MSPCA-Nevins Farm Determined to get “Skipper” on the Road to Recovery
BOSTON and Methuen, Mass. Sept. 14, 2016 – Of all the injuries and ailments treated by staffers at the MSPCA-Angell’s adoption centers, and at the organization’s 24-7 emergency and specialty hospital, Angell Animal Medical Center, few are more routine than upper respiratory infections, which are most often cleared with supportive care.
That simple treatment formula has been flipped upside down by a tiny kitten named “Skipper,” whose rough start in life had only gotten worse before a novel operation performed yesterday at Angell gave him a whole new life.
Skipper arrived on the doorstep of the MSPCA-Nevins Farm in Methuen, Mass. on a frigid morning in January, huddling in a carrier with four other kittens and three adult cats—all of whom just trying to stay warm. All seven were sick with upper respiratory infections, and one died later that night—despite a staff member bottle-feeding him through the night in hopes he would pull through.
As the other cats recovered, and were ultimately adopted into new homes, Skipper continued to decline. The stubborn respiratory infection held fast to his tiny lungs and rounds of antibiotics failed to help. By March his infection progressed to pneumonia. The team worried he might not make it at all.
“This was one sick kitten,” said Mike Keiley, head of the MSPCA-Nevins Farm adoption center. “I’d never seen anything like it. Imagine never recovering from the achiness, runny nose and generally awful feeling we have when we’re sick with the flu. Skipper has only ever felt like this.”
A Desperate Search for Answers
Subsequent rounds of x-rays and other diagnostics performed at Nevins Farm proved futile and Keiley sought help from the internal medicine team at Angell, where on Aug. 5 internal medicine specialist Dr. Doug Brum diagnosed Skipper with an rare condition called nasopharyngeal stenosis. The condition prevented Skipper from overcoming his health problems because, in simple terms, his nasal passage was too small to enable him to breathe normally.
A Novel Procedure…and a Fighting Chance
Skipper’s condition was so uncommon that, despite treating more than 60,000 pets every year, Dr. Brum had never seen a single case of nasopharyngeal stenosis. “It’s so rare that very little is written about this in veterinary literature,” said Dr. Brum. “Owing to Skipper’s small size—and that he may grow in time—we had to be creative in using a newly developed surgical option that gives him a chance at recovery.”
Skipper’s endoscopic procedure—performed in the all-new endoscopy lab at Angell, built as part of the organization’s Angell at 100 capital campaign—involved inserting and inflating a tiny balloon catheter inside his nasal passage to stretch the tissue and enable proper breathing. The procedure is also prevents the clogging of mucus that has plagued Skipper since birth.
The procedure, which is both rare and risky, was performed by Dr. Shawn Kearns of Angell’s Internal Medicine team, who pronounced it a success—with a caveat. “He is breathing much better—but we must keep in mind that some of these patients need repeat procedures as well as stent replacements—so we’ll be taking a wait and see approach with respect to ongoing care.”
The MSPCA-Nevins Farm has spent nearly $2,000 on diagnostics and treatment. Readers who wish to contribute toward the cost of Skipper’s care, and animals like him, can do so by clicking here.
The adoption center team hopes to place Skipper for adoption now that his procedure is behind him. Anyone interested in adopting can email methuenadoptions@mspca.org for more information.
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The MSPCA-Angell is a national and international leader in animal protection and veterinary medicine and provides direct hands-on care for thousands of animals each year. Founded in 1868, it is the second-oldest humane society in the United States. Services include animal protection and adoption, advocacy, humane education, law enforcement, and world-class veterinary care. The MSPCA-Angell is a private, non-profit organization. It does not receive any government funding nor is it funded or operated by any national humane organization. The MSPCA-Angell relies solely on the support and contributions from individuals who care about animals. Please visit www.mspca.org and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mspcaangell
