How can I help kittens be comfortable after spay/neuter?

Question
QUESTION: I have two 4 month old kittens out of 4 that I am still trying to find a good safe home for. These two are boy and girl tuxedo twins very sweet,bright and playful.

The problem is I have raised them from about 2-1/2 to 3wks old They were dumped off on a church lawn near my home and I bottle fed them till they were old enough to eat reg food.

I took them to a Vet a couple of weeks after finding them he said they were healthy and in good shape.

I've grown to love them very much but cannot keep them.

Tomorrow I have an appointment to take them to be spayed/neutered. I would like to know if those Spay mobiles are really safe? and why don't they recommend pain meds for after surgery? I was told they wouldn't be in much pain but how do they know this?

Will the kittens still be playful and sweet or somber and moody? Should I buy something for their pain and where do I purchase it.

How will they feel towards me after tomorrow and will they trust me anymore?

ANSWER: In my 33 years as a holistic vet and 20 years as an assistant before that, I would say that most females and 99.9% of males feel very little to no pain after surgery. Most are groggy for the day of surgery but are back to normal within 24-48 hours. They will still trust you completely. When you leave them, tell them that they are having some treatments to help them in life and that you WILL be back for them.

As a holistic vet, I can offer you a 100% safe treatment that may help with any anxiety before and any minor pain after. Get Rescue Remedy from the health food store (or even some regular stores). Put 4 drops into a 1 ounce dropper bottle filled with water and give them a few drops of that into their mouth before driving to vet, on arrival at vet, when picked up and every few hours after that.

So glad you have taken care of them so far and will find loving homes for them. While it is hard to let go (I have done it with about 5 cats), you can feel so good that you got them a good start.

Rarely, there are negative behavior changes after surgery. If that happens, contact an integrative veterinarian who can quickly get them back to normal.
1. Wide range of other treatments: www.AHVMA.org, American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association and www.civtedu.org.   
2. Homeopathic veterinarians (these can often help you by phone if no other holistic practitioners are nearby that you like): www.theAVH.org and www.DrPitcairn.com.
3. Chiropractor - www.animalchiropractic.org
4. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine: www.IVAS.org, www.avaa.org & www.TCVM.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Are the spay mobiles safe?

What if there are post op problems what do I do?

The spay mobiles don't offer the "E" collars so how do I keep them from grooming each other or themselves and licking the area, especially while I'm at work?

Answer
for post op - try the rescue remedy as suggested.
If they become very ill, I am sure the clinic will tell you how to reach someone. There are now 24 hour clinics in most areas.

for the spay, often good surgeons put in under the skin sutures that cannot be licked out.
Or steel staples may be used. Even with regular sutures only a few seem to lick enough to cause problems. If you notice her licking, put something that tastes bad (soap, hot sauce, perfume, etc) on the skin near the incision (not right on it but 1/2 inch away at least). that may help.

Mobile clinics are as good as the vet doing the surgery.
Non-mobile clinics are as good as the vet doing the surgery, so the only thing to do in either circumstance is to find references - other people who have used them. Or just have faith that your kittens will  be fine.