The Challenges of Rescue Puppy Adoptions

The Challenges of Adopting a Puppy or Kitten

We have all heard the saying “adopt, don’t shop”, but adoption can be a complicated and sometimes confusing task for pet owners.  When it comes to adding a four-legged member to the family, it is important to look at many factors before making the final decision of adopting your new family member.

Once a pet owner decides that they are ready to add a new pet to their family, they must start to consider many factors to ensure that the best match is made for the people and the pet. Of course adoption is a great answer, and there are so many pets looking for their forever homes, but there are some challenges that need to be addressed before a decision is made. 

Lucy. Rescued from the worst circumstances imaginable.

 The first thing that should be considered is the rescue or organization that you are adopting the pet from.  It is important to make sure that the organization is credible and that they are doing everything that they can to ensure the animal’s safety and health.  Unfortunately, many rescues, while trying to do the right thing, end up creating more risks for young puppies and kittens.  Often times rescues will combine many small groups of puppies or kittens into one larger group to transport them from one area to another to be fostered, before being placed in their forever homes.  This can expose the puppies or kittens to many different diseases or illnesses, therefore causing illness in these young animals.  It is important to ask the rescue questions about where your pet came from, and how it was brought to the rescue? It is always important to ask about how long they have been in the last "quarantine" place. My personal recommendation is that the puppies/kittens are in the last foster home for at least 14 days without new pets being brought in. I also always ask where the parents are. I also ask for proof. Too often rescue groups take the puppies and kittens (some even "sell" them and leave the parents behind.  As potential pet owners, you are always asked many questions, but many people forget that they should also ask questions to the rescue as well.  It is important that both groups know all of the information so that the best decision can be made!

Additionally, after learning about the pet’s history, the new pet owner should make sure to receive the health records for the pet from the rescue.  Vaccine records and a record of any health issues are paramount to the short and long term health of your new furry friend.  If the pet doesn’t have any records or the rescue can’t provide documentation of the vaccinations, then you should ask the rescue to get the records.  Rescues commonly will provide veterinary care, or they can assist you in getting the proper care. If there is not a signed physical exam report from a veterinarian you should ask why? There is no reason this should not be a part of the pet adoption process. I also call the vet office to confirm, including that they, the vet themselves, gave the vaccines. In many cases the vet only signs an exam form, they do not provide veterinary care. This is also a cause of great concerns for me. In the end, everyone wants what is best for the animal, so making sure that it has all of the veterinary care that it needs is very important.

Lastly, every pet owner needs to make sure that they make an overall well informed decision.  If something just doesn’t seem right or you aren’t completely sure about adopting a certain pet, then don’t go through with the decision.  Make sure to take some time to make sure that this decision is the right one for you and your family.  While it might not seem obvious to ask the rescue questions, it is important to become informed so that you can make the best decisions for your new furry family member!

Scout. rescue pup, all adorable!

As a last note of personal experience I have witnessed many "new rescues" that are in essence "puppy brokers." Just because they call themselves a rescue does not mean that they are. All rescues should be designated as a 501c3. You should ask before giving them any money. You should also ask for references. I recommend three people from the last adoption verified by a previous social media post. You can also ask for references from their fosters. Most for profit people don't and won't use fosters. They should also have been around for 2 plus years. Many states also have publicly available lists from overseeing government organizations who investigate puppy mills and animal cruelty. Ask about whether any complaints or charges exist?

Jerry. Off the streets rescue.. total love-bug

The take home message is that there is no way anyone can deny the heart gripping adorableness of a puppy or kitten. It is impossible to resist. The challenge is that there are people who prey on this for profit and at the expense of the animals they procure and distribute. Be very cautious. Stay offline. Seek advice from people you know and trust. And as always, it is buyer beware even though those little ones melt your heart and skew your ability to be cautious. 

My beloved jekyll,, all rescue all the best of everything (and in beagle form).

Many Thanks to Lydia Schlitz for writing this. Lydia is a pre-vet student working at Jarrettsville Veterinary Center this Summer.

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So You Want To Rescue A Puppy? Advice on how to avoid the disasters of trying to do a good thing.

Aurora

I remind myself daily that "No good deed goes unpunished."

So why do I keep finding myself back at the junction of "do the right thing," and "how to minimize kicking myself later?"

Cinderella and Aurora

I just have to keep reminding myself that I was called to become a veterinarian, and that my obligations remain with helping pets in need. I remain steadfast determined to continue to do this, no matter how many self-inflicted numskull blows to the head I deliver.

I do a lot of work with rescues. Truth be told, I truly love helping them. We are a bunch of frazzled, over-extended, die-hards stuck on the fix of that endorphin potion that tears of happy endings brings. It's the same high gamblers chase to clutch that big payout. That chance that our time, efforts, dedication, and unyielding conviction will pay off somewhere down the line. We all live for the "happily ever after." And, after all, it can happen.

Dasher

Prancer

Here is my advice for protecting your heart and wallet from the chances of sad endings when it comes to rescuing a puppy.

1. Go to a local, reputable, long standing rescue. Ask your vet for their recommendation.

2. Ask the rescue if they are a non-profit? Sadly, there are impostors out there. I call them puppy trafficking rings. There are people who go into high density, high-kill shelters removing puppies and shuttling them into high demand areas. The puppies are sold for profit and the cycle continues.

3. Ask when the puppy was transported? A conscientious rescue will hold the puppies for 10-14 days before adopting them out. The stress of transport, the confining of many dogs, and the odds one of them isn't exposed, or shedding disease all trigger and perpetuate disease. Most of these will become apparent within the first two weeks.

4. Ask where the puppies have been kept since arrival. Ideally, they were taken into a foster family with only a few other dogs. This allows socialization, observation, and understanding of what potential health or behavior issues the puppy may have.

5. When were they seen by a vet? All new pets should be seen by a veterinarian within 3 days. Rescue and adoptees alike. Not being seen is not acceptable. Medical records should be willingly surrendered for your perusal and copies should be transferred to you upon adoption.

Four  of the original seven reindeer pups on their way home
from their last vet puppy visit.

Puppies should have the following:

• Vaccinations every 2-3 weeks. Preferably by a veterinarian. These are patient and location specific.
• De-worming every 2-3 weeks between 6-10 weeks. Preferably by a veterinarian.
• Fecal examination for intestinal worms by a veterinarian at 8 weeks, or immediately if having diarrhea. At this time they should also start their monthly heartworm preventative to also protect against intestinal worms.
• Microchipped. Many rescues require that the chip stay in their name. I am fine with this. Quite honestly, this saves more pets than allowing microchips to be transferred into individuals names. People move, change their phone, and surrender pets. Keep the microchip in the name of the most stable place available, the rescue.
• A person who has loved them and treated them like family in the time between transport and adoption. The formative months of a puppies development are key to being an obedient, well-mannered companion. An invested foster parent can describe their pups like a proud parent.
• Pick your puppy based on how well they will integrate into your family. Each puppy, regardless of breed, size, color, or shape is their own person. There should be an equivalent 200 questionnaire to match your pet to you... not you deciding on who  is cutest? (Cute is important, but a long term good match is fundamental).

Dasher

Walk away if you encounter the following;

• Elusive, sneaky, "just don't feel right about something" people.
• High volume, high pressure, salespeople. Pets are not a commodity. People who treat them as such are not going to help you, or the puppy, if, or when, you need them. If they are truly rescuing puppies to help them than it is, and should be, a life-long commitment. The same applies to all  parties involved.
• A smelly, loud, over crowded, shanty looking site. This is either a halfway house, a store front because the real holding facility is even worse, or a poorly managed rescue. I know the common over riding gut reeaction is to help these souls by getting them out of their deplorable condition, BUT, you are only perpetuating the problem for another soul soon to follow. The only thing that stops a bad business is no business.
• An argumentative, aggressive, assertive person who makes you feel pressured to pay and go. All rescues need to be selective in their screening process. Please try to understand this. If you were that puppy wouldn't you want your foster parents to be protective and not place you in anything less than a safe loving home? 

Aurora hides.

Rejection; It happens. Don't take it personally. I understand that many loving families are turned down from adopting a puppy that they want for things like; lack of a fenced yard, lack of current vet care (OK, I do think that this is super important, and yes, I am biased), or family dynamics that make placement of a puppy in a household with small children, cats, or other pets less than ideal in the rescues eye. If everyone involved is making decisions simply to benefit the puppy there shouldn't be any hard feelings. I know of so many clients who wanted to rescue a puppy, found the one they wanted, had their hopes on adopting them, and were rejected. So they gave up and went and bought one from a breeder. Their response to why they gave up on adopting?
"Why should we be punished for trying to save a puppy? And why should we put themselves through that stress again?" Good questions.

My Feelings on Puppy Mills; Dealing with the emotional stress of witnessing a pet in dire straits, deep need, and a sad past is really hard to face. I know that many of my compassionate clients want to rescue the puppy from the horrible places they find them in, BUT, buying that puppy is condemning another to the same fate. Money talks. Don't perpetuate the problem by giving the seller the only thing they care about, a buck. Call the local authorities if you see a pet in a poor living condition. Use the power of references, and local word of mouth. Rescuing is not buying from any person who doesn't have the puppies best interest in mind.

Contracts: Read the contract you are given BEFORE you sign it. Know what you are paying for, and know what kind of people you are supporting when you hand over payment in exchange for a life long responsibility.

Dasher

Veterinary Care; Seek a veterinarian for an examination within three days of adopting your puppy. Bring a fresh fecal sample and all of your puppies records. Have the microchip scanned to insure it is there. If there isn't one have one placed immediately.

The reindeer puppy pile..
my happiest place.

Insurance; Get Trupanion insurance as the first vet visit. A puppy can, and does, get very expensive diseases within the first month. Why not have someone else pay for it? Trupanion offers a free 30 day membership.

Lifelong Relationships; Build a lifelong network centered around your puppy. Being involved with rescue work is hard, emotionally challenging and can be heartbreaking. But if your life is centered around helping pets who have been discarded it is vital to hear, watch, and be a part of pets life who is happy because people like you cared. There are lots of happy endings, there just isn't enough sharing them. Be a life long supporter and advocate for the good rescues that helped you find your forever companion. It is the best way to pay love forward, and the best way to live a life of giving back. 

If you have any advice that you would like to share about anything pet related please come visit us at Pawbly.com. Pawbly is all about sharing information to empower parents, and help pets. It is free to use and open to anyone and everyone who love their pets as family,

If you would like to visit me I am at the clinic stealing puppy kisses whenever possible. Jarrettsville Vet is located in northern Maryland. Or find me on Twitter @FreePetAdvice.

The Babies

The babies go to their foster home tomorrow.

I have spent the last week coo-ing, cuddling, and marveling over them.

Butters, their mom, is a sweet, affectionate, happy soul. She will make someone's home replete with her warm, gentle, demeanor and ever present purr.

I will miss them all, but I know I will see them again..

Butters, their mom, is a sweet, affectionate, happy soul. She will make someone's home replete with her warm, gentle, demeanor and ever present purr.

I will miss them all, but I know I will see them again..

For information on adopting these kittens, or Butters please contact
http://www.nokillharford.org/

Tips Before Adopting a Pet

There are as many reasons for having a pet in our lives as there are types of pets to fill that place in our hearts. Some people are looking for a companion to spend their days with, some are looking for a companion to help protect and safeguard their family, others are looking for a pet that doesn’t take much room, effort, or expense.

Many of us have grown up with a family pet and don’t need any outside help to figure out who will be our next companion. For the new pet parents out there we thought it would be helpful to provide some pointers and guidelines to make the big leap into pet adoption successful.

The leap into pet parenthood should only be made after very careful consideration and deliberation with everyone who will be a part of this pets life.

Important points to consider before adopting any pet are;

·          Do you have the time for a pet?

·          Do you have a place suitable for this pet

·          Do you have the resources?

·          Do you have the ability to make a life-long commitment to them?

·          Do you have the ability to train and accept that there will be challenges to adopting a pet?

·          Have you done your homework to learn about the pet? Their lifespan, lifestyle, nutritional and health care needs, housing requirements, personality, and behaviors?

After careful scrutiny of these questions, they can be used to help you narrow down which potential pet will fit best into your home and heart.

Today we can pick from all sorts of pets.

Dogs, cats, horses,  birds, fish, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice, rats, spiders, snakes, hermit crabs, goats, cows, pigs, turtles, and the more exotic choices.

Pets come in every size shape and personality. There is a perfect pet match out there for everyone. Miniature cows, horses, pigs and dogs from 1 pound to two hundred. But please, before you fall in love with a tea-cup piglet ask yourself if you can take care of them in three years? And if you care to have a litter box in your kitchen, or rooting in your dining room carpet?

Elton.

There are a multitude of places to find out information about the pet you are thinking about adopting. Ask questions of everyone involved in the decision making process. The more information that you gather the happier you will all be in the long run.

Lady. A sweet gentle happy girl.

As a final note I always recommend that following;

·          Take tons of pictures. Mark every momentous occasion with a snapshot. Build your relationship around the positive aspects of the pet experience.

·    

      Be very patient. The mark of happiness is built on love, respect, and kindness. Let these always be your guide.

·          Get help if you have a question or concern. Help can be found for every problem and every experience. Build a network of support to help your pet parenting experience be as fulfilling as it can be.

·          Try to always make choices with the health and well-being of your pet placed first. There will likely be hard choices in your future but if you can make them based on what is best for your pet, and be true to that, you will be at peace with them.

·          Every relationship in life is a reflection of what you put into it.

Stitch

All of the pets above are available for adoption through No Kill Harford, at petfinder.com. Please visit NoKillHarford.org for more information.

For more helpful advice please also visit;

http://www.aspca.org/adoption/adoption-tips/questions-to-ask-before-adopting.aspx

Breeders, My take on them

I know that I am supposed to try to be very PC (politically correct), but I am honest. It’s sometimes hard to be both. So when I question which side of the line to fall on, I always look deep down and ask myself, “what is best for my patients?” Because when it comes right down to it, that’s my job. To take care of your pets*, (I always add a little asterisk here because I also have to look out for my clients health and safety too, but short of that I am here to take care of your pets).

Today I thought I would throw in my two cents about breeders. If you look in the vet publications you will not find any veterinarians writing about this topic. Vets are viewed by the public as being well respected and having integrity, but I would add sometimes we are cowardly too. For too long we, the shepherds of care for animals, have let public opinion and prejudice decide whether or not we will take a stance. I challenge any vet to argue factory farming and puppy mills with me at anytime. 

I know a lot of clients who spend a lot of time researching breeders to find the pet they want to purchase. I have to admit that almost all of them come to me with their new pet and say that they “spent a long time researching the breeder before they purchased.” I will now admit that many of you with the best of intentions want to believe so badly that your breeder is fabulous, when in my opinion MOST of them are merely good at looking like they are what you already want them to be, great breeders. Now I will clarify and admit that I think most of these breeders truly care about their bitches/queens, etc., but MOST of the breeders I know do not bring their pets to the Veterinarian regularly. So when you go to purchase your next pet from a breeder I would recommend that you ask for references. Those references should be from an owner (preferably 3) who purchased a pet from their last litter, and the Veterinarian that the mom and dad go to for their annual physical examinations.  

Then when you call the vet(s) have these specific questions:

Introduce yourself first,

Ask the veterinarian if they would be willing to answer some questions about one of their clients because you are interested in purchasing one of their kittens or puppies, etc? Many will say "yes", but some will say "no". If they say "no", explain that you are trying to decide if they are good breeders/owners because you are interested in buying a pet from them. If they continue to say "no", then ask the vet if they will talk to you after the owner gives them permission to talk to you. Vets often don’t want to talk about clients without the owners’ consent. Any good client will happily give consent, and most Vets are upfront and honest. We Vets don’t want to be affiliated with bad breeders either. You can always ask the Vet or their staff members “If you were looking for this breed of pet would you buy one from this breeder?” that way you aren’t asking the Vet to say anything potentially hurtful about them, but you will get a straight answer.

When you talk to the Veterinarian try have specific “yes” or “no” questions ready. (Once again we don’t want to be accused of slander, so a "yes" or "no" is more comfortable for us to answer).

The specific questions that I think you should ask the Veterinarian are;

                Did this breeder bring the mother of this pup/kitten to you before breeding?

                Is this mother up to date on all of the vaccines that you recommend?

                Would you recommend this breeder to a family member?

                Do you feel that this breeder takes excellent care of their personal and breeding pets?

Do you feel that this breeder is providing all of the necessary care needed for happy healthy pets?

If they do not answer “yes” to all of these questions find a different breeder. I will admit that the further away from your home the breeder resides the more likely you are to not know the full story on your pet. Unless you have first-hand personal knowledge of them.

Ask the breeder to provide you with copies of the medical records of the parents of the pet you are thinking about purchasing.The “self-proclaimed wonderful breeders” are few and far between

I am also saddened to hear clients coming in to say “we got her from a puppy mill, once we saw her we couldn’t leave her there, we saved her.” To this I reply you saved her to have another poor puppy or kitten fill her shoes. These places will never stop unless they don’t have any customers to buy their “goods” any longer. The buck speaks louder than the law. “Don’t feed the greed” is the new catch phrase. I know it is hard and heart breaking to see an animal in deplorable conditions, but please don't purchase them, please report them to the appropraite authorities if you think an animal is being neglected, cramped, mis-treated,etc.

In closing, a great breeder invests about $1000 in each puppy, and $300- $500 in each kitten, if you aren’t paying double that then the breeder can’t cover their costs and they are skimping something somewhere.  For many it is a business, and they are in this business to make a profit. The pups and kittens are a product. There are some breeders in this business for the love of the breed. They will stand behind their pup/kitten and offer a full refund, (for any reason). They will also stand by you in the adjustment of having a new pet, allow you open access to their medical records, have any and all of the recommended tests done, (many breeds suffer from specific diseases which can be checked before they are breed, therefore lessening the chance that they will pass this disease onto their young), and you should never have one odd feeling or red flag when you meet them or see what their facility looks like.

I am also a huge advocate of adopting from a shelter. Most of the sweetest, gentlest, loving, healthy pets I have ever known were cast-aways. So please always shop at the shelter first. Then there is the whole shocking, cruel, unbelievable statistics of how many pets we euthanize every day of every month of every year. It is truly appalling how many people love animals and how many pets still die because we don’t have enough homes for them.

Sharing your life with a pet is one of the greatest joys of life. It is a big decision and a life-long committment. Do your due diligence in making a smart decision fro your lifestyle, your budget, and your beliefs. And as always, don't be afraid to ask your Vet for help. That's what we are here for, every step of the way.

Dumping Dusty

I have found that in life there are a lot of little tests. Sometimes I wonder if it is the way the big guy in the sky, (or wherever you think he is), entertains himself in his free time. Your first few years out of vet school force you to decide not only what kind of veterinarian you are going to be, but also what kind of person, what kind of community member and most importantly and most honestly, what you can live with yourself with afterward. I don’t intend to stand here on my soapbox and preach because I know how hard it is everyday.

My clients always say to me when I arrive to help let their pet pass on how this must be the most difficult part of my job. I know they say this because I know that for a pet parent the most difficult part of having a pet, or loving anything, is losing them. I am honest to a fault. And even at this, the most painful and emotional part of my relationship with my clients, I still tell them honestly that “no, unfortunately this is not the most difficult part of my job.” Not to diminish their grief, and not to sound cold and harsh, but the most difficult part of my job is looking into the eyes of a pet and knowing that no one else in the world gives a damn about them. This is the heart breaking most difficult part of this job for me.

The worst piece of advice I ever got from another vet came from a very competent seasoned person who is well respected and well known in my county. They told me that I “could never love a pet more than their owner does.” I know that this saying was used as the way for them to justify having to euthanize a pet that an owner cannot afford to treat. I thought long and hard about this. I tried to understand why they said it?, if they really believed it?, and if it was being said to me because they were trying to help me preserve my ability to continue practicing medicine in this sometimes very cold world.

Very early on in my travel with my newly minted DVM degree I met a man with a grey cat. He was here to euthanize his cat because the cat had urinated in the laundry basket. I interjected too quickly to see if he would discuss any part of this cats’ home life, litter box conditions, or anything to help me start to investigate why she was “urinating inappropriately,” that’s vet lingo for peeing outside of the box. He was not looking for a discussion. He was here to drop off and leave. I remember standing there, jaw open, heart dropping and thinking, “what the hell do I do now?” You see at this point in my fledgling career I worked for someone else. I wanted this job, and I wanted to do a good job. But I am a stubborn, strong willed girl. I acknowledge that I am terrible at compromising. I asked myself my bottom line question. “If I have to chose between being right and being kind, I chose to be kind.” I walked out of the room and down the hallway to the owner of the clinic. I asked him if I could “adopt a cat from a client?” He quickly said “yes”, thankfully didn’t ask any questions and walked away.

I walked back into the room and told the owner that I wanted to adopt Dusty and try to figure out why she was peeing outside of her box. The owner then told me that she wasn’t a very nice cat and signed over the parental rights of Dusty to me.

It has been six years. And sure enough she is not a cuddly sweet cat. And her litter box aim is not always perfect. But there has always been a reason that the urine wasn’t deposited in the correct receptacle. If her box isn’t clean, or if one of the other cats is harassing her, or if she can’t get to her box she pees outside of it. I understand and accept her. She has her own likes, dislikes, and tolerates very little. She reminds me everyday to be my own person, to follow my beliefs, to not sell my soul to anyone, and to always be kind.

I have never heard from her owner, and I am happy to not have to bear the burden of his intolerance.

Update;

Dusty passed away to chronic renal failure in March of 2013. She was a part of everyday of my professional career from vet school to her passing. She reminded me every single day why I do what I do, why I am so passionate about what I do, and to stay true to my vision, my calling, my passion, and not bend to others who can cast away a life without remorse.

It is not easy to stand up for a pet in the face of an owner who doesn't want to try to care anymore.

I cannot change them, but sometimes I can change the destiny of a pet. I try everyday.

A New Lease on Life, Kiki's Story. Nasopharyngeal Polyps in Felines.

He arrived as they all do; in a small cat carrier. He was hidden from view in a dark enclosed plastic box. Designed to be light weight, these carriers are like a little treasure chest to a veterinarian. You really never know what you are going to find inside. Sometimes the smell gives you a big hint, but I’ll get to that later.

Every vet has learned to peek inside the box before you open the door or even dare to stick your hand in. There are sometimes ferocious little lions hidden beneath a puff of orange fluff.

This is Kiki's story. Kiki is a part of the over 700 cats living in the Animal Rescue Farm just along the Pa-Md border, in a little town called New Freedom, Pa. They are the most devoted bunch of amazing, inspiring, compassionate people I have ever met.

To begin, Kiki is a boy. I know it’s confusing. I can’t really explain why, but that’s a lot of cats they have to manage so some of those cats get some pretty funky, or down right mis-appropriated, names. We have learned to just accept them and go with it. But he is whom he is, Kiki. He sat in his little plastic cat carrier box, hidden quietly in the back. I opened the door. He didn’t lift his head, he didn’t move, he didn’t care about me, or where he was, nor did his internal survival drive tell him to even care about pretty much anything anymore. I could see and hear his rattle and crackle of the all to common ailment of rescue cats “chronic upper respiratory disesase”. How many of these rescues cats do I see? A LOT! You put too many of anything together, and you know what you get? A lot of flu. Send your kids back to school and then grab the tissues, because you’ll need them soon. He had yellow-green snot just caking his nose. Some of it had dried leaving a crust but more was coming down the chute, like a slow flow of yellow-green lava. He could barely breathe, and when you can barely breathe you barely move. I lifted his lifeless thin black body out of the carrier. He didn’t fight, or protest, or struggle even a little. I weighed him. 5 pounds, (that’s at least 2 pounds less then he should have weighed). When you only weigh 5 pounds, those 2 pounds really count. That’s 40% of your weight, OMG almost half! We quickly made up a treatment a very basic treatment plan for him. The good ole basic stand-by treatment plan, fluids, food, and antibiotics. Feed him any damned thing he wanted, try to make it as smelly as possible. When you have a whole nasal cavity full of snot it takes a smelly-smelly morsel to convince you to open your mouth and eat.

We also started him on the antibiotic I call “the big guns”. “The big guns” are the expensive guns. Funny how life always works that way? I was going to hit him hard and keep him on them for at least a month. I was going to make sure that the previous attempts that the rescue had made were either not the strong enough meds, or they weren’t used long enough. I was covering my bases and stacking the deck. We put him in a cage with my treatment plan in place and I moved onto the next little plastic chest of mysterious disease. I didn’t really need 12 years of college for this guy, I thought to myself and I moved onto the next carrier in line.

Over the next few weeks we cleaned more slung snot from the walls, the doors, and the ceiling than anyone could imagine a 5 pound creature could produce. He sneezed, spit, and re-painted our walls. In case any of you are ever thinking of working at a vets office, and need to start at the bottom, (aka kennel), be prepared to not only pick up poop, scoop litter, but oh, yes, scrape snot off of walls is also in the job description. After 4 weeks of “the big guns” he still looked puny and miserable. So I called the rescue director and confessed that my hopes had fallen far short for poor Kiki. I asked if I could put him under general anesthesia, look in the mouth, flush the nose, take head x-rays, pretty much make any stab in the dark that was listed in the text book under ”chronic upper respiratory disease” from my old vet school days. I heard the pause in her voice, (that little jab of falling short of expectations, I get used to it, sigh), and a reluctant “ok”.

The next day, I said hello to Kiki, said a little quiet prayer, crossed my fingers and put him under general anesthesia. His head x-rays showed the damage to the very fine bony turbinates, years of snot eating your nasal passages, but no tumor, score 1 for Kiki. We flushed his nasal passages, until the snot ran a clear saline, and I thought “aahh, now maybe you will be able to breathe, well, at least for a little while”. And then we looked behind his soft palate. This is the area where the hard bony roof of your mouth transitions to the soft part then heads down into your larynx. And there it was an enormous irregular cluster of grape like tissue the size of your thumb. I was never so happy to see such a hideous structure. The veterinary treatment for a big wad of tissue growing in the back of your throat? grab, yank, and pull. And, oh yeah, hope it doesn’t grow back. It was the center stage curiosity of every staff member in the building. We were all happy to see the culprit.

Kiki woke up without any complications and since then he has put on 4 pounds and become the most extraverted, playful, and rambunctious kitty you have ever seen. He decides when you are done playing, when it is time to start playing, and he will slap you if you walk away without his permission. He has become one of our resident cats. And he reminds me everyday why I do what I do.

Here are a few video's of our JVC cats having their polyps removed; 

Here is more information on Nasopharyngeal Polyps. 

Kiki is one of the many reminders of why we work so hard on even the most difficult and chronic cases. Kiki was adopted by one of the vets of the clinic and has a family who sees him as the perfect soul he always was.

If you have a pet with this condition and would like to learn more about it (or any other pet related condition) please ask the amazing people at Pawbly.com. It is free for everyone to use. 

If you would like to learn more about us at Jarrettsville Vet Center please find us here at our website, or like our Facebook page.

I am also on YouTube and Twitter @FreePetAdvice.

If you would like more information on this topic; Nasopharyngeal polyps, then please follow the link below:

www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/respiratory/c_dg_nasal_polyps