Abdominal biopsies at-home care

Your animal has just undergone surgery to remove small pieces of abdominal organs for microscopic analysis as well as to determine which disease(s) he has. Thanks to these biopsies, abnormalities invisible to the naked eye are frequently brought to light.

Some complications can occur as the result of such an intervention. Their occurrence and their severity vary depending on the origin of the samples as well as the condition of the removal site at the moment the biopsy is taken: bleeding in the abdomen, gastrointestinal tact and/or urinary tract, leakage of urine into the abdomen, endotoxic shock(invasion of the bloodstream by intestinal bacteria and their toxins), leakage of gastric or intestinal fluid into the abdomen with subsequent development of peritonitis (infection of the abdomen), tearing of the wounds, stenosis (narrowing of the lumen of the digestive tract) at the site of the intestinal biopsy causing an obstruction (rare). There will then appear one or more of the following symptoms: loss of appetite, depression dehydration, vomiting, increase or decrease in body temperature, as well as abdominal pain and distention. These complications can even lead to the death of the animal. In the event of the appearance of such symptoms, which generally occurs in the first days following the procedure, contact us immediately.

Upon leaving the hospital, take the following precautions:

- To control and prevent infection, we have prescribed an antibiotic.

- To control the pain, we have prescribed a painkiller.

- The stitches or staples must be removed in 10-14 days. In the meantime, make sure to keep the Elizabethan collar on at all time.

- It is very important that he be kept at rest until the removal of the stitches/staples. In the case of a cat who is accustomed to going outside, it would be preferable to keep him indoors during this period.

- At the skin would site, watch for redness, swelling, oozing and pain.

- In order to ensure a good nutrition, you should feed him with the food recommended by your veterinarian and for the specified duration.

Do not worry if your pet does not pass any stool for a couple of days following surgery. This is common after a general anesthesia. If he starts forcing or if several days pass without stool output, then contact us.

When we receive the biopsy results (within a few days), we will contact you. At the same time, we will notify you of the treatment plan and more specific recommendations regarding the diagnosis.

If you have any questions or concerns, you can reach us at 514-355-8322, our team will be more than happy to inform you. Good luck!