Before and After Stories
Polly
Polly came to Integrative Veterinary Therapies an untouchable cat. He was living outdoors in a feral cat colony for an unknown amount of time. The colony caretaker had noticed that he wasn't eating much, and was losing weight quickly, so she contacted the Paws and Heroes feline trapper for assistence. She transferred him to the clinic to further evaluate his condition, and to see if there was any hope for him to recover. The Doctor quickly noticed that Polly likely had multiple reasons to stop eating. He had severe amounts of discharge from his eyes, nose, and mouth. He also had several painful and rotten teeth that required extraction. While working on Polly's teeth, the Doctor discovered a large mass in the back of Polly's mouth. This turned out to be a huge nasopharyngeal polyp that was obstructing his airway and causing most of his difficulty breathing and eating! With the ongoing fundraising efforts of Paws and Heroes Legacy Foundation, the team at Integrative Veterinary Therapies was able to remove this polyp and Polly's bad teeth. We also were able to supply him with vaccinations, flea treatment for his infestation, and a brushing for his unkempt fur. He is now eating pain-free, and with the help of our rehabilitation team Polly is happy and thriving! Lack of pain has brought Polly the courage to open up to humans again, and he hasn't stopped purring since.
Ellie
Ellie came to Integrative Veterinary Therapies through the TNR program, but it was immediately clear something was very wrong. Even inside the trap, it was obvious she was dangerously thin and far too ill to undergo spay surgery. After gentle sedation, the team discovered that what looked like a scab on her face was actually a large open wound. The wound extended so deep that it exposed the bone near her eye socket and had nearly blinded her.
Despite the severity of her condition, she was not beyond hope. The team carefully cleaned and flushed the wound, then sutured it closed to protect her healing tissue. She was also given pain medication, antibiotics, eye drops to save her vision, and a dewormer to restore her strength.
Thanks to this lifesaving care, made possible by the support of Paws and Heroes Legacy Foundation, Ellie was given a second chance. Her eye was saved, her pain was eased, and her recovery began. Today, Ellie has been adopted into a loving household, where she is finally able to enjoy the comfort, safety, and affection every cat deserves.
