Maui: Morning Miracle

Species: Feline

Breed: Linx Point Siamese

Age: 5 Months

Sex: Male

Maui was brought to us early in the morning with an umbilical hernia that has ruptured overnight. Rapping him up in a blanket, the owner and her young daughter called us in advance and came by. He was extremely lethargic, dehydrated and had a serious risk for peritonitis, or infection in the abdominal cavity. 

Since he was so young, the doctor wanted to give him a chance at survival. Before that though, we had to check the condition of the protruding intestines to see if they would be healthy enough after surgery. Considering their time out of Maui's body was lengthy, there was little to no necrotic tissue in his intestines and they had a very decent blood flow.

Maui was prepped for surgery under general anestetic and the assistant rinsed and moistened his innards to keep them healthy. During stitch up, an unexpected turn of events came to be: Maui had stopped breathing! His heart was pumping still which was a good sign and after half an hour of trying to start his breathing with emergency medicines, good ol' Maui let out a small but ever so important breath.

Maui survived surgery and has healed completely since and continues to be a lovely, affectionate little kitty.

Pictures: During inspection (left), and next day during fluid therapy with Jenny (right).

Bear: To Play Or Not To Play

Species: Canine

Breed: Blue Heeler

Age: 10 Years

Sex: Female

Bear, an outgoing family dog, had been taking a walk in the park with her owners when she spotted another dog enjoying the sun as well. Ecstatic to see a possible friend to play with, Bear rushed over and got up close to the unsuspecting dog. After a quick bite to the neck, she retreated as both sets of owners seperated them and went on their ways.

About three days later, Bear's owners noticed severe swelling and tenderness around Bear's neck and front chest. After arriving at Delbrook, the doctor on duty discovered a very large abscess that had already started to ooze due to high pressure and pus content. Due to the severe infection, some skin and other tissue had begun to swell and become necrotic. The only way to relieve Bear of this pain was to take her to surgery and drain the abscess.

After prepping Bear for surgery and putting her under anesthetic, the doctor and his assistant lanced the affected area, cut out dead tissue for fast healing and flushed the incision with saline solution. After removing the pus, sutures were placed in two layers of tissue with tubes at each end to further clear out reoccuring infection. Bear is expected to make a full recovery and is doing well.

Pictures: Bear with draining tubes (top), and stitches (bottom).

Minnie: Half Past Three

Species: Canine

Breed: Miniature Pinscher

Age: 3 Years

Sex: Female

Minnie was rushed to us at Delbrook when she was unable to give birth to her 3 puppies and was becoming distressed. After confirming how many puppies she was carrying and what was troubling the otherwise normal pregnancy, the Doctors on hand found that the first puppy in the birth canal was stuck and wasn't able to pass normally. Minnie was prepped for surgery immediately to save her puppies and keep her from danger.

During the emergency c-section, the doctors at Delbrook were thankfully able to save two of the three puppies in Minnie's litter. The first one that was stuck however, was lost in the process which leads us to believe he/she passed away during positioning in the birth canal and hence blocking the way for his/her siblings.

Minnie recovered beautifully from her abrupt surgery and is taking care of her two babies just fine. Both of them are nursing and are healthy from what we could see during examination. Keep up the good work, Mommy Minnie!

Pictures: Minnie's x-ray shows 3 babies, 1 stuck in position.

Olivia: Back Again For A Long Visit

Species: Feline

Breed: Domestic Shorthair Tabby

Age: 1 Year

Sex: Female

Olivia was one of the kittens we adopted out in 2010 along with her brother Oscar and we were surprised to get a call from her owner that she was missing. About a day later, Olivia was found and brought in to Delbrook not able to walk and with puncture wounds around her anus.

After running various diagnostic studies such as x-rays and bloody work after the physical exam, it was clear that Olivia was in need of an intense surgery. Both her fibula and tarsal bones we fractured due to dropping 6 stories off her balcony. She and her brother had been playing on the balcony moments before she disappeared and Olivia had scooted through the chicken wire her family thought was safe enought to contain her. As for the reasoning of her bum ouchies, she was most likely bit by a startled cat or racoon when she landed.

Olivia underwent reconstructive bone surgery done by a specialist who came to our clinic and was put in a cast with a splint after being stitched up. Although it twas very awkward for her to use her litter box and eat by herslef for a few days, Olivia was in high spirits and by the seems of it remembered us from when we had her up for adoption. Olivia stayed in hospital for recovery for about 1 month but adored all the attention we gave her and loved to eat the high protein food to help with healing. Olivia's owner brought Oscar for a visit as he was worried and restless without her. Olivia was so brave she climbed into Oscar's carrier and rested while he was busy exploring the exam room. She was ready to go home it seemed, or at least soon.

We had her with us for so long that we grew accustomed to her being in the treatment room, meowing for more love. We'll miss her but we're happy that's she's back at her home away from home!

Pictures: Olivia eating breakfast with cast (Top), after cast removal (bottom).

Peggie: Raccoon Attack Survivor

Species: Rodent

Breed: Cavy (Guinea Pig)

Age: Around 1 Year

Sex: Female

After hearing Peggie's plea for help on a warm night while sleeping, Mrs. Cho's daughter woke her family to find out what was going on with their two guinea pigs. To their ultimate horror, a common raccoon had invaded their house and had grabbed the youngest of the two rodents through the cage bars. After scaring the raccoon off and out of the house, they stayed and comforted Peggie until the opening hours of the surrounding clinics.

Peggie was reffered to us at Delbrook by Ambleside Animal Hospital as they had no doctor currently available to treat Peggie's severe injuries. With a quick trip to North Vancouver on the highway, she was immediately examined by Dr. Brar while staff member Jenny prepared the surgery room for emergency.

After shaving the back of Peggie's neck and a small patch on her rump while she was under general anesthetic, we could see that the skin was badly bruised and scraped, and that her ear had been split down the middle. About three deep puncture wounds were present as well.

Next, after giving her an antibiotic and pain injection, we scrubbed Peggie's raw wounds with an antiseptic solution. As we closely monitored her strength under the anestetic, we closed up her wounds on her scruff with stitches and reconstructed the shape of her deformed ear so it would heal nicely.

Peggie had survived something that most animals would succumb to and had awoken from her emergency surgery in stable condition. She had experienced what most guinea pigs wouldn't in a lifetime and she had done it all in under twenty-four hours. This picture shows her brave nature after her attack and surgery in one of the treatment kennels. Her prognosis is good and she should heal with little scar tissue and regain her beautiful coat sometime in the future. Peggie's story is one that surely tells everyone 'no matter how small you may be and no matter what you're up against, never give up'.

Pictures: Peggie after emergency surgery (left), and Peggie after recovery with her mom Paige during boarding with Jenny (right).

Noori: Young Cystotomy

Species: Canine

Breed: Chihuahua X Japanese Chin

Age: 16 months

Sex: Male

Peeper: Squeeky Clean

Species: Feline

Breed: Domestic Shorthair

During a routine exam of Peeper, the doctor noticed she had what seemed to be a tear on the tip of her left ear. Out of curiousity, we asked if it had been bothering her and if the owner knew about Peeper's new piercing hole. Apparently it had healed by itself with only a small nik left for evidence and it was because of their other pet, Maggie.

Peeper had been enjoying the sun and breeze outside in the garden while Maggie, the family rat, was inside her cage outside as well. With a need to leave her scent on something like cats like to do, Peeper nuzzled the metal bars of Maggie's cage and ended up with a quick territorial nip. Although Peeper was unharmed at the most part, she still leaves the situation with a reminder of how Maggie makes 'no scents' of instinctual enemies.

Picture: Peeper the cat on the exam table at Delbrook.

Gulley: A Regular Wildlife Occurence

Species: Avian (bird)

Breed: Seagull

While working at Lions Gate Animal Hospital, Jenny had another thoughtful person bring in a local seagull that had been hit by a car on the main street of West Vancouver. Apparently he had swooped down to feed on some left over food and garbage that had been thrown on the road. This was the second seagull she had kept until the wildlife rescue came to pick him up, and the third wild bird in total. After making a comforatble kennel for Gulley as we called him, Jenny waited for a volunteer to come and transfer him to the burnaby where he was examined. Unforetunately, Gulley had a completely shattered humerus bone in his wing and it was beyong repair. He would never fly again. Although we try our hardest to help even the wild animals in the community and protect their valuable life, sometimes humane euthanasia is the only way to end their suffering and pain. Gulley will be remembered as a seagull who stood tall and and proud even in the last hour of his life.

Picture: Gulley in a treatment kennel at Lions Gate.