OPERATION CATNIP: Idealism in Action

 

 

Spay

 

 

Staffing:

1

Veterinarian

 

1

Vet Assistant

 

1

Transporter

 

ALL STAFF MUST CHECK IN AT THE VOLUNTEER TABLE.

GLOVES MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES.

 

The Spay Stations are the nucleus of the clinic.  The pace of all other stations is regulated to support the continuous spaying of cats. Spay Transporters bring cats to and from the surgery table. The Vet Assistant opens gloves, sutures, blades and instrument packs. The Spay Veterinarians perform flank and midline spays and neuters on cryptorchid males.

 

Veterinarian Instructions

 

The primary responsibility of veterinarians is to spay cats. Depending on the reproductive status of the cat, it will be prepped for a midline or flank spay.  Evaluation of a medical condition or assistance in an emergency may also be requested.  A standard crash kit and isoflurane anesthesia machines are available.

 

Minor problems such as an abscess or laceration may be corrected, but cats requiring lengthy treatments or complex surgeries will be referred to outside veterinarians or euthanized. The policy manual describes the limits of the additional medical care available at the clinic.  Questions about care should be directed to the Clinic Supervisor who will consult with the Veterinary Director.  This policy is to ensure that Operation Catnip maintains its focus on sterilizing as many cats as possible.

 

Work as quickly as possible, as the pace of this station determines how many cats can be sterilized each month.  In addition, the injectable anesthetic is of a limited duration.  The most experienced surgeons can spay 4-6 cats an hour.  Using instrument ties will help reduce surgical time and suture use. 

 

1)       WEAR gloves at all times, even if not in surgery (See Bite and Scratch Policy). Wear gloves, cap, mask, gown or scrub while in surgery.  Change only gloves between cats.

 

2)       USE the smallest incision possible with 2-0 absorbable suture for normal cats and 3-0 absorbable suture for kittens.  Try to spay a cat with only one pack of suture when possible in order to keep costs down. Instrument ties save suture. Use subcuticular sutures instead of skin sutures for closure as the cats will be released before the sutures can be removed.  Surgical glue is available for incisions that don’t close perfectly.

 

3)       TELL the Vet Assistant:

Ø       If a cat is inadequately anesthetized. Isoflurane gas will be provided by mask.

Ø       If you want a cat to receive subcutaneous fluids (for advanced pregnancy, excessive blood loss, etc.) after surgery. 150 ml lactated Ringer’s solution is standard unless you prescribe otherwise.

Ø       If you need special items such as extra instruments, sterile carmalts, drapes and extra gauze opened for you. Speak to the Clinic Supervisor if the assistant does not have what you need.

Ø       If any changes need to be made in the cats’ preparation (such as where the fur is clipped).

Ø       If the cat is lactating, in heat, pregnant, or displaying any other medical condition. This information is collected on the Medical Summary Slip and used for statistical purposes.

 

4)       ADMINISTER vaccines according to the new AAFP guidelines:

Ø       Rabies subcutaneously in the right leg as distally as possible

Ø       FVRCP/FeLV subcutaneously in the left leg as distally as possible.

 

5)       DISCARD your own sharps after each cat. Also discard defective instruments, so they are not repacked.

 

6)       VERIFY the Medical Summary Slip.

 

7)       SIGN the rabies certificates. The Vet Assistant will have completed most of the certificate. You do not need to use your license number.

 

8)       ADVISE the Spay Transporter to remove the finished cat and replace it with a new one.

 

 

 

Spay

 

 

Vet Assistant Instructions

 

The Vet Assistant’s primary responsibilities are to help the veterinarians work as efficiently as possible; and monitor the cats for respiration, pulse and color. Vet Assistants are generally assigned to work with two veterinarians.  Each veterinarian will work differently, so ask them how to assist them best.  The goal is to keep the veterinarians doing surgery at all times, not waiting for supplies or cats.  A veterinarian should never have to obtain or transport a cat.  Remain with your veterinarians so you can obtain any requested items.

 

1)       DRAW up vaccines in 3 ml syringes when you first arrive. The Supply Coordinator will leave vaccines vials at the station. Draw up approximately 50 of each vaccine (i.e., FVRCP/FeLV and rabies) to start.  The needle must be on tight, and no air should be in the syringe. Do not discard the empty vaccine vials.  The Rabies Certificate Volunteer will collect the vials to attach the labels to the rabies certificates. 

 

2)       SUPPLY the spay table with instrument packs, the appropriate size surgeon’s gloves, blades and suture.  The veterinarians will need a new sterile pair of gloves, pack, blade and suture for each surgery.

 

3)       WEAR gloves at all times. Both you and the veterinarians must wear a mask and cap during surgery. Only the gloves need to be changes between cats.

 

4)       OPEN the gloves and spay pack using sterile technique.  Open the blade and suture packs so that the sterile contents fall into the sterile open pack.  Be careful not to touch or otherwise contaminate the surgical site or the surgical supplies, instruments and drapes.  If you think you may have touched something, tell the veterinarian.

 

5)       OBTAIN a cat from the Spay Transporter. 

 

6)       ADJUST the light so the incision area is illuminated. 

 

7)       CHECK the paw tag before the cat is draped. Alert the veterinarian to any problems.

 

8)       MONITOR the cats carefully for normal respiration (>6/minute), heartbeat (>100/minute), and gum color (pink).  If the cat is not breathing well or its gums are blue, pull firmly on the tongue, press a fingernail on the nose leather and alert the veterinarian.

 

9)       OBTAIN the isoflurane gas machine if the cat is not fully anesthetized. Always turn on the oxygen before the gas. Ask the veterinarian for the proper settings.

 

10)   OBSERVE that the veterinarian vaccinates the cat according to the new AAFP guidelines. Rabies vaccinations are administered subcutaneously in the right hind leg as distally as possible, the FVRCP/FeLV combination vaccine subcutaneously in the left hind leg as distally as possible.

 

11)   ATTACH a “FLUID” tag to the cat’s paw if the veterinarian orders fluids. 150 ml will be given unless ordered otherwise. Note this request on the Medical Summary Slip.

 

12)   COMPLETE the rabies certificate and the Medical Summary Slip.  Fill out the following fields of each rabies certificate:

 

Ø       SPECIES (Cat)

Ø       SEX & “Altered”

Ø       AGE

Ø       SIZE (Under 20 pounds)

Ø       PREDOMINANT BREED (DSH, DLH, etc.)

Ø       COLORS

Ø       DATE VACCINATED (Clinic date)

Ø       VACCINATION EXPIRES (1 yr. from clinic date, not 3 years—as this is probably the cats first vaccination and a booster shot is not likely)

Ø       NAME (Use the F# on the paw tag.)

 

Check off the following vaccines:

 

Ø       RABIES

Ø       FELINE LEUKEMIA

Ø       FELINE PANLEUKOPENIA

Ø       FELINE RHINOTRACHEITIS

Ø       FELINE CALICIVIRUS

 

The veterinarian must sign the rabies certificate.

 

13)   MARK the Medical Summary Slip with the cat’s CAT #, age, sex, status (i.e., cryptorchid, pregnant, in heat, lactating, needs fluids, URI, etc.), and anesthesia. Include the veterinarian’s name.

 

14)   ADVISE the Spay Transporter of any special medical information regarding the cat. The Transporter will take the cat and the rabies certificate to the next station then bring a new cat.

 

15)   PLACE the dirty instruments into the container of warm soapy water.  The Instruments Volunteer will periodically collect these.

 

16)   DEPOSIT tissue and blood in the red bags, not in the ordinary trash.

 

17)   DISCARD the paper drape, used gauze, gloves and other disposables.  Save outer autoclave wrap for reuse. The veterinarian will place his or her own sharps (blade, needle and syringes) in the sharps container.  Dirty towels are set aside for laundering.

 

18)   CLEAN up the station and dispose of trash once the last cat is spayed.

 

19)   REPACK the station kit, inventorying supplies (see Supply List in the kit). Return the kit and any extra items to the Supply Coordinator.

 

20)   TAKE dirty instruments, towels and autoclave wrap to the Instrument Station if these things have not been collected.

 

 

 

 

Spay

 

 

Transporter Instructions

 

The Spay Transporter is responsible for assuring that the veterinarians have a cat in front of them at all times. The Spay Prep Station will place prepped cats on the shelves in the order in which they are prepped.  Work with these volunteers to deliver cats to the veterinarians in the correct order (first in, first out). As soon as a vet finishes a cat, be ready to put a new cat in its place.

 

1)       DELIVER secured cats from the Spay Prep racks in the order in which they are prepped. Be careful not to touch the prepped area on the cat.  If you do, return it to the prep station for another wipe.

 

2)       NOTIFY the Vet Assistant if a cat is a cryptorchid male or flagged as contagious.

 

3)       MONITOR the cats carefully for normal respiration (>6/minute), heartbeat (>100/minute), and gum color (pink).  If the cat is not breathing well or its gums are blue, pull firmly on the tongue, press a fingernail on the nose leather, and call for assistance from the veterinarian.

 

4)       REMOVE cats promptly once a spay is complete. Transport them to the Rabies Certificate Station with the rabies certificate and the Medical Summary Slip.

 

5)       ADVISE the Rabies Certificate Station if the cat is contagious or in need of fluids.