Q-tip
A Rare Journey of PSS in a cat
(Portosystemic Shunt)
Before
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After
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In mid-November of 2022, Q-tip was presented to the Ann Arbor Emergency Hospital for humane euthanasia. A pure white kitten with vibrant orange eyes! Upon presentation, Q-tip was lethargic, dehydrated, would sit and stand but intermittently fall over. Potential diagnoses were: Toxoplasma, FIP, Head Trauma, Ear Infection and PSS. Although, Q-tip’s presentation was grim, Dr. Jen Azofeifa, was convinced euthanasia would be a mistake. The owner was uninterested in helping Q-tip and insisted upon euthanasia. Dr. Jen asked if she would consider surrendering him to Happy Hearts. The owner consented.
The next day, Jeanne picked Q-tip up from the ER and took him back to the shelter. Overnight fluids and care perked him up, but clearly he needed immediate and specialized care. Since neurological issues were evident, Dr. Jen helped Jeanne get an emergency visit to Dogwood Veterinary Referral Center.
Upon presentation at Dogwood, Q-tip was exhibiting ataxia (difficulty walking), yet pacing and bumping into walls. They narrowed their diagnoses to either a brain issue or PSS. Q-tip would spend the night and undergo an MRI and spinal tap.
The next day, Jeanne picked Q-tip up from Dogwood. No MRI or spinal tap was done. Specialists at Dogwood diagnosed Q-tip with PSS. This was determined through further blood testing identifying an extremely high level of ammonia in his blood. His liver simply was not properly filtering the toxins from his blood. In addition to the symptoms Q-tip was exhibiting, PSS causes a number of unusual behaviors and conditions: extremely orange eyes, a sometimes violent, aggressive behavior, and temporary blindness.
Q-tip required surgery in order to correct this condition.
The needed surgery, while common in dogs, is rather unusual in cats. HHFS immediately started calling surgical specialists to get Q-tip scheduled. Unfortunately, COVID was still very
much prevalent and veterinarian surgeries were being scheduled months out; Q-tip needed surgery immediately. Jeanne was finally directed to Exclusively Cats in Waterford. There one of the vets specialized in these surgeries. However, because of COVID, Dr. Steven Bailey retired! But through persistence and Dr. Bailey realizing the immediacy of the surgery, he agreed to help Q-tip.
Today, Q-tip is doing extremely well. Q-tip is active, eating heartily, playing, gaining weight and energetic! Although his ammonia levels in his blood are still very high, specialists tell us it will take up to a year for the surgery to realize its full potential and his liver to function as it should.
Q-tip has grown from 2.2 lbs when at the ER to a healthy 7 lbs! We are grateful that Dr. Jen convinced the owners to relinquish Q-tip rather than resorting to euthanasia. Further, that she had the confidence that HHFS was capable giving Q-tip the care he needed. Finally, we are eternally grateful to Dr. Bailey of Exclusively Cats, who came out of retirement to do Q-tip’s surgery
The next day, Jeanne picked Q-tip up from the ER and took him back to the shelter. Overnight fluids and care perked him up, but clearly he needed immediate and specialized care. Since neurological issues were evident, Dr. Jen helped Jeanne get an emergency visit to Dogwood Veterinary Referral Center.
Upon presentation at Dogwood, Q-tip was exhibiting ataxia (difficulty walking), yet pacing and bumping into walls. They narrowed their diagnoses to either a brain issue or PSS. Q-tip would spend the night and undergo an MRI and spinal tap.
The next day, Jeanne picked Q-tip up from Dogwood. No MRI or spinal tap was done. Specialists at Dogwood diagnosed Q-tip with PSS. This was determined through further blood testing identifying an extremely high level of ammonia in his blood. His liver simply was not properly filtering the toxins from his blood. In addition to the symptoms Q-tip was exhibiting, PSS causes a number of unusual behaviors and conditions: extremely orange eyes, a sometimes violent, aggressive behavior, and temporary blindness.
Q-tip required surgery in order to correct this condition.
The needed surgery, while common in dogs, is rather unusual in cats. HHFS immediately started calling surgical specialists to get Q-tip scheduled. Unfortunately, COVID was still very
much prevalent and veterinarian surgeries were being scheduled months out; Q-tip needed surgery immediately. Jeanne was finally directed to Exclusively Cats in Waterford. There one of the vets specialized in these surgeries. However, because of COVID, Dr. Steven Bailey retired! But through persistence and Dr. Bailey realizing the immediacy of the surgery, he agreed to help Q-tip.
Today, Q-tip is doing extremely well. Q-tip is active, eating heartily, playing, gaining weight and energetic! Although his ammonia levels in his blood are still very high, specialists tell us it will take up to a year for the surgery to realize its full potential and his liver to function as it should.
Q-tip has grown from 2.2 lbs when at the ER to a healthy 7 lbs! We are grateful that Dr. Jen convinced the owners to relinquish Q-tip rather than resorting to euthanasia. Further, that she had the confidence that HHFS was capable giving Q-tip the care he needed. Finally, we are eternally grateful to Dr. Bailey of Exclusively Cats, who came out of retirement to do Q-tip’s surgery