A Day in the Life of the Tree House Clinic

Spay/Neuter Month Adds to the Hectic Pace of the Clinic

The day began like many others at Tree House. The caretakers were on hand at sunrise to begin the daily task of feeding and cleaning up after the 300 residents of Tree House. The cats began to stir with the increased activity, and small skirmishes erupted in different areas of the shelter as everyone eagerly awaited their breakfast.

In the Munder Clinic, the staff was preparing the clinic for a full day of procedures. It was Spay/Neuter Month, and there were nearly a dozen low-cost spays and neuters scheduled for the day. In addition, there were a variety of procedures on the docket for the Tree House residents, including a complicated diaphragmatic hernia operation for a young cat named Valentino.

The public began to arrive at Tree House at 7:00 a.m., delivering their beloved companions for spaying or neutering scheduled for later that morning. The clinic organized temporary housing for these cats in the examination room, arranged surgical equipment, and made general preparations for the arrival of Dr. Robert Castillo, Tree House staff veterinarian.

When Dr. Castillo arrived at 9:00 a.m., the clinic went to work spaying and neutering. While one cat was being altered, another was being sedated, intibated, and prepared for surgery. When there was time to spare between patients, Dr. Castillo took care of the Tree House residents on the schedule. Among other things, a dental was performed for Emmarie, an abcess on Goran’s face was treated, and Willia was examined for possible stomatitis.

Dr. Walter Bruno, a practicing veterinarian who volunteers regularly at Tree House, arrived just before 1:00 p.m. to assist with the diaphragmatic hernia operation. Valentino had been delivered to Tree House, his breath shallow and labored, and after a thorough examination he was diagnosed with a diaphragmatic hernia, a condition which leaves a hole in the diaphragm muscle and allows abdominal organs - such as the stomach, bowels, kidney and liver – to gradually migrate into the chest. The operation is very complicated, and typically costs over $1,000 at a veterinarian’s office, but with the current expertise of the Tree House veterinary staff, and the many upgrades in clinical equipment (thanks to you), we are proud to be able to perform this type of procedure in our own clinic.

Nearly two hours later, Valentino was recovering quietly in a cage after his successful surgery. Within a few weeks, he captured the heart of a concerned adopter who was happy to offer Valentino a new home.

Max was next on the agenda, and he was brought into the clinic for an examination. Max had been transferred from an emergency clinic yesterday suffering from an infection in his right front leg. Dr. Castillo quickly realized that the infection in Max’s leg had worsened dramatically, and it now threatened to move to other parts of his body, which could be extremely dangerous. In order to save his life, Max would need to have his leg amputated immediately.

The clinic staff worked quickly to prepare for emergency surgery, and Max was anesthetized and brought into the surgery room. Amputations are not routine procedures, and they require a great deal of care to avoid complications and further infections. Fortunately, the operation went smoothly, and Max recovered from his surgery in a matter of weeks. He now resides in Kittenville, and judging from his playful romps, it seems that having three legs hasn’t slowed him down one bit.

After performing a few more minor procedures on some of the Tree House residents, the clinic staff was finished for the day. Gradually, the guardians of the cats admitted for low-cost spays or neuters arrived to bring their cats’ home. At the day’s end, Tree House had performed 11 spays and neuters for the community in addition to the many procedures performed on the Tree House residents. Although it was a tiring day, it was also very rewarding, and everyone in the clinic agreed that it was well worth the effort.

The Tree House cats seemed to sense the relief from the humans, and after dinner they quietly began to seek a comfortable spot to rest for the night.