Small Animal Nursing: McCurnin Chapter 34

What are postoperative procedures for a feline onychectomy?

-Administer analgesic by dosing intervals: opioids, fentanyl patches, NSAIDS -remove bandages after 24 hours -no normal litter (shredded paper) -monitor closely -hemorrhage, swelling, drainage, and redness

What are some indications of the feline onychectomy?

-It's an elective procedure usually done to prevent scratching -done on the front feet -performed with castration/ovariohysterectomy -preop: painful procedure

What technique is used for tail docking/dewclaw removal?

-cradle puppy in palm of your hand -use scissors or a laser -use absorbable sutures

Intraoperative technique for Onychectomy:

-general anesthesia -surgical scrub -tourniquet -sutures/surgical glue -bandage afterwards

Early feline onychectomy complications:

-loose bandages -self-bandage removal -postoperative bleeding

What are postoperative procedures for tail docking and dewclaw removal?

-monito the sites for: swelling, drainage, redness, self-trauma, and dehiscence -pain meds -complications are rare

When putting glue on an open wound:

-never place it inside the wound -appose wound manually and place the glue along the edges -push sides of wound together then put on glue

Late feline onychectomy complications:

-regrowth of claws: portion left behind -chronic lameness: pain may have a reason -radial nerve damage: from tourniquet. May cause skin sloughing

What are the three techniques of Onychectomy?

-rescoe: nail trimmer to cut through tissue -scalpel blade -CO2 laser

What is the correct placement of a tourniquet?

-should be distal to the elbow and tightened **if it's proximal this increases the chances of damage to the radial nerve**

What are some examples of an elective surgery?

-spay -castration -declawing

What are some examples of a nonelective surgery?

-trauma: hit by a car -bleeding splenic mass

What are other indications for tail docking/ dewclaw removal other than aesthetic reasons? What is the techs role in these cases?

-trauma: stabilize patient before anesthesia -infection: culture swabs -neoplasia: tumor free margins and skin prep

Why should a Onychectomy only be done on the front feet?

Because they need the back feet for protection

What is the technique for tail docking?

Hang the tail from the IV stand, use a tourniquet to control bleeding, disarticulate the caudal vertebra (making an incision between the caudal vertebra), and suture.

What is an elective surgery:

Not necessary to life, but can increase quality of life. It's done on a healthy patient.

When is the recommended time to perform dewclaw removal/tail docking?

Usually within the first week of life (3-5 days). You can perform these procedures without anesthetic as this is a minimally traumatic time.

What's the definition for removing the dewclaw? Why do people want this surgery done?

amputation of vestigial first digit -aesthetic reasons. Also it could be for safety especially in working/ hunting animals.

What's something to keep in mind when using a tourniquet?

at the thirty minute mark, the doctor may need to release the pressure for a few minutes.

What is a feline onychectomy?

declawing. It's the removal of the claw and associated distal phalanx on each digit. -distal phalanx can be compared to the tip of the finger

What's the definition of Tail docking? Why do people want this surgery done?

partial amputation of the tail -aesthetic reasons. It could be for breed standards, especially in show dogs. Could also be for working/ herding dogs

What is a nonelective surgery:

performed urgently, usually life saving. Done an an unhealthy patient.

What is the technique for dewclaw removal?

using general anesthesia the doctor transects the dewclaw. To prevent hemorrhage a tourniquet is used.