Zeus and Hestia are going in to be altered a week on Monday - is there anything we should tell the Vet that is Bengal specific? I read something about Bengals are less sensitive to anaesthetics? Naturally, we're both concerned, as we'd hate anything to happen to our babies

Hi Gavin/Siobhan

Only three days to go till the big Op! We felt the same when we took Reggie in to be altered. I even made MeeMonkey pick him up so that Reggie would blame him and not me

Don't worry too much about it, your cats are healthy and young so the anaesthetic shouldn't be a problem for them and this kind of Op is second nature to any vet. Just make sure you follow instructions about what time to stop them eating & drinking as this can make them sick and if they are sick whilst under anaesthetic it can be very dangerous.

Finally, make sure you have something REALLY special to give them for tea when they get home and be sure to spoil them rotten

Let us know how it goes
Heidi

_________________
Heidi

I second the comments on be VERY serious about taking up the food, the night before --
and have their very MOST favorite treat waiting for them, when you bring them home

Also -- TRY to keep things as LOW KEY as possible for Hestia for the first couple of days -- her little tummy will be sore (My vet even gives something for pain, for the first two days after surgery) But REALLY she shouldn't be jumping around any more than you can prevent.

Don't feel TOO alone --- I have Dagger and Emma scheduled for their surgeries the second week in October, and I'm already dreading it -- it's HARD to keep them "settled" when there are 7 other cats trying to get them to PLAY :blink:

Thanks for the advice, we are dreading it

We was wondering, will they have to wear cones around their necks to stop them trying to undo the stitches?

Mmm, not sure about the cones, Reggie didn't have one but I've never had a female cat altered so I don't know.

The vet did try to give us one for Reg after he had been in a fight which left him with a nasty puncture wound to his leg. We tried to put the cone on but failed miserably. It really frightened him to the point where he fell down the stairs and started walking backwards into things.

Hope all goes well tomorrow!
Heidi

_________________
Heidi

Thanks.....poor babies are starving but haven't pestered us too much yet.

Will report back tomorrow as soon as they are done

They CAN have water, you know -- my cats get more upset about no water, than no food down... and my vet told me that WATER is OK the night before.

I have had MANY females spayed, over the years, and none have ever had to have the "cone" you are talking about.

MOST vets here in the US do the internal stitches with dissolving thread, and "GLUE the top layer of skin, to prevent them from "pulling at the stitches" now-a-days -- but over the past MANY years, the females I had spayed who had external stitches seemed to LICK at them, but never pulled any out. (I suppose when they PULL at a stich, it probably HURTS, so they stop on their own, if they do it, at all.)

I'm sure they will both do fine

The procedure is MUCH less severe for the males than the females, and I still want to remind you, the JUMPING is the most "worrisome" -- the females CAN cause themselves a hernia, if they are too active the first couple of days...

Keep us posted, I'll be thinking about you, and THEM tomorrow

LaVon

Thanks for the advice and kind words

We've taken them in this morning, just got the nervous wait until later now to find out how they are....

Going to be difficult to stop them jumping about, as you know, if I Bengal can jump somewhere rather than walk, it will

They're back home now, operation went fine, both are a subdued, Zeus looks angry and Hestia looks tired.

Hestia had 1 stitch which has to come out in 10 days time, so I guess we're not as advanced over here :angry:

Great news

I'm glad they're both OK, do they have to wear cones?

Heidi

_________________
Heidi

No cones, the vet said not to let them lick the wounds and in particular Hestia's stitching - quite how they think it's possible to stop a determined Bengal doing that without watching them 24 hrs a day? :unsure:

Here's a pic of them now, they are resting in the lounge, we got a treat of some fresh chicken, Zeus went mad for it, so he is fine

O' poor little babies...they looks so subdued! They?re probably cursing you both right now

Still, I guess it?s a relief to have them both back at home

_________________
Heidi

Zeus is almost back to his usual self already. He has eaten some food, has had a little walk around a patted one of his favourite curly spring toys with his paw. (If you haven't got one of these toys, i recommend getting some, just 1.99 for 3 at Pets at Home. They just love them, all it is, is a vibrant coloured plastic spring shaped thing which they get hours of fun out of it).

Hestia on the other hand, is still very groggy, she has had a little mouthful of food, but that's it, she has been sleeping most of the time since coming home, in between trying to get at her stitches. :blink:. It has been a traumatic experience for her and she seems very nervous, as though she is thinking to herself, what did I do wrong. I think she is thinking we are gonna cart her back of to the vets, the poor little thing.

They are both getting extremely fussed over and Zeus is rather enjoying it (typical) hehe.

Will keep you updated on them.

SO GLAD their surgeries went well...

It's not surprising that Hestia is a little more groggy and "sore" -- I think they must have to put them a little further "under" the anesthesia than the boys --

The photo of them, with the blue towel "blanket" is very sweet.

Thanks again, they are almost back to 100% now and looking for mischeif as usual

How long does it normally take for the hair to grow back?