LAPS
Update: Pixie has been adopted, and is being well cared for!
Help us save Pixie
Meet Pixie! She is an approximately 9-12 month old female who came to LAPS when she was found homeless. Pixie has the potential to make someone a wonderful pet. She has a sweet and loving personality and has captured the hearts of our volunteers.
Ever since Pixie’s arrival at LAPS, she has had urinary tract issues. She was spayed shortly upon her arrival and prescribed an antibiotic for a possible urinary tract infection. Sadly, the antibiotics were unable to "fix" the problem and Pixie was admitted to Loyalsock Animal Hospital on Monday, January 21 after she was witnessed vocalizing in the litter box. After several days being hospitalized, Pixie still had the veterinary staff at LAH perplexed. On Friday, January 25, Pixie became blocked, and she could no longer pass urine. The veterinary staff at LAH recommended that she be transported to Cornell University where advanced diagnostics could be performed to diagnose and hopefully fix Pixie's problem.
This kind of situation creates a dilemma for a small shelter like LAPS. Can we commit to what is bound to be a great deal of money to treat one cat? How can we just give up on one of our beloved cats? A few of our volunteers stepped up to say that they would donate towards the surgery, and another offered to provide the transportation. So off Pixie went to Cornell University on Friday, January 25.
The staff at Cornell explained a few scenarios that may be happening, but unfortunately, an ultrasound didn’t reveal anything remarkable, so Pixie was admitted for further observation and treatment. Before anything further could be found, Pixie became fully obstructed which is a life-threatening situation. Cornell proposed they could perform an emergency cystostomy, a surgery in which they would insert a tube into her bladder for the urine to pass from the bladder directly through the abdominal wall. This could be a temporary fix, if further diagnostics indicate Pixie’s problem can be corrected, or this could be a permanent fix, if Pixie’s problem cannot be corrected. Of course, the staff at Cornell said humane euthanasia is an option because without the cystostomy, Pixie’s bladder would rupture and, subsequently, cause her death.
Having invested so much already in saving Pixie, LAPS made the decision to proceed with the cystostomy. Thankfully, the surgery was completed with no further complications. The hope of the cystostomy is to stabilize Pixie so that early this week, she can have further diagnostics, in the form of a CT scan and contrast imaging, to find the root of her problem. This type of diagnostics can tell Cornell if we are dealing with a urethral stricture or some other abnormality that may or may not be able to be corrected surgically. We won’t know for sure whether Pixie will need further reconstructive surgery until further diagnostics are performed.
Donate
While we have some donations toward Pixie's veterinary bills, LAPS is asking you, our loyal and loving supporters, for donations towards Pixie's care so that we can get this lovely little girl healthy again and give her the best possible chance at life and a loving home! At this point, our goal is $7,000 to cover the care that she has received so far. We appreciate any help at all; even small donations will add up with all of us working together.
Your tax-deductible donation can be made online via our PayPal by clicking on the donate button below (you can use a credit card without having to create a PayPal account) or by mailing a check to LAPS at 630 Wildwood Blvd, Williamsport, PA 17701. Please be sure to add "Pixie" in the memo or special instructions. Thank you for your continued support which helps us complete our mission!
The official registration and financial information of Lycoming Animal Protection Society, Inc. may be obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of State by calling toll free, within Pennsylvania, 1 (800) 732-0999. Registration does not imply endorsement.
