Plastic Surgery for an Injured Cat

Cat plastic surgery has become common amongst top cat breeders and cat show entrants despite having stringent rules disqualifying animals who have undergone any type of cosmetic surgeries. One of the common unnecessary plastic surgeries is testicular implants. However, some plastic surgery can be useful to treat an injury.

Health Benefits of Plastic Surgery

In general, plastic surgeries are also carried out to benefit the overall health of the feline. Skin fold removal surgery decreases the folds so as to minimize the risk of skin diseases. Skin folds usually exist around the animal's eyes, lips, vagina and tail, and can become breeding grounds for harmful bacteria.

Cosmetic dentistry is often done for treating gum diseases that affect the cat. Feline tummy tuck is a surgical intervention to get rid of large "fat pads" on the stomach of cats. These fat pads not only hinder the movement but also cause infection and discomfort due to the presence of bacteria.

Types of Cat Plastic Surgery

Three types of cat plastic surgery are identified: elective, non-elective, and emergency. Elective surgeries are optional and often unnecessary. Non-elective surgeries are required for diagnosing the disease of the cat. Emergency surgeries are carried out immediately to save the life of the pet. These include surgery for foreign body retrieval, treatment of abscesses, and tumor removal. Often a cat encounters serious injuries such as stones in bladder or a sharp object stuck on the body. Such situations demand emergency surgeries to save the life of the pet.

Emergency Surgeries

At times, cats require plastic surgery after the removal of abscesses. Abscesses are a common skin condition found in cats as a result of fights between animals. When a cat bites, bacteria enter the wound and get accumulated in the area. The cat's body reacts and kills the bacteria. As a result, white blood cells enter the area and accumulate in the form of pus. Abscesses are treated by making incisions around the area and draining out the pus. The pus is flushed out with an antiseptic solution. The cats usually respond well after the surgery.

In addition to abscesses, other infections can be transmitted through cat fights, such as feline lymphoma, feline leukemia (FeLV), feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and rabies. Feline lymphoma is a common cancer prevalent in cats and often affects different organs of the body. Chemotherapy is the most common form of treatment for feline lymphoma. In isolated cases where the tumor is localized, radiation therapy and laser therapy are performed. After the removal of the tumor, plastic surgery is performed.

Surgical intervention can also be utilized to as a diagnostic tool for taking tissue samples of areas that are not easily accessible. Finally, surgeries can be customized as per the need of the pet.

 

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