In a tale of determination, Paco, the 2-year-old cat, defied the odds and bounced back from the brink of illness. Marked by intensive care and surgical aptitude, his journey captivated the hearts of our veterinary hospital.

Paco’s story began with worrisome clinical signs – jaundiced skin tone, pale mucous membranes, soft and distended belly with a fluid wave, and signs of abdominal discomfort. After giving pain medication, the team performed an abdominal tap, which revealed the presence of intracellular bacteria, confirming their suspicions of a septic abdomen. This discovery led our feline patient to the hands of our general surgery team.

During the abdominal exploratory surgery, the surgeons discovered that Paco’s prior bladder surgery had not been successful, and there was a 1cm perforation in the stomach opening. These were serious problems and put his life at risk. Despite the severity of the situation, the owners trusted the expertise of the CSU veterinary team. They decided to proceed with the surgery and critical care to save Paco’s life.

“We were heartbroken after learning the severity of his condition and his prognosis. The decision to commit to surgery was overwhelming, but we had the support of family, who believed in Paco as much as we did,” Paco’s owner Emma Yarrow shared.

The road to recovery was bumpy, as Paco was up against dangerously low blood pressure. The critical care team administered up to four medications – vasopressin, dopamine, phenylephrine, and norepinephrine – to bolster his vitals and stabilize him.

Days turned into nights, each one a testament to Paco’s spirit and the tireless efforts of the critical care team. After four days of comprehensive support, Paco was bright, eating on his own, cleared for discharge, and reunited with his family.

“We told Paco’s owners that instead of taking it ‘day-by-day’ we were taking it ‘hour-by-hour.’ We are eternally grateful to our critical care team for their help and support in getting him through the first couple of days after surgery. After he almost didn’t get through surgery, he was eating within 36 hours. He is such a champ!” said Dr. Zacharie Wund, a surgery resident.

The steadfast commitment of Paco’s owners is reflected in the devotion of the veterinary team. Together, they paved the way for his recovery, allowing him to resume his favorite activities, like playing in boxes and waiting in the window to greet his neighbor.

In the face of adversity, Paco’s journey reminds us of the transformative power of critical and advanced veterinary care. Yarrow reflected, “Drs. Zacharie Wund and Kelly Hall, along with their teams, truly fought for his life, and we could not be more thankful that they saved our little guy.”