MANAGE YOUR PET'S HEALTH CARE ONLINE
Interested in managing your pet's health care online? Visit the ACOC website for a link to sign up for this free service that enables you to:

• View medication schedules
• Communicate with us online
• Learn more about your pet's individual health and life-stage issues
• And more!

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
2ndchance4pets.org Thousands of companion animals are euthanized in U.S. animal shelters each year simply because their human caregivers died or became ill and made no arrangements for the continuous care of their pets. What will happen to your pets if they outlive you? Visit this site for more information.

BANANA'S SECOND CHANCE - An ACOC Animal Success Story
Last December, right before closing, Amanda, one of our nurses, took an emergency call about an 8 month old kitty who "got stuck in the engine of a car" and wasn't doing well. She told them to come up as soon as possible. When they arrived, Amanda and Dr. Jessica hurried into the exam room to see Banana, a little tiger cat who was cold, sick, and very painful. 
 
Banana was very pale, dehydrated and unable to walk. His entire rear area including his tail was swollen and extremely infected. The entire room stunk because of this poor little guy.  The entire staff knew Banana was in bad shape. Dr. Jessica performed her physical exam and talked to the owners about what diagnostics and treatment Banana needed and about his prognosis. The owners decided that they could not afford to continue with treatment due to his extensive injuries and the intensive care he needed. Dr. Jessica and the rest of the staff, however, had already fallen in love with this little kitty and wanted to give him a shot at life. The owners agreed to sign custody of this sick little kitty over to the Animal Clinic of Chardon to see if the doctors and nurses could help him recover. 
 
Banana was immediately started on IV fluids, antibiotics and heavy-duty pain medication.  X-rays of Banana's spine showed an injury in the area of his lumber vertebrae. He also had a very full bladder and due to nerve damage, could not urinate on his own. The doctors had to express his bladder for him. During the course of treatment, Banana began to go into shock. Everyone thought we were going to lose him. With some steroids, more fluids and excellent care that he received from Dr. Wendy, Dr. Tom, Dr. Jessica, Jodi and Amanda that night, he survived his near-death experience.
 
Dr. Jessica took Banana home that night for around the clock care at her home. He had several IV lines for pain medication and fluids. He was in critical condition. The next day, Banana seemed much more comfortable and was actually stable for surgery. Dr. Tom and Dr. Jessica performed surgery to amputate his severely infected tail. During surgery, they found that Banana's entire rump was infected under the skin and that it may slough off. 
 
Banana recovered from the surgery with flying colors. Over the next few days he slowly regained nerve function in his bladder and was able to walk on his own. The only problem was that the skin on his rear end was indeed sloughing off. He required intense nursing care over the next few weeks to keep the area clean and infection free. Banana traveled back and forth between the hospital and Dr. Jessica's house for several days. During this time, the entire staff at ACOC fell even harder for Banana. He loved all the attention he was getting and would greet anyone who passed his kitty condo with a loud meow, wanting to get petted and loved on.  After a week or so of hospitalization, pain medication, antibiotics and TLC, Banana finally had a second surgery to repair the wound on his back end. He came through with flying colors.  "Baboon butt" (the name the nurses lovingly gave to Banana due to his very red, tailless behind) was no more. The only thing that separated Banana from his feline counterparts was a shaved back end and no tail.
 
Dr. Jessica couldn't resist this adorable little kitty that had such a zest for life. He soon became the newest addition to her household and fit in quite well with his two new kitty brothers, Jiffy and Jackson and his doggy sister, Gracie. His death-defying event hasn't slowed him down one bit. He jumps on counters, chases his kitty brothers and begs for food just like any other happy young cat. Even though he cannot communicate it in words, it is easy to see that Banana is extremely grateful to the staff and doctors at ACOC for giving him a second chance at life.


Animal Clinic of Chardon
656 Water Street Chardon, OH 44024
440-285-9191

Dr. Tom Frankmann | Dr. Wendy Frankmann | Dr. Jessica DeMarco