Pet Emergency Fund: Lulu's Tale

By Claudia C. Gray, DVM

Lulu is a calico cat with quite a tale.  She was a stray, relying upon the generosity of humans to feed her and show her affection every now and then.  At some point in her short year or so on the street she managed to not only get pregnant (something almost all stray female cats do), but also be involved in some sort of traumatic accident.  It's possible she was struck by a car or may have fallen from a significant height.  Either way, when Lulu came to Ellicott Small Animal Hospital, the damage had been done.  Her owner had been feeding her for a while and ultimately had taken her into her home.  She realized it was important for Lulu to see a vet since she didn't seem quite right.  She was having a very difficult time breathing.

When we first saw Lulu, she was quite thin and was laboring to breathe.   Her accident must have occurred some time ago, because there were no wounds or signs of trauma.  Xrays revealed that there was a hernia, or tear, in Lulu's diaphragm, the thin muscle that separates the lungs and heart from the abdomen and other vital organs.  She was also in the early stages of pregnancy.  Lulu was having breathing difficulty because part of her liver and intestines were in her chest cavity, putting pressure on the lungs.

In order to save Lulu, surgery was necessary to repair the torn diaphragm muscle.  This type of surgery is very risky and expensive, and Lulu's new owner was not prepared for this.  She had taken Lulu in and cared for her because she was homeless.  There simply were not resources available in this home for Lulu to have surgery.  She was facing a very serious decision.  Lulu could not survive carrying a litter of kittens and delivering them in her condition.  She would almost certainly die during labor.  Surgery, although risky, would be the only way to save Lulu's life.

Thanks to the generosity of pet owners in Western New York and their donations to the Pet Emergency Fund, Lulu is not only surviving, she is thriving!  Although her kittens were unable to be saved due to how early the pregnancy was, Lulu handled surgery well and has become an affectionate and healthy part of her new home.

This year's Run For Rover on July 12th will help to add to the PEF.  Participate!