A Crucial Catch: Shavasana’s Story
It was another busy day in the Kitten ICU (KICU), a special unit for critically ill kittens. The KICU is a critical lifeline for the most sick, fragile, and vulnerable kittens entering Dakin’s care during our peak summer months.
Shavasana was one of those kittens. She and her siblings had been KICU patients for 10 days, undergoing significant medical care to nurse them back to health.
During evening rounds, Veterinary Technician Meghan Delaney noticed that something just seemed off about Shavasana. She prepared a space for an exam and removed the frail tabby kitten from the kennel. “I performed an exam and when I got to Shavasana’s abdomen, I gasped,” she said. “There was a large mass in the left side of her abdomen the size of a kiwi, right where her kidney would be.”
Delaney’s suspicions were confirmed after an abdominal x-ray showed that one of Shavasana’s kidneys was significantly enlarged and not functioning properly.
Shavasana’s medical treatment was altered to support her needs. This condition was very serious. Shelter Veterinarian Dr. Liz Helton offered to perform a life-saving surgery that she had never attempted before. Removing the affected kidney was Shavasana’s only shot.
Dr. Helton’s incredible surgical skills and courage to try something new paid off. The surgery was a success!
“We monitored her very closely after surgery,” Delaney said. “This was something I’d never seen before and it felt really good to see her thrive afterwards.”
Once stable, Shavasana was moved to a Dakin foster home to fully recover. Before long, this “unicorn” kitten was officially cleared for adoption by her medical team.
The day before her adoption, Shavasana spent some quality time with Meghan, whose intuition and keen eye stopped a future tragedy in its tracks.
Dakin’s veterinarians, technicians, assistants, and volunteers make the impossible possible. Their collective dedication gave Shavasana the gift of a happy, healthy life with her new loving family.
Shavasana in her adoptive home with her new best buddy