Housing for treatment of dogs and cats

Housing before and after treatment

A-Vet has its own kennels for dogs and cats that are with us for examination, treatment, surgery or observation. The kennels are part of our veterinary medical services and are not a boarding or daycare facility for healthy animals.

For scheduled examinations and treatments, the animal can be delivered to us in the morning if agreed in advance. We will agree on a further plan upon delivery, and will notify you when the patient is ready to be picked up.

Follow-up after surgery and anesthesia

The recovery phase is an important part of the anesthesia process. Serious anesthesia-related events can occur in the postoperative period, especially in the first hours after anesthesia. The patient is therefore closely monitored while recovering, and the follow-up is adapted to the procedure, anesthesia, health status and how the recovery phase proceeds. We assess, among other things, the level of consciousness, breathing, pulse and heart rate, body temperature, mucous membranes and signs of pain.

The patient should be sufficiently awake and stable before returning home, and no animal leaves the clinic while still asleep. The length of time an individual dog or cat needs to stay with us varies. Body temperature drops easily after anesthesia, especially in young and elderly patients, so we use active warming when needed.

Monitoring as needed

The need for monitoring varies between patients. A healthy dog ​​or cat waiting for a scheduled procedure has different needs than a patient who has just been under anesthesia or is with us due to illness. Therefore, we adapt the follow-up rather than using the same plan for everyone.

If necessary, we monitor heart rhythm with an ECG and follow other vital parameters. We have oxygen cage for both dogs and cats for patients who need supplemental oxygen, and equipment for active temperature support. You will find an overview of our equipment on your own page.

Pain assessment and treatment

After surgery, the patient is assessed repeatedly for signs of pain and discomfort—not just once. The veterinarian and animal caretaker monitor behavior, posture, movement, and response to handling. Such assessments are not perfect, but they increase the likelihood that pain will be detected and treated in a timely manner.

Pain relief is tailored to the individual patient and the type of procedure, and may consist of several pain medications in combination with other supportive measures. Treatment is adjusted if the patient's needs change during the stay.

Separate cat enclosure

Cats and dogs are housed in separate rooms at our clinic. The reason is not infection, but stress: the sight, sound and smell of a dog are perceived as threatening by many cats in an unfamiliar environment, and a scared cat rests less well, eats less and is more difficult to assess clinically. International guidelines for cat-friendly clinics recommend reducing the cat's exposure to dogs during admission.

Cat cages can be expanded, giving your cat more room to move around. Each cage has a platform where your cat can sit and look out – or retreat underneath. Both serve a purpose: a hiding place allows your cat to retreat and is an important coping strategy during confinement, while an elevated space provides greater freedom of choice and a view of the environment.

Each cat has one or more blankets, its own litter box and access to water. Food is offered when medically appropriate. We keep noise and disturbances to a minimum in the cat ward and use pheromone diffusers. The amount of contact, activity and protection each cat prefers varies, and care and handling are tailored to both their behavior and the reason for their stay.

Sheltering and walking dogs

The dogs have their own kennels with clean, soft bedding, separate from the cats.

Dogs that are with us for a long time are walked when the medical condition and treatment allow. After surgery, walks are short and calm, and activity is adapted to the procedure and the individual patient – ​​after some operations it must be significantly limited. If necessary, we use a harness instead of a collar during walking. Walking is done under supervision, and ends immediately if the dog shows signs of discomfort.

When can the animal go home?

When the animal can be picked up depends on why it is with us, what treatment was performed and how the patient is feeling afterwards. After anesthesia, we assess awakening, body temperature, pain and other clinical condition before returning home.

When you return home, you will receive information about further follow-up, activity, feeding, medications and any check-ups. If the patient needs longer observation than initially expected, we will contact you.

read more about surgery and anesthesia in dogs and cats.