Help me understand Darth Vader Cat
June 5, 2013 9:12 PM Subscribe
My kitty, Shoggoth, just had to have six teeth extracted due to FORLs, including one of these fangs.
I'm curious about whether any Mefites who know about vet stuff can explain some of the mechanics of this to me.
(1) Since she came back from the vet yesterday, her purr sounds like Darth Vader on steroids. I'm not worried about this, since the vet said the breathing tube during the anaesthetic might cause some throat irritation for a few days. But I'm curious as to what the actual mechanism of this effect is. I don't really understand how cat purrs work anyway. The best I can imagine is that the tube kind of squished her "purr box" and it's now vibrating funny. But I'd rather have a more accurate and technical explanation.
(2) There are a few shaved patches where I guess they put monitors of some sort? A place on her leg is shaved where the vet said they put a drip. But I also noticed later that they shaved two large patches under her chin - one larger than the other. On the larger spot, I can see and feel her pulse, so I guess some sort of pulse monitor went there. What is the second spot likely to be for? I'd attach a picture of the actual places, but I can't get my camera right now as Shoggoth has immobilised me (in exactly this position, although that's an older picture. I am typing this question very slowly with my one free hand.)
(3) The white fur under her chin near the shaved patches is stained bright pink. There is also a little pink spot on the skin on her shaved leg, which makes me think it was some sort of antiseptic. But why would they need to use antiseptic on the shaved places under her chin if they were just for monitors? And there's a patch of ginger fur behind one ear that is also stained pink, although she wasn't shaved there at all. Is that maybe just because something got dripped there by mistake?
(4) Even today, the day after the surgery, she smells strongly... medicinal. What is that smell? It's very strange.
I should clarify that I am not at all concerned about any of these things, just curious.
(1) Since she came back from the vet yesterday, her purr sounds like Darth Vader on steroids. I'm not worried about this, since the vet said the breathing tube during the anaesthetic might cause some throat irritation for a few days. But I'm curious as to what the actual mechanism of this effect is. I don't really understand how cat purrs work anyway. The best I can imagine is that the tube kind of squished her "purr box" and it's now vibrating funny. But I'd rather have a more accurate and technical explanation.
(2) There are a few shaved patches where I guess they put monitors of some sort? A place on her leg is shaved where the vet said they put a drip. But I also noticed later that they shaved two large patches under her chin - one larger than the other. On the larger spot, I can see and feel her pulse, so I guess some sort of pulse monitor went there. What is the second spot likely to be for? I'd attach a picture of the actual places, but I can't get my camera right now as Shoggoth has immobilised me (in exactly this position, although that's an older picture. I am typing this question very slowly with my one free hand.)
(3) The white fur under her chin near the shaved patches is stained bright pink. There is also a little pink spot on the skin on her shaved leg, which makes me think it was some sort of antiseptic. But why would they need to use antiseptic on the shaved places under her chin if they were just for monitors? And there's a patch of ginger fur behind one ear that is also stained pink, although she wasn't shaved there at all. Is that maybe just because something got dripped there by mistake?
(4) Even today, the day after the surgery, she smells strongly... medicinal. What is that smell? It's very strange.
I should clarify that I am not at all concerned about any of these things, just curious.
Best answer: The shaved patches under her chin are for taking blood samples. My cat was bald under her collar and the vets loved it, less shaving and good vein access.
posted by shelleycat at 2:27 AM on June 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by shelleycat at 2:27 AM on June 6, 2013 [1 favorite]
The smell is just from the antiseptics or other products they used. Hair retains odors, so you could always give her a wipe with a barely damp washcloth or a fancy kitty wipe. The smell will dissipate in a day or less.
My boy had five teeth out last year, and he was fine. He's had anesthesia twice and always purrs louder after surgery.
posted by jgirl at 5:02 AM on June 6, 2013
My boy had five teeth out last year, and he was fine. He's had anesthesia twice and always purrs louder after surgery.
posted by jgirl at 5:02 AM on June 6, 2013
The shaved spot on the leg is possibly for a cauterizer. I had minor surgery, and they hooked an electrode to my leg. I think it's so you are grounded properly. It's possible a tooth extraction can pop a vessel and require cautery.
posted by gjc at 5:16 AM on June 6, 2013
posted by gjc at 5:16 AM on June 6, 2013
Oh god, I am such a cat surgery veteran now.
Smell: Will go away. It's just from the antiseptics and things. My cat likes dirty laundry even MORE when he gets back from a surgical event, smells like us, he wants to smell like us, right? Cuddles and or fancy kitty wipe will help.
Shaved bits: you're right, they are attaching drips (almost always in the leg) or monitors or drawing blood. Normal. Just makes for a patchy cat.
Good luck! I'm sure your cat is much happier now. :)
posted by Medieval Maven at 7:17 AM on June 6, 2013
Smell: Will go away. It's just from the antiseptics and things. My cat likes dirty laundry even MORE when he gets back from a surgical event, smells like us, he wants to smell like us, right? Cuddles and or fancy kitty wipe will help.
Shaved bits: you're right, they are attaching drips (almost always in the leg) or monitors or drawing blood. Normal. Just makes for a patchy cat.
Good luck! I'm sure your cat is much happier now. :)
posted by Medieval Maven at 7:17 AM on June 6, 2013
Best answer: I work in a vet's office.
The mechanics of purring are not well understood ... Googling gives some speculative answers and some actual studies but there is not a specific anatomic feature in a cat's larynx (voicebox) different from the rest of us that do not purr that explains the noise.
It's cool how they (domestic cats) do it on both inspiration and expiration! Anyway, I bet if you look around you can find some "head-on" pics of the anatomy involved, the larynx is a cartilaginous structure with flexible doors or wings that move on either side away from the center; these are the vocal folds, and how we move them with air rushing past is how we all vocalize. It's thought that the kitties vibrate theirs, is my understanding.
We often do warn pet parents post-surgically that the tube we place in the trachea during anesthesia (endotracheal tube) can cause irritation for a day or two. Most of them have a "cuff" at the end that goes in deepest that we inflate with air once it's placed and helps keep foreign material like water/blood/extracted teeth etc from getting into the lungs, and anesthetic gasses from escaping the cat's airway into room air. Almost certainly your vet used a cuffed tube for safety reasons, as extractions can get messy. But the cuff, when inflated, is pressed up against some pretty tender tissues that normally never feel pressure at all, so once in awhile a pet owner reports post-op coughing/gagging for a day or two.
But why on earth is Shoggoth purring like Darth Vader? No idea! Although I am willing to speculate that it may have to do with the tube/cuff/anesthetic gas combination stretching/relaxing the vocal folds. Or maybe it's the relief of getting rid of those FORLs!
As for the shaved spots, I think the others have it with blood draws, we like the jugular vein in the neck for these for lots of reasons. Why two? Just a guess but the operator may have switched to the other side for some reason, it happens. Why is one bigger? Probably just the angle on the clippers being held.
The pink stains probably are some type of antiseptic scrub/solution.
None of the surgical monitoring equipment I am familiar with requires shaved skin, though.
The medicinal smell? My household members tell me I smell like the hospital too after a day at work. Expect it to fade out in a day or two.
Best of luck and good health to you both!
posted by bebrave! at 7:27 AM on June 6, 2013
The mechanics of purring are not well understood ... Googling gives some speculative answers and some actual studies but there is not a specific anatomic feature in a cat's larynx (voicebox) different from the rest of us that do not purr that explains the noise.
It's cool how they (domestic cats) do it on both inspiration and expiration! Anyway, I bet if you look around you can find some "head-on" pics of the anatomy involved, the larynx is a cartilaginous structure with flexible doors or wings that move on either side away from the center; these are the vocal folds, and how we move them with air rushing past is how we all vocalize. It's thought that the kitties vibrate theirs, is my understanding.
We often do warn pet parents post-surgically that the tube we place in the trachea during anesthesia (endotracheal tube) can cause irritation for a day or two. Most of them have a "cuff" at the end that goes in deepest that we inflate with air once it's placed and helps keep foreign material like water/blood/extracted teeth etc from getting into the lungs, and anesthetic gasses from escaping the cat's airway into room air. Almost certainly your vet used a cuffed tube for safety reasons, as extractions can get messy. But the cuff, when inflated, is pressed up against some pretty tender tissues that normally never feel pressure at all, so once in awhile a pet owner reports post-op coughing/gagging for a day or two.
But why on earth is Shoggoth purring like Darth Vader? No idea! Although I am willing to speculate that it may have to do with the tube/cuff/anesthetic gas combination stretching/relaxing the vocal folds. Or maybe it's the relief of getting rid of those FORLs!
As for the shaved spots, I think the others have it with blood draws, we like the jugular vein in the neck for these for lots of reasons. Why two? Just a guess but the operator may have switched to the other side for some reason, it happens. Why is one bigger? Probably just the angle on the clippers being held.
The pink stains probably are some type of antiseptic scrub/solution.
None of the surgical monitoring equipment I am familiar with requires shaved skin, though.
The medicinal smell? My household members tell me I smell like the hospital too after a day at work. Expect it to fade out in a day or two.
Best of luck and good health to you both!
posted by bebrave! at 7:27 AM on June 6, 2013
my cat maddie had several teeth out (and a fang) last year. she too had a rattle-y deeper purr for a few days. i figured it was because of irritation from the tube. even with all those teeth gone she is still a food hound!
posted by misanthropicsarah at 7:53 AM on June 6, 2013
posted by misanthropicsarah at 7:53 AM on June 6, 2013
I can confirm that the shaved bits under the chin are for blood draws (had a cat who was puking way too much and they did blood tests) and the shaved leg was for an IV (same cat needed fluids). The smell should dissipate in a couple days, but as suggested above, a damp face cloth used to wipe her down will help.
I hope she's healing well!
posted by deborah at 10:14 AM on June 6, 2013
I hope she's healing well!
posted by deborah at 10:14 AM on June 6, 2013
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She had the shaved leg patch too. It grows back just fine. No worries. I don't remember any shaved spots under her chin though, but I could be wrong.
I do remember a stained fur spot on her forehead. It wasn't pink though. I think it was yellow? I'm guessing it was antiseptic. I recall being told something about her jostling a bit and, bump... "Oops... there's a stain there, but it'll go away soon." And it did.
I hope your cat feels better soon! Then again, maybe she already does.
posted by 2oh1 at 12:58 AM on June 6, 2013