Pepper arrived at Ten Lives in March as a surrender when her family couldn’t look after her any longer. In her initial vet examination the 10-year-old girl was quite nervous, but not aggressive.
She allowed the Vet team to handle her as they completed the examination, and as they did they noticed something extraordinary. On the back of Pepper’s neck was a lump, not far off the size of a golf ball. This, along with the condition of her teeth, would need to be resolved.
She was booked into surgery for the next week and placed into foster care until then.
WARNING: This article contains images of a surgical procedure.
On surgery day, Pepper was anaesthetised then intubated. The area around her neck was prepared for the procedure; shaved, then thoroughly cleaned with antiseptic spray. With the lump now exposed the area could be examined closely.
It’s difficult to say exactly what causes a lump like this to form. In this instance it wasn’t due to an injury, a sebaceous cyst, or infection of the hair follicle. Though the possibility of it being cancerous remained.
Regardless, the lump had to go before it caused any discomfort to Pepper.
Head Vet Emma made an elliptical incision around the lump with a scalpel. Now removed and exposed, Emma could see that the lump was full of fluid and unlikely to be cancerous, likely to be a cyst of some variety.
The surgery site was then sutured back up in two steps. First the subcutaneous tissue was stitched back together, then the skin.
As the cyst was removed entirely and her initial blood test was fine, there was no need for any pathology or further testing.
With the site now sutured up, Pepper was left with an impressive scar on the back of her neck. But given some time to heal, the fur will grow back and cover it completely.
With the cyst removed, it was now time to start her dental treatment.
Pepper had a moderate tartar build up that was cleaned and also a fractured canine that had to be removed.
Emma worked around the canine to loosen it up. Unfortunately the tooth was very stubborn, so the gum had to be cut to expose it. It is slow and delicate work, and careful attention has to be made so not to hurt the cat.
After a marathon effort the tooth was finally released and the gum stitched up.
With her surgery complete, Pepper was brought out of the anaesthetic. That afternoon she was picked up by her foster carer who she will stay with for the next 2 weeks to recuperate.
Thanks to the Vet Team, Pepper is now on the road to recovery.
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 these cats received. So, thank you.
Words and images by Rich East, Ten Lives Creative Team
