Care of your cat following FHNO Surgery

Key Points for Aftercare

• The surgical site has been clipped (additional areas might also be clipped from fluid or drug administration).
• Do not allow your cat to interfere with the clipped areas. Wounds might have a light adhesive dressing applied; this often works loose or can be taken off after 3 to 5 days.
• We recommend your cat wears a protective collar so they cannot chew or lick the stitches and dressings. Keep this on until the wound is fully healed or the stitches are taken out.
• Preventing your cat from licking the surgical site is crucial, as licking can introduce infections.
• There may be a pad covering the incision when your cat goes home. You can remove this after a few days, or sooner if it becomes soiled.
• A mild amount of swelling in the operated leg is expected after surgery. Applying ice packs for 10-15 minutes every couple of hours during the first few days can help decrease swelling and keep your cat comfortable.
• If the incision site seems excessively itchy or irritated, has a discharge, or if you feel the swelling is severe, please contact your vet right away.

Confinement and permitted activity

• Passive range-of-motion exercises can begin 5 to 7 days post-surgery, provided your cat tolerates it. Gently and slowly flex and extend the hip joint 20 to 30 times, repeating this process 3 to 6 times per day.
• Keep your cat strictly confined to prevent jumping and running. Using a recovery cage is the best option at first.
• 5 to 7 days after the operation, you can permit 5 minutes of supervised walking in a single room (ensure it has non-slip floors and no tall furniture). Do this 3 to 6 times a day, returning them to cage confinement afterwards.
• At 10 to 14 days, you can expand their confinement to just one room full-time, provided there is only low furniture and the floors are non-slip (use mats or carpet offcuts over tiles or floorboards).
• At the 4-week mark, confinement can be extended to the rest of the house. Please ensure all cat flaps are securely locked.
• Normal, unrestricted activity can usually begin after 6 weeks.
• Hydrotherapy can aid in recovery and is worth considering if early progress is slow. Ensure you use a facility with trained staff experienced in handling felines, as many cats adapt to water treadmills remarkably well.

Re-examinations with your vet

• ➤ The morning after the procedure (if your cat went home on the day of surgery).
• ➤ 3 to 5 days post-surgery for a general check-up.
• ➤ 7 to 10 days post-surgery to assess wound healing (and remove staples/sutures if applicable).
• ➤ 4 weeks post-surgery for a progress check.
• ➤ 8 weeks post-surgery for a final evaluation.