my purrrrrrrrrfect self

my  purrrrrrrrrfect self

Sunday, August 30, 2009


Sausey is speyed!

ohhhhh, I am feeling better today. I had my spey surgery on Friday, so now I am no longer at risk of teen pregnancy myself. Purrrrrrrrumph, who would have time for kittens anyway! I am missing a little fur but I am sure it will grow back, it is terribly embarrassing to have a bare belly at this time of year though. I was a bit slow on Saturday, a little achy but my humans gave me lots of love and cuddles and of course some pain relief each day till I felt better. Only 10 more days till my stitches come out.

My mate Ollie has been telling me that it will not be long at all before this is all a distant memory. He had his surgery last month and his fur is nearly back to normal now. He is a handsome boy!

The vets here are very careful with us felines when it comes to desexing - they recognise that for a girl it is a major surgery (yes they do it all the time but it is still a major abdominal surgery). Everyone who comes here for speying gets a preanaesthetic checkover, a quick blood test (more comprehensive testing is available if you have any concerns). You get pain relief and sedation prior to your anaesthetic so you are calm and don't feel any pain. The vet gives intravenous fluids during the anaesthetic. These fluids are really important - they help keep our blood pressure up and the vet has IV access if they need to give us any important drugs. If the vet doesn't think you are fit enough for surgery then you'll get breakfast in bed and the surgery will be deferred till you are well again. After your surgery there is more pain relief and a warm bed to wake up in.

For boys the surgery is much quicker and less invasive but they still get all the checks and pain relief.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Desex and the City 2009

Guys and girls - come one come all - time for the little op.

At Auckland Cat Practice we believe in desexing both male and female cats to reduce the number of teen pregnancies and prevent behaviours that make our human family so unimpressed such as spraying and coming on call. Prehaps most importantly it will reduce our need for an OE (off site experience). Lets face it without all those hormones we have less drive to go walkabout and risk abscesses from fights and injuries from being hit by cars or attacked by dogs.

We are offering people who hold a student id, community services card or senior gold card a reduced price for spaying or neutering in August 2009. Speying will be $70 and neutering will be $35 for August ONLY. This service will still include your preanaesthetic test and post op pain relief. The ladies will receive IV fluids during their surgery.

On August 25th 2009 we are offering 10 free neuters. These are only available to students, community services or senior gold clients. This are available on a first come first served basis and bookings can be made at reception. The vets/nurses will need to see your human's card and you must pass our health check first. These offers only apply to routine spey/neuter surgery however your human will not be charged for the presurgical check if the surgery is not performed due to health or other issues discovered on admission and your options regarding these will be discussed at the time.

Over 40s health testing

My humans are offering testing for the over 40s felines (this means any of us who are over 7 human years - my don't they age slowly, 1 of their years for 7 of ours).

This programme includes a full 30min health check for general health as well as focusing on specific areas known to develop issues as we age, i.e. dental health, coat/grooming, arthritis. Yeah that's a lot of poking and prodding, and that dreadful thermometer! but it is for our own good, these things we must endure.

Following the physical exam the vet is going to take a blood sample, sorry - this means a hair cut as the human will take a little fur off your neck for the sampling. I will purrsonally ensure that the sample is sent to the laboratory to look for early signs of kidney insufficiency/failure, liver disease, thyroid disease or diabetes. Also your fur will grow back, I promise.

The blood test includes
  • Blood Glucose - high levels can indicate diabetes. In cats high levels can also indicate stress, which can merely be a result of the trip to see us. Low levels can indicate liver disease, infection or certain tumours.
  • Alanine transferase - this is an enzyme that is elevated by damage to liver cells
  • Alkaline phosphatase - this enzyme is present in liver and bone. Elevations can indicate liver disease, Cushings disease or steroid therapy. They also occur in young animals due to increase levels of the bone form in growing animals.
  • Blood urea nitrogen - This is produced by the liver and removed by the kidneys. Abnormally high levels are associated with kidney insufficiency or failure, dehydration or increased protein turnover (i.e. muscle wasting). Low levels can be associated with liver disease.
  • Creatinine - this is a biproduct of muscle metabolism and is excreted by the kidneys. High levels occur in dehydration, kidney disease and urinary tract obstruction. Low levels may be seen in emaciated animals due to lack of muscle tissue.
  • Total protein - this is a measure of the non-cellular protein in plasma. This provides information regarding dehydration and diseases of the liver, kidney or intestines.
  • Globulins - these are factors found in serum and can be elevated in infection, inflammation and cancer.
  • Thyroxine (T4) - this is a thyroid hormone. Elevations indicate thyroid disease. In cats the most common problem is hyperthyroidism, this disease drives the metabolism up, putting stress on many other organs.

Once the blood results arrive a report is prepared for your owner by the vets. This report will related the results of all the tests and examination and provide recommendations on any further testing you need, nutritional requirements, and treatment of any problems detected.

Caught early the humans can manage or cure many of the diseases that reduce the quality of our lives. This testing is aimed at keeping you as healthy and happy as possible (living young) for as long as possible.

love Sausage