Pip, originally called "Dickens" by FFF, was found in the middle of a busy intersection in Doylestown, OH.  He was curled up in a tight ball, and appeared to have given up. Linda Bellomy was able to get him an appointment right away with Dr.Nan Decker, a holistic vet. Upon examination, several lumps were found on Dicken's extremities, mostly over the joints on his legs.  Dr. Nan lanced the lumps, which became chronically draining abscesses.  His treatment started with Clavamox, which did not seem to help much, and then was switched to Clindamycin by Dr. Mark Funk at HVH.

After about 2 weeks, little Dickens came to live with us.  He was unable to walk and could only drag himself short distances, so he spent his daytime hours in a playpen in our living room, and slept in a large dog crate overnight.  He seemed to brighten some under the care of me, Tim, our 6 adult cats, and our dog, Gwyn.  However, the wounds on his legs continued to burst and drain, he still had a high fever, was in obvious pain, and wasn't gaining weight despite his good appetite.  He was also suffering from diarrhea due to the high doses of Clindamycin, but the addition of Proviable and yogurt to his dietary routine solved that problem.  We started giving him Metacam to help his pain, and it helped him become a little more ambulatory.

Cultures of the wounds revealed little or nothing, so Linda Bellomy authorized a consult for Dickens, now known as "Pip", with the internal medicine department at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital in Fairlawn.  Dr. Patty Thalhofer, an internal medicine resident, performed a thorough physical exam, and immediately discovered Pip had a 2/6 systolic heart murmur.  She also immediately suspected that his abscesses were caused by an L-form bacteria, which does not show up in normal bacterial cultures, and does not respond to the "usually prescribed" broad-spectrum antibiotics.  Radiographs revealed that Pip was also suffering from severely luxated patellas, and his tibias were malformed and "displaced".  Dr. Talhofer prescribed the antibiotic Doxycyclene for Pip, and also changed his pain meds to Buprenex, which is much safer for felines. After three days on the new medications, Pip was obviously feeling much better.  The wounds stopped draining, and were completely healed by the time he visited Metro for his 10-day recheck. The inflammation in his legs was all but gone, and the pain had subsided to the point where he was walking, and even trying to run(!), albeit not in the normal kitten manner.  His fever disappeared.  Dr. Thalhofer released Pip from her care, and recommended that we wait a month or so before starting his vaccine protocol.

Little Pip, now completely healed,  has become a permanent member of our family.  Our feline and canine "kids" have accepted him as one of the "pack", babying him, helping with his care, and including him in all their play and nap times.  He sleeps with us, and is very attached to Tim.  He walks, runs, climbs, stalks his siblings and us, plays with toys and trash, and loves to lounge on the upholstered furniture. Pip purrs endlessly, is sweet natured, and loves to cuddle. He gets stronger every day, and his walking, although not normal, is much better.  We will never know Pip's origins or the cause of his horrific illness. We are grateful for his remarkable recovery and for the blessing of his presence in our lives.

Submitted by Missy Cole