Hearts & Spades

See what I did there with the title..huh huh, I know - I'm too clever for my own good.
.....Unfortunately this update on little Hearts isn't the happiest one.

She had finally put on the weight she needed and was scheduled to be spayed last Thursday. Still a pipsqueak, weighing in at 1.9 pounds at around 3 months old, she had been doing well enough that we felt it was time for her to get prepared for her new home.

While most cats and dogs have their food with held before a surgery kittens are allowed to eat a little because they need the calories and can be at risk of becoming hypoglycemic if you restrict their food intake. Pediatric spays and neuters are not something that everyone agrees on, not only do members of the general public debate it but it is also subject to debate between veterinarians. Our shelter has been doing surgery on kittens for years and we have never once had an issue, shelters and rescues all over the country perform pediatric spays and neuters and the benefits are huge - the biggest being fewer litters of unwanted pets being born.

Hearts had a harder time, and she never even got to the surgery part. The medication/anesthesia caused her to vomit after her mask was already in place and she was getting ready to be prepped for surgery. Since she was laying on her back she was breathing in her vomit and getting it in her lungs; the medical team worked quickly to get as much fluid out of the lungs as the could, it was a scary, stressful situation for everyone (I am so glad I was not in the room for that!). An IV catheter was put in so she could get IV antibiotics for five days. She is now on oral antibiotics and subQ injectable antibiotics.

She has been having her ok days and not so ok days but through it all she has been eating, been fever free, and gets bouts of energy when she wants to play. She is battling with some aspirate pneumonia but this little girl is a fighter and has been fighting to stay alive and well for here whole short kitten life.

Hearts seems to be trying to work her way through some of her nine lives but we will not give up on her and I know she won't stop fighting. Keep my sweet girl in your thoughts, I'll be sure to keep everyone updated on her status.


*Update: I saw Hearts' two siblings today and they are both doing so well and are so big! They weighed in at 3.7 pounds and 4.4 pounds! It is so hard to believe that they share a birthday...Hearts will get there, she is just taking her time - she must just really love her foster home ;)