Myth #3: A Pet is Too Old
No pet is too old for proper medical care. Because older pets don’t metabolize some drugs as well as younger ones, the correct anes- thesia must be chosen for the pet’s age and current state of health or medical problems. Too often, pets haven’t received proper care, especially dental cleanings and tumor removals, because their current veterinarian has deemed them too old for anesthesia. Both the family and the veterinarian need to feel comfort-
Helping Your Pet Recover after Surgery
by Susan Swanson A
ny procedure requiring general anesthesia can
be stressful, even for a healthy pet. There are a few things that you can give your pet to mini- mize the stress of the procedure and any side effects of medications given before, during or after anesthesia. Flower Essences are used to treat the emotional issues under-
lying many physical ailments. Rescue Remedy is a combina- tion of five flower essences that help with fear and anxiety. It is calming without being sedating. It may be given before or after anesthesia as it will not interfere with anesthetics or other medications your pet may be given. I recommend the human product which has an alcohol base and can be used on the skin. The pet version has a glycerin base and must be given by mouth (easier said than done with many cats). The dose is one drop on the skin. Apply to the skin in front of the ear, on the ear flap or on the paw pads. If the animal is not calmer after the first dose, repeat dosing every few minutes
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able with treatments. Ask questions before submitting an animal to any anesthetic or surgery or other medical procedure. Talk with the veterinarian about using this gentle, natural approach to help relieve any concerns if a pet needs sedation or anesthesia.
Shawn Messonnier, a doctor of veterinary medicine practicing in Plano, TX, is the award-winning author of The Natural Health Bi- ble for Dogs & Cats and Unexpected Miracles: Hope and Holistic Healing for Pets. For more information,
PetCareNaturally.com.
for two to four doses total. Lavender essential oil can also be used to calm your
pet when they are stressed. The oil may be diffused for your pet to breathe or apply a drop on the skin over the back of the neck.
Upon returning home following general anesthesia,
your pet should be relaxed and less active for a short time. If they are restless, vocalizing or licking at the surgical site, they may be experiencing some pain or discomfort. Depending on what procedure was done under anesthe- sia, your pet may come home with medication to relieve pain. If the pain medication has been used and your pet still seems uncomfortable, give them a dose of Arnica Montana. Arnica relieves pain by reducing inflammation, resolving bruising and speeding up the body’s own healing process. I recommend a 30c potency which can be given two or three times daily until the pain subsides. If your pet was given antibiotics before, during or after their surgical procedure, probiotics should be given. They counteract the bad effects of the antibiotic on good bacteria in the intestines. Human formulations of probiotics can be used for your pet. Make sure they contain prebiotics and have at least four or more different strains of bacteria. The dosage range would be one-fourth capsule for cats or small dogs up to a whole capsule for a large dog. Probiotics can be mixed in dry food or canned food once daily for two to three weeks. They may be given while your pet is on antibiotics, but not at the same time that the medication is administered.
Susan Swanson, DVM, practices holistic veterinary medicine at the Cat Care Clinic, 1524 Mahtomedi Ave., Mahtomedi. For more information, call 651-429-4153 or visit HolisticCat
Clinic.com. See ad below.
Offering a Blend of Western & Eastern Medicine
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1524 Mahtomedi Avenue, Mahtomedi, MN 55115 Susan M. Swanson, D.V.M.
www.HolisticCatClinic.com natural awakenings January 2015
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