Recovery For Vincent
AnimalCare 
Jun 9, 2016 
AnimalCare, NGOs 
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Last night, Vincent slept like a baby until past midnight. Since he was sleeping so peacefully, I decided not to wake him up.
He finally woke up after midnight and I offered some small-sized Go! kibbles. The vet had said that between wet and dry food, it might be better to eat dry food for the first few days because he did not want any wet food getting stuck in the gum cavities (while healing is taking place). Also, there was no suturing of the gums in Vincent’s surgery. The vet prefers to let it heal on its own, which is good, since suturing would give rise to a greater possibility of food getting stuck inside.
But Vincent didn’t feel like eating anything. So after awhile, he went back to sleep.
He did urinate quite a bit, because he had been on drips during and after the surgery. At least I know he won’t have a dehydration problem for the next few hours. He didn’t drink any water too.
The vet had said that in most animals, they would start eating as soon as they awakened from the surgery. This happened to Vincent during the first surgery in April when he had two back vestigial teeth (very small teeth) removed. He ate so much the moment he woke up that night itself.
But this time, I guess the pain must be quite bad.
This morning, Vincent still did not want to eat anything. Te extraction of 4 big teeth must definitely be still painful – that, I totally empathise. Vincent’s pain threshold is known to be quite low too.
By afternoon, Connie bought Royal Canin’s Recovery for Vincent. Thank you so much, Connie! It is a special blended food (something like AD) for animals recovering after surgery.
I was incredibly pleased that Vincent was willing to lick up about a spoonful of it! At least there is some food going in.
I offered a bit more after an hour, but he didn’t want any. And I offered again by evening, but he didn’t want any too.
Never mind, baby steps.
Last night, Vincent kept pawing at his mouth. Poor boy, he would need time to get used to those 4 teeth being missing. I really, really hope with the 4 teeth removed, his stomatitis will be much, much milder. The vet had said that he has had good outcomes 90% of the time with his patients (after tooth extraction). I’m banking on Vincent being in this 90% group.
This afternoon, Vincent was more settled in the cage. He has more or less accepted the fact that the cage will be his home for now. It will probably take about 5-7 days for his gums to heal properly.
Meanwhile, I’ve also bought two more canned food of the blended version, in case Vincent needs it. As the vet had said, as long as he gets some food in, let’s give him time to recover.
Some things just cannot be rushed.
The reason I need to get Vincent to eat something is so that he does not get hepatic lipidosis. This happens when an animal goes into starvation mode. The body sends fat to the liver to be processed for energy, but a cat’s liver is not designed to process large amounts of fats.
This explains:
Normally, when a body is undernourished or starved, the body automatically moves fat from its reserves to the liver to be converted into lipoproteins for energy. Cat’s bodies are not designed to convert large stores of fat, so when a cat is in starvation mode, the fat that is released to the liver is not processed efficiently, resulting in a fatty and low functioning liver. As the fat accumulates in the liver it becomes swollen and turns yellow. Because it is not able to process red blood cells efficiently, the yellow pigment that makes up a portion of the red blood cell is released into the bloodstream, causing a yellowing of the eyes. If not treated promptly, hepatic lipidosis can lead to various complications and eventually death.
Source: http://www.petmd.com/cat/conditions/digestive/c_ct_hepatic_lipidosis
That is why I have to ensure Vincent at least eats a bit of food and doesn’t starve or fast.
Over at Bunny’s Place, Tabs gave me a scare this morning by refusing the eat breakfast and looking miserable. Oh dear, what’s wrong, Tabs? She has never ever refused food and the only time she did was when she came down with that severe multiple infection where she was hospitalised and she almost lost her life. I’m phobic when any cat stops eating and looks sickly. Tabs didn’t look well this morning. As I had to go to work, I quickly gave her a dose of Vetri DMG.
Is this Murphy’s Law at play? Vincent is down and now…Tabs too? Pet World starts tomorrow and we are already very short-handed as it is. I have to be always present during events.
By afternoon when I got home, Tabs came running to me. She’s okay!
And she ate like a slob, so that’s really good. Finished her lunch and asked for more too.
Thank goodness Tabs is fine. What a relief!
Source: https://myanimalcare.org/2016/06/09/recovery-for-vincent/
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