A BELOVED pet cat’s life has been saved after specialist vets at a West Midlands animal hospital successfully carried out a rare and complex operation to remove a large tumour close to its brain.
Willows Veterinary Centre and Referral Service in Solihull is one of an elite list of animal hospitals in the world capable of conducting such intricate surgery.
Willows’ neurology specialist Tom Shaw led the way using specialist hi-tech equipment, including an ultrasonic aspirator, to carefully remove the tumour in Harry the cat’s pituitary gland, without damaging his brain.
Tom, a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and European specialist, said: “Harry is a 13-year-old domestic shorthair cat and had been diagnosed with a very large tumour of the pituitary gland, which is a small pea-sized gland at the base of the brain.
“The gland produces essential hormones needed for good health. However, in older animals, tumours sometimes develop within it and can cause the gland to enlarge and put pressure on the brain.
“This can lead to changes in behaviour and to neurological problems, including aimless wandering, unprovoked yowling and loss of mobility.
“Harry was an extreme case and we agreed with the owners that surgery was the best course of action.”
Harry underwent long-term aftercare with Willows to help him cope with the effects of the lifesaving operation, including internal medicine specialist Fergus Allerton.
Tom said: “The removal of the pituitary gland causes huge changes to hormone production, so Harry was frequently seen by Fergus for follow-up appointments in order to regulate and replace his hormones with medications.
“Ten months later and Harry has a new lease of life and is continuing to feel much better – which goes to show that even severely ill animals can become happy and healthy again.
“Harry is certainly an exceptional advert for any dog or cat suffering from a brain tumour.”
Harry’s owners Charlotte and Ian Bowell, from Cradley Heath, were thankful for a miraculously happy ending to a worrying time.
Charlotte said: “We first realised something was wrong when Harry started shaking his head a lot and howling intermittently, so we took him to the vets.
“Our response to the diagnosis was to be really upset – I cried a lot as Harry is like a child to us. The second reaction was shock.
“Tom outlined the risks for Harry and we went away with lots of thoughts running around our heads. We went to and fro with the decision and I remember asking Tom if he was confident the operation would be a success.
“We agreed Harry deserved for us to give it a go and that we had to give him a chance to become better and live a fulfilled life again.”
Ian said: “We are extremely happy with his recovery and we cannot begin to thank Tom and his team enough for all of the care and attention Harry received at Willows.
“From the very first consultation, we were told facts and were given a clear understanding the surgery may not work and felt we would be supported in any decision we made.
“It was a very emotional time, especially when it was time to bring Harry home, and we will continue to be ever grateful to Willows that we are able to enjoy Harry’s love every day.
“He is an old boy now and not as adventurous as he used to be, but he really enjoys his life sleeping in the sun in his garden and having the odd treat of tuna every now and then.”
