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VETEGA News & Information

Board of Directors:
Jay Friedenson, President

Randy Pratt,
Vice President

Cindy Pratt, DVM, Treasurer

Carole Patten, Secretary

Ingrid Friedenson

PHINEAS' STORY

Phineas was found as a stray by a client of Lamoille Valley Veterinary Services and presented to them for care of his wounds.  Investigation found that those wounds were from a gunshot.  Local non-profit VETEGA, Inc. (Veterinary Efforts In Giving to Animals, Inc.) and community members have come together to help cover some of the costs of his care.  Lamoille Valley Veterinary Services and Burlington Emergency and Veterinary Specialists (see below) are pitching in by providing that care and treatment.

UPDATE: Phineas was adopted on December 2, 2010 and is thriving in his forever home.

VIDEO ON WCAX NEWS:  http://www.wcax.com/global/video.asp?clipId=5135652&topVideoCatNo=63459&autoStart=true

 STORY ON WCAX NEWS: 

http://www.wcax.com/Global/story.asp?S=13202418

 Phineas on Facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Veterinary-Efforts-in-Giving-to-Animals/156530514365809?ref=ts

 On Wednesday, September 22^nd, Phineas had his surgery with Lamoille Valley Veterinary Services’ (LVVS’) Dr Beth Souers and Dr. Kurt Shulz at the Burlington Emergency and Veterinary Specialists hospital in Williston.  The surgical treatment for his injured jaw was to place a steel plate onto his fractured right mandible (jaw bone). The left mandible (50% missing due to gunshot) was remarkably still in alignment and only needed minimal care of cleaning it and removing a couple pieces of fractured bone. The tissue surrounding these areas had already started to heal over but will need more time to complete the process.  It appears Phineas has likely had this injury for at least a couple weeks prior to being found and brought to LVVS.  This was suspected before surgery; however, during surgery there was evidence of remodeled bone in the fractured mandible confirming that this was not a recent injury.  Therefore, Phineas is only further proving to us he is quite a capable and fearless survivor!  He must have been scavenging and eating on his own during his time as an injured stray prior to finding help.  The esophagostomy (feeding) tube, placed by Drs. Souers and Pratt when he arrived at LVVS, was removed soon after he had recovered from his surgery.  

Phineas will need a soft/canned food diet for at least the next 6-8 weeks as his mandible heals.  It is possible, with teeth still intact, that he will one day be able to chew food if needed.  As long as the plate in the mandible does well, it will not have to be removed.  However, due to the amount of already existing infection in those areas, it is possible Phineas will need a follow-up surgery to remove the plate and/or removed infected bone.  We are hopeful this will not be necessary.

Phineas was neutered after his mandible surgery and recovered well at Burlington Emergency and Veterinary Specialists.  He was transferred back to Lamoille Valley Veterinary Services late on Thursday, September 23^rd for the rest of his post-surgical care.

Donations to help cover Phineas’ care can be made to VETEGA, Inc. via PayPal at our website or via mail to:  PO Box 92, Lake Elmore VT 05657.  VETEGA, Inc. is a non-profit tax-exempt IRS 501(c) 3 organization.  Donations to VETEGA, Inc. are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Phineas – and all of us at VETEGA, Inc.  – extend our thanks to all veterinarians, staff and the cat-loving community across the country that has been supporting him!   

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