Warning: The following shows depictions of medical procedures
What happens when a cat arrives at Ten Lives needing specialist care?
8 month old Pumpkin has had a rather rocky start to his life. He was found at the front of a house in Clarendon Vale with a horrific injury to his back leg.
The kind people that discovered him promptly took him to AHVEC where he was treated after hours. Without a microchip and no owners coming forward he was transferred to our hospital here at Ten Lives.
Although we will never know what happened to Pumpkin, when our vet staff inspected the injury they found his back foot had been degloved, possibly from getting tangled up in some wire. The injury was gruesome and horrific.
Pumpkin was in a great deal of pain. Despite all we could do there wasn’t any hope in saving the limb so the Ten Lives Vet Team had to intervene.
Though, this is a story with a happy ending.
Pumpkin was administered anaesthetic drugs before being intubated. His leg was then prepared for surgery by shaving the area and applying antiseptic.
He was then transferred to the operating table where the Vet Team started the procedure.
For Pumpkin this is a life changing moment. When he wakes up he will finally be able to start to heal and get on with his life without pain.
Though for our amazing Vet Team, it’s just another day in the life – another procedure of the countless life changing operations they perform every year.
The Ten Lives Vet Team is equipped to deal with cases like Pumpkin’s onsite. This means that the costs associated with a procedure like this is limited to the vet time, anaesthetic drugs, theatre costs such as sterilisation equipment, oxygen, and suture material, and also post op medications and care.
Though, for more complicated procedures we have to bare the costs of sending patients offsite.
For a procedure like Pumpkin’s the surgery costs can quickly surpass $1,500. Thanks to your help we can provide medical care for the 3,000+ cats and kittens who come to Ten Lives each year.
The Vet Team successfully removed the leg and Pumpkin was brought out of anaesthetic.
Pumpkin was placed in foster care with Angela where the little trooper took everything in his stride. Angela soon discovered that Pumpkin just loves his pats and belly rubs, and of course some big sloppy kisses!
After a week in foster care Angela returned him to the centre for a follow up examination.
Pumpkin had recovered well. His stitches were removed and he was cleared for adoption.
And, after just one day in the Ten Lives adoption rooms he found his furever home. Someone clearly knew that having only 3 legs was not going to hold this kitty back!
At Ten Lives we believe that every cat deserves a chance and that’s why we set no limit to the amount we spend on a kitty to ensure they make it to the adoption rooms.
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 Pumpkin received – and for cats just like him. So, Thank you.
Words and images by: Rich East, Ten Lives Creative Team
