Overcoming Trauma: Mr. Persimmons’ Path to Recovery
It was just another evening when Mr. Persimmons, a curious and friendly 3-year-old indoor/outdoor cat, returned home—but something was clearly wrong. His humans noticed immediately: facial swelling, a red, injured eye, and subtle difficulty breathing. Concerned, they brought him straight to our emergency room, where our veterinary team quickly sprang into action.
Upon examination, it became clear that Mr. Persimmons had sustained significant facial trauma. He had a fractured jaw, a broken canine, swelling on the right side of his face, and injury to his right eye. While the exact cause was unknown, our team suspected a vehicular accident or a similar mishap during his outdoor adventures.
The First Hurdle: Stabilizing a Fractured Jaw
One of the first challenges was repairing his fractured jaw. Our surgical team used a cerclage wire—a thin, strong wire carefully looped around the broken jaw bones—to stabilize them in proper alignment. This delicate procedure required both skill and patience to ensure the bones healed correctly while keeping Mr. Persimmons as comfortable as possible. After surgery, he was closely monitored in the ICU, receiving targeted pain management and supportive care to help him recover safely.
Recovering from jaw surgery can be difficult, particularly when eating is painful. Although Mr. Persimmons was curious about food, swelling and soreness made chewing challenging. To make sure he received proper nutrition and medications without added stress, our team placed an esophagostomy (E-) tube. This small tube allowed him to get the calories and medicines he needed while minimizing discomfort.
Steady Progress and Careful Monitoring
With attentive monitoring, medication, and supportive care, Mr. Persimmons began to improve steadily. His eye healed completely, facial swelling gradually subsided, and he started regaining the ability to eat on his own. Over the following weeks, he transitioned from relying on the E-tube to confidently eating independently, and the tube was eventually removed without complication.
Mr. Persimmons’ Comeback
After weeks of careful follow-up and healing, Mr. Persimmons returned to DoveLewis for the final step: removal of the wire that had kept his jaw aligned. The procedure went smoothly, and by this point, he was thriving at home—eating on his own, full of energy, and enjoying a more relaxed indoor life with safe, supervised outdoor adventures.
His story—from sudden trauma and discomfort to safe, full recovery—is a heartwarming reminder of how every careful intervention and bit of veterinary attention helped ensure he has more time to play, explore, and enjoy life with the humans who love him.
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