______________________________________________________________________________________

THANK YOU. There is no charge for drain or suture removal.
Please do not hesitate to notify us if you have any further questions or concerns