Purrs In Our Hearts - Cat Forum UK

Cat General => General Cat Chat => Topic started by: Den on February 17, 2009, 16:45:40 PM

Title: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Den on February 17, 2009, 16:45:40 PM
I was wondering if anyone has ever heard of this before or have any ideas as to what happened.

My friend got 2 kittens a while back. They were 6 months old a couple of weeks ago so she booked them in to be neutered. The Kittens got through the operation well but little Mouse took a turn for the worse. The incision area looked fine and her behaviour wasn't drastically changed, she was quiet and was eating less [but hadn't stopped eating]. Then my friend noticed that a bit of her chest was 'hanging down' and looked odd - this was on a Friday. She took Mouse to the vet the following day but she died  :( It was all very sudden from noticing something was wrong to her death.

The vet said it was a massive internal infection which killed her. Dooley -the other kitten- has had no problem. No other animal at the vets who were operated on after Mouse has had a problem. The vet took some swabs and got the results today .. he says they show an infection associated with Saliva Mucous Membrane. However, Mouse didn't lick her wound and there was no indication that she has been playing with her wound - no redness/swelling/sore spots etc. My friend thinks she might have started licking it after the wound had broken down, but shes not convinced about it being the cause of the infection.

Has anyone heard of this happening before  :'( At the moment she really doesn't trust her vets and is thinking about moving all her animals to a different practice.
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: MrsR on February 17, 2009, 16:49:01 PM
I haven't heard of this before but didn't want to read and run.

RIP little one  :'(
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on February 17, 2009, 16:52:26 PM
Sorry I dont know anything about this but thats so tragic for little Mouse. RIP Mouse.

I think once you lose confidence in a vets then its best you move on to somewhere where you feel better, if you have that opportunity and bigs hugs to them all  :hug: :hug:
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: sheryl on February 17, 2009, 16:54:36 PM
I havnt heard of this before although my Tiggy had a massive hernia after spaying and it was touch and go for a few weeks.  I hate to say this but I dont think many vets would admit that it was something they had done even if it was.  Thinking of your friend Den  :Luv2:

RIP little mouse xxx   :'(
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Den on February 17, 2009, 17:07:04 PM
Thank you, I'll pass on all the thoughts to her.

I think by the sounds of it she will switch vets and I don't blame her as by the sounds of it they don't seem too supportive  :(
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: JackSpratt on February 17, 2009, 17:11:35 PM
Oh no. I'm so sorry, please pass on my condolences to your friend, Den. :care:
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Indys Mamma on February 17, 2009, 17:34:34 PM
I agree with changing vets as if she can't trust them then she might not seek help when she needs it

 :hug: from me to your friend Den
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Janeyk on February 17, 2009, 17:43:54 PM
oh, how awful  :'( I suppose that any surgery can come with a risk unfortunately but I would think it very rare.  Sadly, I think it must make you lose faith in your vet and I too would probably want to change if it had happened to my puss.
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Topsy Turvey on February 17, 2009, 18:20:47 PM
This is just awful.  I'd certainly change vets!  RIP Mouse.   :hug: to your friend Den.
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Den on February 17, 2009, 18:24:22 PM
Update: She has just registered with a different vet.

Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Zenith (Liz) on February 17, 2009, 18:30:54 PM
How sad :(
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Sam (Fussy_Furball) on February 17, 2009, 18:31:56 PM
I'm so sorry Den ... please pass on my condolences to your friend.
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Jasmine on February 17, 2009, 18:41:51 PM
How very sad and so traumatic for your friend. :'(
Sweet dreams Mouse.

Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Pinkbear (Julie) on February 17, 2009, 18:44:31 PM
Really sorry to hear about this, Den. Poor Mouse.  :'(

They do spays so fast I would think it's very posible to knick something internal. But never heard of losing a cat post operative to infection.  :shify:
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Maddiesmum on February 17, 2009, 18:47:28 PM
I am so very sorry to read this RIP Mouse :hug:
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Mark on February 17, 2009, 19:26:22 PM
RIP Little mouse  :'(
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Michelle (furbabystar) on February 17, 2009, 19:46:15 PM
Oh Goodness how sad  :'(    Your poor friend  :hug:
RIP Mouse xx

I had a friend who's kitten died while beng neutered, he just didnt come round.
I also know of a surgery who had a dodgy bottle of anethetic which killed a few animals
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: 2d on February 17, 2009, 21:00:41 PM
RIP poor Mouse.

Speys are probably so routine that they're in and out in minutes.

But your friend is right to change vets - there has to be that trust there or there's just no point.
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: blackcat on February 17, 2009, 21:05:28 PM
time was, back in ancient history when I worked as a vet assistant, that some cats suffered a stitch reaction which resulted in massive internal infections that caused problems. I think these days there are different materials used for the stitches, but it is presumably still not out of the question. I am surprised that having had open surgery the kittens were not given a pre-emptive antibiotic as part of their treatment though (an injection at the time of surgery). So sad when this sort of thing happens, but no surgery is completely free of risk I am afraid ...
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Den on February 17, 2009, 21:33:05 PM
Ooo you know what BC you might be on to something there!!

How different are cat spays to dogs spays? I've looked after plenty of spayed cats before but luckily none ever had problem so didn't delve any further and don't know anything about them. However, I've learnt plenty about dog spays .. my vets do several layers of internal dissolvable stitches. Even Molly reacted to them and got 5 lumps of swelling. It does actually make sense if Mouse was allergic/had a reaction to internal stitches. It would explain why the wound looked ok but inside she was building up an infection.

At least it makes more sense than being cause by Saliva  :scared:

As for the antibiotic I'm not sure. I've been passing things on to my friend .. maybe she can get a list of everything Mouse was given.
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Yvonne on February 17, 2009, 21:59:39 PM
So very sorry to hear this

Unfortunately surgery carries risks and every so often there is a sad tale to tell

My colleague's wife died of an infection ten days after a hysterectomy

 :RIP:   Mouse
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Sheli_80 on February 17, 2009, 22:04:40 PM
RIP little mouse.
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Gill (sneakiefeline) on February 17, 2009, 22:25:57 PM
She can ask for a copy of Mouses mediacal record, she may have to do it in writing but its covered by the Data protection SAct and as the owner of Mouse they cant refuse.

I ask for Kockas records and had to fight to get them and was horrified how little they had put in them. When I asked specific questions I could not get any straight answers, never would ever use that vets group again!
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Sonnie on February 18, 2009, 06:34:06 AM
 :omg:
How sad  :'(

Never heard of this kind of thing before.

RIP little Mouse, x
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Desley (booktigger) on February 18, 2009, 08:30:49 AM
i am so sorry to hear this, I have never heard of this, and we do have a lot of cats spayed every year, think we have only lost one to anaesthetic while i have been fostering, and that is nearly 5 years now. I hope the new vets are a lot better.
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Kirst on February 18, 2009, 08:49:49 AM
Poor little Mouse - I have never heard of this either. :(
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Leanne on February 18, 2009, 08:54:38 AM
RIP little mouse
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: clarenmax on February 18, 2009, 09:25:44 AM
I'm so sorry to hear this, please pass on my thoughts and best wishes to your poor friend  :'(  :hug:

RIP little baby xx
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: BlueHeather on February 18, 2009, 11:08:08 AM
That is so sad - what a shock for Mouse's owner - just when her little babies were about to become grown ups too -  have never heard of this before but am worried now as my two are to visit the vet shortly to be nuertered.   Sure they will be fine as I do have faith in my vet - but still it has placed a worry there.  My thoughts to your friends - RIP little Mouse
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: pappilon on February 18, 2009, 14:14:33 PM
RIP little Mouse. :'(
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Millys Mum on February 18, 2009, 19:57:21 PM
Den they have internal stitches and then external or glue to hold skin together.
Its very unsual to loose them after neutering  :( the only ones i hear of are from the vets i first used when i moved here, but they werent post op infection  >:(  My ^George^ nearly didnt make it after being castrated there, i know now how lucky he was to survive his visit
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: Tiggy's Mum on February 18, 2009, 22:22:44 PM
RIP Mouse  :(
Title: Re: Friends kitten died after being spayed
Post by: bunglycat on February 19, 2009, 01:36:38 AM
 :RIP: little mouse .

Glad she has changed vets -condolences for your friend -she must be heartbroken