Surgery, Diabetic Cat Care

The information contained in this sticky is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace veterinary advice. The intention of this sticky is to open doors to understanding about the specific medical condition and allow for educated and on-going discussion with your vet.

Diabetic Cat
Care

Preparing for Surgery 101

It is stressful enough when a pet goes through a surgery. It doesn't matter if it is a spay, a dental or something more serious. Add in the complications that arise when it is a diabetic cat going through surgery and the anxiety level can increase big time!

The information provided below will help you cover the bases when it comes to talking with your vet about what you need to do beforehand, what is going to happen during surgery, and what to expect afterwards. The best thing you can do for both you and your cat is to be as knowledgeable as possible.

Before booking your appointment, let your vet know you have some questions you would like to discuss; either by email, by phone or at a consult.

-What kind of anesthetic will the vet use?
-How long will my cat be under anesthetic?
- How long will it take for them to come around?
-What time can I expect to pick my cat up?
-Will I receive a phone call after the surgery?
-Will BG be tested during surgery?
-What happens if my cat drops low?
-What does your vet consider "low" BG when it comes to intervening with dextrose or glucose?
-How will the vet proceed should my cat's BG spike very high?
-What antibiotics will my cat be given, before and after surgery?
-How can I expect my cat to behave, and for how long?
-How long will it take until my cat completely recovers?

Before and After

Food will need to be withheld from at least 6 to 8 hours prior to the surgery. Most vets will tell you they require a 12 hour fast, but Dr. H has repeatedly stated 12 hours is too long due to the fact our cats have such short digestive systems. The reason behind fasting is to avoid “aspiration” (aka vomiting) which can be caused by anesthetics used.

Many vets will not release a cat until they are standing, have urinated, and are eating on their own. It is recommended to take a can of low carb wet food with you to the clinic, as well as a sign to tape on your cat's "recovery" cage stating "NO DRY FOOD".

If your vet has indicated that they will test your FD cat’s BG levels and will administer glucose if they feel that BG are too low, you may wish to consider giving only a half scale dose or even withholding insulin entirely just prior to the dental procedure. Many vets do not know that most non-FD cats’ BG rests between 2.8 to 3.8/50 to 70.

Lack of insulin for one shot is easily treated once the cat is back home and able to eat on its own – but the effects of dextrose/glucose based fluids administered by a vet during surgery will take much longer to recover from and will require a form of detox before re-starting TR. How you want LOW BG handled during surgery should be negotiated with your vet prior to booking the appointment.

It is possible that your cat's BG will spike significantly at some point during the day - it is only normal, the poor little thing is in a very stressful situation and you aren't there. If your vet intends to give a shot at the clinic to deal with high BG, it is a good idea to take your cat's insulin with them to the surgery. Most vets use faster acting insulin types, like NR, NPH or Caninsulin so only have these on hand. If your cat is on PZI, Lantus or Levemir, your vet will not likely have that insulin type which can cause some challenges when switching back to your regular insulin type. How you want HIGH BG handled while your cat is at their clinic should be negotiated with your vet prior to booking the appointment.

When you bring your cat home, it is likely they will still feel the effects of anesthesia, and may quite wobbly on their feet. Or they may not be! It is a good idea to make temporary accommodation so that your cat is prevented from injuries – moving their bed from the couch to the floor, blocking stairways, and keeping them off furniture will help prevent falls. Moving the litter box closer to their temporary spot, and/or using a litter box with lower sides might also be helpful. Sometimes elevating feeding dishes, using flat plates rather than bowls, will make it easier for your cat to eat after surgery - especially in the case of dental surgery as our cats’ mouths are still frozen from the procedure hours later. Sometimes hand feeding your cat is called for as they aren't able to make their tongues work.

When starting to feed your cat after it has returned home, it is recommended to feed in small amounts, every 15 minutes to half hour, to help prevent vomiting.

Many cats have a little cough after surgery which is caused by the intubation tube. This will resolve over the course of a few days. To help sooth your cat's throat, kitty may like no salt chicken broth instead of water. A small pat of butter, or some full fat plain yogurt will also help coat the throat while it is healing.

Your vet will likely send you home with pain medications and antibiotics: they should provide clear instructions on proper administration, and an understanding of what signs to look for should your cat have an adverse reaction to the particular medications used.