What is PCR?
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) – molecular genetic analysis. At this point in time, the PCR test for Covid-19 is one of the most effective methods for determining the infection in the patient’s body. If the patient has a significant number of coronavirus units in the body, the test results will be positive, even if the patient does not exhibit the corresponding symptoms.
The PCR test is recommended in the following cases:
- When there is a need to obtain confirmation or refutation of the presence of infection in the patient’s body;
- To make sure that the infected person has successfully completed the course of treatment and there is no longer the virus in their body.
The procedure for castration of cats
Surgical castration of a cat is recommended before the age of one year, when the animal’s genitals have not yet fully formed and there is no sexual desire. This will eliminate severe stress and minimize the risk of complications. Postoperative wounds in kittens heal faster than in adult cats.
Neutering a cat provides several benefits:
- the pet becomes more affectionate and calm;
- the cat does not “mark” the house;
- the likelihood of escapes and long-term disappearances is reduced.
The lack of sexual desire eliminates the discomfort that a pet’s heart-rending screams create at night. The cat does not run away from home, does not communicate with stray animals, and the risk of contracting infectious diseases is eliminated.
There are contraindications to castration. Such operations should not be performed on sick, weakened animals, or during periods of exacerbation of chronic diseases. Castration is performed under anesthesia. If the cat has an individual intolerance to anesthetics, the operation cannot be performed.
Pet owners should follow all recommendations for preparation for castration and care during the rehabilitation period. This will eliminate the risk of complications and ensure rapid wound healing.
Additional drugs
If the operation was successful and the animal itself is healthy, then it does not require additional drug treatment. However, the following groups of medications may be needed:
- Antibiotics. As a rule, one injection is given during surgery. This is necessary to avoid infection. They may be needed if the animal licks the seam. But in this case, the recovery process will drag on for another 2-3 weeks.
- Vitamins are given to weakened cats if they feel unwell during the postoperative period.
- Hemostatic agents will be needed if blood clotting is poor, if blood is constantly oozing from the suture.
- Anti-infective serum is useful if the owner decides to leave the pet for a recovery period in a veterinary clinic.
Cat sterilization operation
There are many reasons why cat owners turn to veterinarians to have their cats sterilized. The main argument is the reluctance to take care of cat offspring and place babies. But there are other positive consequences of such an operation. Neutered cat:
- has a calm, easy-going character;
- does not try to escape into the street;
- does not create discomfort by screaming at night and inappropriate behavior;
- does not communicate with stray animals, the risk of infections is eliminated.
During the operation, the tubes through which the eggs travel can be ligated, and the ovaries can be removed. The uterus remains during sterilization. Some owners prefer castration. In this operation, all reproductive organs are removed from the cat. This eliminates the risk of serious uterine diseases.
Surgical sterilization of a cat is a more traumatic operation than castration of a cat. But following the rules of postoperative care eliminates the risk of complications. The optimal age for sterilization of an animal is 7-8 months.
Ovariohysterectomy classic method
- A preliminary medical examination is performed, with special attention to the heart rate and general condition of the body.
- Preliminary injection to easily calm the animal.
- Installation of an intravenous catheter.
- General anesthetic.
- Preparation of the surgical site (removal of fur on the abdomen at the incision site, sterilization with an antiseptic).
- A skin incision 1 to 3 cm long in the midline below the navel (Fig.)
Dissection of the abdominal wall along the white line (Fig.)
The uterus is removed through the incision (using a special suture material, the blood supply to the ovary is cut off)
The horns of the uterus are tied with a special suture material and cut off with scissors
Sutures are placed on the peritoneum and skin, which are removed after 7-10 days
Ovariohysterectomy laparoscopic method
Removal of the uterus and ovaries using a laparoscope (using minimally invasive surgery - endoscopically, through small punctures of 0.2 - 0.5 cm) is a modern method of sterilization. The operation is technically complex and requires expensive equipment and special personnel skills.
Moral and physiological arguments against
The main argument of opponents of sterilization and castration is the belief that depriving animals of the opportunity to procreate is inhumane. They believe that a cat has the right to motherhood and should not be deprived of this happiness. But we should not transfer human feelings to animals and attribute our experiences to them. In addition, a cat or cat that is sterilized at an early age is completely unaware of suffering and regret. They have not experienced sexual desire and are not aware of its existence.
Some owners refuse to spay or neuter their pet for fear of harming its health. It is known that after such operations there is a real risk of obesity, diabetes, and disorders in the functions of other organs. However, there is a way to avoid such problems. To do this, you must strictly follow the rules of feeding castrated and sterilized animals. Their diet differs from the standard menu.
What is the fundamental difference between castration and sterilization: conclusions
Based on the above, some conclusions arise about how the procedures differ:
- castration involves resection of the organs of the reproductive system, and sterilization only involves ligation of the seminal canals and fallopian tubes;
- castration relieves male cats of hormonal surges, and after sterilization, the functions of the reproductive system are preserved, but the animal is deprived of the ability to reproduce.
Which option you choose is up to you, but be sure to consult your veterinarian before undergoing surgery.
Consequences of refusing to sterilize a cat
Owners who refuse to sterilize their beloved cat will have to choose one of three options:
- give the animal special drugs to suppress sexual desire;
- patiently endure periods of “desire”;
- provide the animal with complete freedom.
Special drops and tablets help suppress sexual desire. Please note that these are hormonal drugs. Taking them can have a negative impact on the cat’s body. The most common consequence of using such drugs is a malignant tumor.
Not all owners can calmly survive periodic changes in the character of the animal. The most unpleasant moment is the pet's heart-rending screams at night. These heartbreaking sounds disturb not only the cat's owners, but also their neighbors, which creates additional problems.
Giving the cat complete freedom is not the best option. She can become a mother as early as six months, when her body is not yet fully formed. Then a healthy animal can kitten two or three times a year. Finding homes for kittens of popular, rare breeds is not too difficult. But mongrel babies can create a lot of problems.
It is no secret that many cat owners do not complicate their lives and immediately kill their newborn offspring. Such actions should not even be discussed. If it is inhumane to deprive a cat of the opportunity to procreate, then destroying born kittens is completely inhumane.
Preparatory measures
Before such a procedure, the animal must be treated for fleas.
In order for sterilization to go well, you need to prepare for it in advance. In advance, the owner purchases a blanket, which the pet puts on after the manipulation and he walks in it for 14 days. It is recommended to let your cat walk around in the device for a few days before surgery so that it gets used to it a little. But it’s also worth checking whether the blanket is included in the cost of sterilization, so as not to waste money. If the animal has constant access to the street, then before sterilization it is washed and flea treatment is applied to the fur. Half a day before the operation, the cat is not fed, so that under the influence of anesthesia it does not vomit or vomit.
Russian problem of homeless animals
In every city and town you can see many stray cats. Most of these unfortunate animals are abandoned pets that were born after the cat was given complete freedom. There is no need to explain how difficult it is to live on the street. But animals manage not only to survive, but also to have offspring. Therefore, the number of stray cats is growing rapidly.
Street animals pose a threat to pets. They are often carriers of:
- worms,
- ticks,
- retroviruses,
- chronic runny nose,
- eye diseases, etc.
Supporters of castration and sterilization consider refusal of these operations to be irresponsible. If the consequence of such a decision is to increase the army of stray cats, these accusations are well founded.
Much attention is now being paid to solving this issue. Shelters are organized for homeless animals, and sterilization and castration campaigns are held for street cats and female cats. But this does not mean that the problem will be solved in the near future. Is it worth complicating it by justifying the refusal of sterilization on moral principles?
Minuses
- the cat will have double stress: from the operation itself and from the change in living conditions;
- Not every clinic has truly responsible doctors, so it is possible that the pet may be “forgotten” and the necessary procedures may not be carried out on time. This issue needs to be further clarified with the owners of other patients;
- a cat may be very offended that its owner abandoned it in a difficult situation;
- the possibility of contracting a viral infection cannot be ruled out;
- Keeping a veterinary clinic is quite expensive.
And finally. If a sterilized cat screams, then this is a reason to see a doctor. Complications cannot be ruled out. If this happens in the first weeks after surgery, then this is a simple consequence of hormonal levels. Does a neutered cat ask for a male cat? No. After the operation there will be no problems with her screams and marks.
How difficult is the postoperative period?
Modern methods of surgery involve low-traumatic interventions. Fortunately, gone are the days when it was an extensive abdominal operation along the so-called white line with a huge postoperative suture. Now, during a normal operation, the seam does not exceed a few centimeters. And even less with more modern laparoscopic surgery, in which the trauma for the animal is minimal. Post-operative care consists of treating this small suture for several days and visiting the veterinarian a week later to remove it if non-absorbable threads were used. So there is nothing complicated. Anyone can handle caring for an animal after sterilization.
