Affiliate Event
Sheilah Robertson, BVMS (Hons), PhD, DACVAA, DECVAA, DACAW, DECAWBM (WSEL), MRCVS
Senior Medical Director
Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice Inc.
Gainesville, Florida
Post-operative comfort in cats requires creating an analgesic plan that starts preoperatively, is effective during surgery and continues into the post-operative period. We should aim to get cats home as soon as possible after procedures to alleviate the stress of hospital stays. Owners are often asked to continue administering medications at home, but how often are these plans adhered to after discharge? Recent information reveals that many cats try to bite or scratch when being medicated, run away or refuse food with drugs hidden in it. Over half of owners said giving medication negatively impacted their relationship with their cat. Approximately a third of cats did not complete the prescribed course of medication. If analgesics are skipped, this has a negative impact on recovery, but what is the solution? By embracing FDA approved formulations of drugs such as long-acting transdermal buprenorphine and liposome encapsulated bupivacaine which may provide analgesia for several days, compliance is back in the hands of the veterinarian. These drugs are administered peri-operatively thereby relieving the burden on the owner. Palatable tablets (e.g., robenacoxib) can augment post-operative care. Owners are an important part of the veterinary care team, and we can teach them to recognize pain in their cat using the Feline Grimace Scale (available as a downloadable smartphone application). Changing how we do things results in happier owners and cats.