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Chapter 10 Management of Hospitalized and Boarding Pets 169

investigated. Failure to consume all the offered food, period of time an article of comfort from home is a good
especially if formulated to their daily caloric require- way to help them adjust. You may also use the phero-
ments, must be written in the patient’s file. The veteri- mone spray to help calm them down.
narian may choose to adjust the diet for the patient Light–dark cycles are important for well‐being. Body
based on this information. temperature and activity levels are influenced by
If elimination of urine and feces is not normal more exposure to light. The artificial environment of the
notations are in order. Urine descriptions include yellow, hospital alters exposure to light and dark. Lights should
straw‐colored, or red. You may be asked to catch the be on during normal daylight hours and off during
urine to measure the output. This is important when nighttime hours. Many wards will have timers for the
there is a concern for kidney function. Feces descrip- lights, so a periodic check of these timers is important as
tions include degree of firmness, from normal to watery, sometimes they get turned off and either don’t turn on
which can be indicated with plus signs. Normal is + and or don’t turn off. Often timers are regulated by small
watery is ++++; also note if the feces contained blood or switches with pegs that are put in place by a screw. There
mucus. Normal elimination would indicate no straining is usually an on peg and an off peg that can be placed at
for both; an indication of straining is important to note. 12‐hour increments. The screws become loose as the tim-
ing wheel rotates, and they fall off, thus making the timer
stay on or off until it reaches the next switch. Return the
Reflection pegs to the correct times and hand tighten or gently
tighten the screws with a screwdriver.
How will you note or keep track of which animal Noise and odors add a negative effect to the wards,
is drinking and how much as well as elimination not only for people but for the patients within. Strange
patterns? Devise a way to know exactly who is noises in a veterinary clinic are frightening and distract-
doing what under your care. ing to patients. A constant barking dog should be
assessed to see why it is barking. If from boredom, try
giving it a busy toy with peanut butter or spray cheese. If
from nervous energy, perhaps a romp in the exercise
Environmental yard will help. If just plain nervous or anxious, placing a
Considerations towel over the door may help. Odors can also be anxiety
producing. Cats smelling dogs nearby, or rodents and
birds smelling cats nearby can cause high anxiety. If pos-
Think of the patient’s needs from the perspective of the sible, house like species together in one room or if that
individual. Environmental factors influence patient well‐ isn’t available try to separate the species with an empty
being. Factors such as temperature, humidity, and venti- cage in between. Males smelling females in heat may
lation have an important role in patient comfort. Airflow become frustrated and aggressive towards the handler
into a kennel with solid walls is very limited making it that is keeping him from his true love! Keeping these
warmer than the room. Obese and long‐haired patients two as far apart as possible, even to the point of putting
may get too warm and will often lay down close to the them in different rooms, will help.
kennel door. Short‐haired patients will either be just While animals use their sense of smell more acutely to
right or will retreat to the rear of the cage where it is evaluate the world around them, they also use their
warmer. Setting the water dish and the resting blanket or vision as we do. The sight of a large dog may frighten a
mat will be dictated by these behaviors. The overly warm small dog or kitten housed across the room; likewise, a
patients will appreciate their water dish set to the back of dog can become frustrated by the fact that it cannot get
the kennel and their blanket towards the front and vice to the cat it would like to chase. By recognizing the pos-
versa for the warm patient. sibility of this reaction and hanging a towel or piece of
Pay attention to the patient that is disturbing their newspaper over the door to block one or the other’s view
bedding. It can be an indication of anxiety, pain, anger, is a smart idea.
or frustration. Anxiety can sometimes be calmed by plac-
ing a towel over the cage door and making sure the door
is latched securely. This provides a quiet, dark place that
often allows the patient to calm down and rest. When Reflection
checking on this patient just a peek inside is enough.
Depending on the patient, it may be better to not disturb Think about ways that you can remember to
them until it is time for treatments, potty breaks, or check on the patient’s well‐being. How can you
feeding. Their cage, unless soiled or wet, is often not make a kennel or run a safe and fearless place
cleaned until the animal has adjusted and is no longer for a hospitalized patient?
emotional. If the patient will be in the clinic for a long