V.E.T.S. Club Exclusive
WARNING: The following contains graphic depictions of a surgical procedure.
This is the tale of Mowgli.
Mowgli is an 11 month old boy who hasn’t gotten off to the greatest start in life. Earlier in the day he was brought into the vet room from the hospital where he has been for the past 2 weeks. In the efforts of his recovery, unfortunately, things haven’t quite gone to plan.
You can see Mowgli lying in his kennel in the vet room as Head Veterinarian Dr Tess and Vet Nurse Jen discuss his case notes. Mowgli energetically rolls from side to side, smooching the side of his face into the bars as he commands attention from anyone who walks by. The rolling is one part his playful nature and one part the pre-meds that are just kicking in.
Jen opens the kennel and picks him up. Mowgli melts into her arms as she scratches his back. He’s calmer now and smooches Jen as he gives some affectionate licks, though his e-collar (Elizabethan collar) stands in the way. He’s happy again and we get a glimpse of what an amazing and loving cat he is.
As Jen turns around to place him on the prep table you can see the bright green bandage that covers his tail.
On the prep table Jen continues to soothe him as he looks around the room, somewhat spaced out. Now his paw is shaved and an IV induction agent administered in preparation for his anaesthesia.
In seconds Mowgli is under and his little tongue pokes out as Jen prepares for his intubation.
As the tube is placed you can hear a wheezy cough coming from Mowgli. This sounds uncomfortable at first but it is an unconscious reflex. The tube maintains his airway, providing oxygen as it picks up the anaesthetic gas along the way to maintain his anaesthesia.
We will never know the exact circumstances that got Mowgli into this situation. He was discovered walking along a quiet street in Dromedary. The residents who found him had driven past as they went to visit friends and thought nothing of the roaming cat. Though, as they returned it was clear that Mowgli was in trouble.
His tail had sustained a horrific injury and the pain would have been immense. Whether he had been hit by a car or had gotten trapped in some wire, his tail had a laceration extending most of its length.
The residents picked him up and took him home where they tried to nurse him back to health. Unfortunately, there are some problems only the expertise of a trained vet can handle. He was soon brought into the care of Ten Lives where he was assessed and given antibiotics, pain relief, and wound care.
And so, this morning – 2 weeks later – he is brought into the vet room to be assessed again. The laceration at the base of the tail is healing well but around the mid section there are problems. There is insufficient skin for the scar tissue to contract down and fully heal the wound.
The tail needs to be amputated.
So here we are now. Mowgli lies on the prep table under anaesthetic.
Dr Tess takes the opportunity to perform an ear flush to get control over his ear mite infestation while Jen prepares the surgery site by shaving the area and sterilising with iodine scrub.
With Mowgli brought onto the operating table we are now ready for the procedure to begin. His tail has been rebandaged to get the hair out of the way and prevent contamination.
The procedure is relatively quick. Dr Tess uses a scalpel to cut around the tail at a position between the vertebrae. This means no bone will be sawn, just the cartilage cut between. She carefully leaves enough skin to sew it back up.
Though, there are some arteries to contend with.
The cut has been made and the tail placed aside. From the site a thin stream of blood squirts out and Dr Tess is quick to suture up the source.
With the arteries stitched she sutures the skin over the new tail end. As she comes to the last stitches Jen winds down the anaesthetic gas in preparation for Mowgli’s recovery.
Mowgli is returned to the prep table. He will need to wear an e-collar for the next week which will make it difficult for him to groom himself. Jen takes the opportunity while he is still under to give him a brush. This will make him a lot happier as he starts his recovery.
Dr Tess removes the breathing tube and you can hear some growling sounds coming from our patient. He’s starting to wake up now.
Jen carries Mowgli back to his kennel, comforting him as he gains consciousness. He’s stopped growling now.
In the kennel Mowgli can now focus and looks up at Jen as she continues to comfort him. She stays with him, stroking the back of his neck as he wakes up, soothed by Jen’s presence. Without his tail Mowgli will still be able to live a wonderful life. Without his tail he can finally start to heal.
* * *
The next day Mowgli lies curled up in his kennel under the blankets in the hospital. If you bring your hand to him he will eagerly smooch you as he stands up expecting some pats. It’s clear this cat has a lot of love to give.
Dr Tess conducts a post surgery examination and sees him fit to be put in foster. That afternoon he is picked up by foster carer Kate who is filled in on Mowgli’s ordeal and the requirements for his care over the next few weeks.
Mowgli’s one step closer on his journey to the adoption rooms – Mowgli and his little bunny tail!
With the help of the Ten Lives vet team and support from people just like you this cat will live a wonderful life filled with love.
As a V.E.T.S. Club member it is your subscription that allows the Ten Lives vet team to provide the much needed care that Mowgli received – and for cats just like him. So, Thank you.
Words and images by: Rich East, Ten Lives Creative Team
