My two berners and their four cats send you deep prayers for the recovery of Jessyka. I know as well how resiliant cats can be, so at least she has that working for her. Do give your guy a big hug and tell him you know he didn't mean to do it... Please let us know how her recovery progresses.
Leslie Fortune, Faith and the 4 mouseketeers Whitehorse Yukon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Susan Wilkinson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Bernese Mountain Dog Mailing List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, January 11, 2003 7:15 PM Subject: Aeryn's foul deed > On Christmas eve. I brought home a tiny 4 wk. old kitten that had been > turned in at the clinic by her rescuers after having spent 3 days and 2 > nights stuck down a well. Any kitten who could survive that in the midst of > a Canadian winter deserved a home! I named her Jessyka, after the little > girl who'd been trapped down a well in Texas a number of years ago. On > admission she weighed a scant 260g, yesterday, 3 weeks later rehydrated and > well fed, she topped the scale at 900g! > Baby Jessyka has recovered very well from her ordeal and injuries, is a true > member of the family, running & jumping around just like any normal kitten. > > Last night at bedtime (actually, it was early this a.m.) I had her out > romping as usual while I got her bed tidied in her kennel. I turned my back > for only about a minute when I heard Aeryn give a warning growl/bark. > Investigating, I was horrified to find 'Ryn standing panic-faced over tiny > Jessyka who was lying bent sideways in a puddle of blood. "Oh Aeryn, what > have you done" I gasped as I scooped the baby into my shaking arms. The > blood was coming from inside her right ear, her head was tilted alarmingly > to the right, her gums were white, she was non-responsive, her pupils were > equal and responsive, but she was amazingly alive. Now I was the one that > was panicked. It took my mother's calming words "what would you do if this > was a patient and not a pet?" to get me thinking straight. I ran for the > bottle of steroids, gave a whopping dose along with some antibiotics and > sub-cutaneous fluids. Got her wrapped up in a warm towel, and an oat bag. > And prayed. > > It was a sleepless night for all of us as the tiny kitten hung tenaciously > on to life, remarkably purring. In the light of day her temperature was > normal but she was very pale and severely affected neurologically -- > depressed, lateral recumbancy, no proprioception on the right side, and the > right head tilt. I gave her another huge dose of steroids and hussled her > into work with me. X-rays showed a subtle divot in her skull on the left > side (corresponding with the single wound I could find), but no displaced > fracture. She's mildly anemic from the blood lost. Three hours after her > 2nd dose of steroids, Jess began to improve ~ she wanted to eat but lacked > the co-ordination, and she could now struggle up to a sitting position. > > Right now I'm cautiously optimistic about her survival, but less sure about > her degree of recovery. In her favour, she's young (only 7 weeks), and > kittens are remarkably resilient. In just 18 hours since the incident, > she's shown amazing strength and recovery. She now responds to her name (in > a unfocussed, head shaking manner), and can eat a bit on her own if I hold > the food right up to her face. She even managed to get herself into the > litter box unaided. Hopefully, her mental status will continue to improve > as the swelling and inflammation subside. > > I'm devastated that my minute's lack of supervision should result in such a > tragedy. For her part, I don't believe Aeryn meant to damage the kitten, > just warn her. But due to the tiny size it doesn't take much of a blow to > do serious damage. If Aeryn had meant to kill, the kitten would undoubtedly > be dead. Accidents are called that for a reason, they're accidents, but it > doesn't make me feel any better ...... All the dogs seem to realize there's > something very wrong and they're all subdued -- Aeryn has been especially > fawning all over me, begging for forgiveness (which was given). > > please spare some healing thoughts for my brave baby Jessyka > > sue(Aeryn with Devyn & Rowyn) >
