Dougal came to us with a huge collar wound. The collar he was wearing was not a quick release collar – rather a buckled fabric collar that didn’t release when he got his front arm stuck through it. For weeks he had to endure the collar digging into his underarm and around his neck, until a member of the public saw him and brought him to a vet. The vets took over his care and endeavoured to find the owner. Sadly they were unsuccessful.
Dougal was then transferred to our shelter where we continued his care. The wound was huge, in an awkward place and infected. He needed lots of care, love and treats! As well as antibiotics and intensive wound management. Our cat team was amazing, giving round the clock care and ensuring Dougal was always as happy and comfortable as he could be.
Dougal was a real sweetheart and loved company, so we had our volunteers spend as much time with him as possible, either having cuddles or playing, or just sitting in for company. He was brilliant at solving all of the puzzle feeders we gave him and was very food oriented. Dougal was a very clever chap!
After a week or so, it was clear that the wound wasn’t healing how it should, so the vets took a swab of the area to find out more. It turned out he had a secondary infection, and this one was contagious to other cats and humans if not handled properly. Cue the barrier nursing! This period of time wasn’t the most fun for Dougal because he didn’t get to see the array of visitors he did before the infection took hold. So he was a little blue. However, our cat team are always on hand to make cats feel as special as possible and provide whatever stimulation and enrichment that cat would like. So with Dougal being food motivated, this was fairly easy!
After another few weeks of wound care and pain relief, it was again clear that this wound was not in the right place to heal by itself. After reassessing our plan for treatment, our vets decided to try closing the wound by making Dougal an elbow flap – yes, that is the technical term! We were tensely waiting for the vets to call with a post surgery update. We knew that if this didn’t work, there was nothing else to try.
We got the call! The surgery was a success and Dougal was doing really well!
(Image at the bottom of the page, for those that aren’t squeamish!)
We were overjoyed with the news and couldn’t wait to get him back for cuddles. After the surgery he had 2 weeks of post op care with us until his stitches could be removed, and he was repaired.We were incredibly happy and so grateful to our vets who had performed the surgery and made it a success.
Now we just needed to find him the perfect home and of course, we did. Dougal’s family fell in love with him instantly, and now he’s home with them, they absolutely adore him. He is the centre of their world.
This suffering could have been easily prevented by using a quick release collar or by having a microchip implanted.
We are happy that Dougal is healed, happy and homed!
Overall, Dougal’s treatment cost £1631 in vet bills!
Recovery Tails Christmas Campaign
This Christmas, please help to raise £10,000 to help us care for and heal cats like Dougal and keep this crucial work going. Your support will help to pay for vet treatment, special foods and medication for all the cats and kittens who arrive in the Shelter sick and in need of a warm bed this winter.
Only scroll down if you would like to see Dougal after his second surgery to repair his wound.
