When Dickie-Bird first came to us, he was a complete mess. He drooled all
of time and would just stand there, rocking back and forth or walking in a straight line no
matter what was in his path. When we discussed this with our vet, she asked what colour
Dickie's eyes were. When we said orange, she rushed out back to fetch a veterinary reference
book. Dickie has a rare condition called a portosystemic shunt, where the blood circulatory
system bypasses the liver and thus the liver cannot do its job of removing poisonous toxins
from the blood. The behaviour Dickie was displaying was due to a build up of toxins in his
blood and without treatment, Dickie would have died very quickly. It was extremely lucky that
he found SHUA when he did.
Corrective surgery is an option but it would be a major
operation and the problem may well recur - necessitating further operations. After discussing
the various options with our vets, we decided that it is kinder to Dickie if we forgo the
surgery and manage the condition with medicines instead. He may have a reduced lifespan but
we believe that it is quality that counts, not quantity. Dickie is thriving on the medicines
- he is not just a normal little cat; his coat is super shiny and he is a happy, confident
little chap.
Jacqui has adopted Dickie and he now lives with her and her family.
