Milo came to me at just a week old, barely weighing a few hundred grams. After some a few days in care, Milo's sister Zoey began suffering from uncontrolled pain in back legs. She declined too quickly for us to be able to help, and was humanely put to sleep due the severity of her symptoms. Milo, a few days later, began to suffer from uncontrolled pain as well as an inability to walk. Milo was tested for FELV/FIV and feline parvo. All of this tests came back negative. FIP was ruled out due to his age and other factors. I was told that he would likely never walk again. I was heartbroken, but I could tell that Milo wanted to live. He would scoot around using his front legs, would seek out affection and snuggle with me and his brother, and displayed a strong curiosity for life. I pushed to get X-rays for Milo, even though there was no history of trauma. After a goose chase of diagnostic testing that left us without answers, Milo got his radiographs and was seen by a neurological specialist who was able to diagnose him with a pathological spinal fracture! Milo had severe bacterial pneumonia in his left lung that had caused his spinal fracture. Milo required intense antibiotics and cage rest to allow his spine to heal, only to then contract ringworm (a highly contagious, fungal infection). After months of quarantine, medicated shampoo and oral anti-fungal medication, Milo was cleared for adoption.
Foster Pro Tip: if an animal displays a will to live (purring, enjoying affection, interest in food, a desire to explore or play), I believe it is our responsibility to advocate for them, and to ensure we have exhausted all options to help them recover. Their resiliency often allows them to pull through extreme disadvantages, just like Milo!
Because Milo was with me for so long, and because we changed each other's lives in so many ways, when it came time for adoption, I simply could not give him up. Milo has since become a permanent addition to the family, and my first foster fail! He is living the dream without any permanent complications, aside from a spunky personality. :)
Comments