Providing hope – one surgery at a time

Over the last year, we welcomed 17,213 lost and homeless pets to our three shelters, providing them with the individualized care necessary to heal and begin anew. While the needs of these animals vary, many are seen by our team of shelter veterinary professionals, a group dedicated to nurturing their long-term health and well-being. Animals who are suffering greatly, experience complex conditions, or stay in our care for extended periods get to know the team on a deeper level. They may require emergency treatment, advanced diagnostics, regular rechecks, or daily medication administered in the shelter or the homes of trained foster volunteers. In many cases, specialized surgical care is necessary to help them thrive.

Depending on the size and needs of our animal population, as well as capacity and type of procedures, our Shelter Veterinary Services (SVS) team may perform between 10 and 120 surgeries in a single day. The treatment area is always a hubbub of activity, with doctors scrubbing in, technicians monitoring vitals, and volunteers comforting patients waking from anesthesia.

Before adoption, every intact animal is either spayed or neutered to prevent overpopulation and future health issues. Other procedures include abdominal exploration and foreign body surgeries; bladder and urethral procedures; enucleations (i.e., eye removals); limb and tail amputations; mass removals; and, on occasion, orthopedic surgeries and pectus excavatum corrections.

“Shelter medicine is a curious balance between caring for the health needs of many animals, while also devoting focused time to the complex medical and surgical concerns of individuals,” said Dr. Rimme Singh, former Medical Director of SVS at Humane Colorado. One such individual was Leo (known as Sesame in our care), a kitten who came to us along with nearly 100 cats as part of last summer’s large-scale neglect case. When he arrived, Leo was the smallest of a litter where every member was suffering from malnutrition. He and his siblings were soon placed in the foster home of one of our veterinarians, Dr. Sarah Flanders, where they received specialized attention and regular feedings.

During their first days together, Dr. Flanders noticed a visual depression in Leo’s chest, pointing to a rare congenital condition called pectus excavatum. In mild cases, where the sternum dips only slightly, kittens tend to adapt and do well. But there were several indications that Leo’s case was much more severe. In addition to tiring easily during play, his spine also appeared to be out of alignment, impacting his overall posture. And there were other signs, too.

Without medical attention, severe cases of pectus excavatum can diminish or threaten an animal’s life. However, treating the condition effectively is challenging and not well-documented. Dr. Flanders worked closely with her veterinary colleagues to discuss the situation and weigh the options. The research they collectively reviewed was clear – surgically placing a rigid and weighted splint on the outside of the sternum would likely pull it downwards into a normal position. But they would need to act fast while Leo’s growing bones were still pliable.

Over the next month and a half, tiny Leo was in and out of our shelter hospital as the team attempted to correct his condition. Ultimately, two surgeries involving a pair of custom-made splints were performed. First, Leo was fitted with an innovative 3D printed splint, a device that appeared promising but ultimately served to flatten his sternum in the weeks following the surgery. In response, the team quickly pivoted to an extra-large spoon splint, which is commonly used to support dogs with limb injuries and arthritis.

Post-operative radiographs showing an immediate improvement in his heart alignment were encouraging to our staff, who never once gave up on Leo and his recovery. But nothing could match our celebration two weeks later, when the final images revealed that his pectus excavatum had resolved. “Our veterinary team must make careful decisions regarding what procedure or level of care will lead to the best outcome for an animal living in the shelter,” said Dr. Singh. “I’m very proud of the way they handle patient care.”

Today, Leo is healthy and happily adopted, enjoying adventures and snuggles with his new loving family. His confidence and fearlessness likely stem from his ability to overcome early experiences of trauma. “You’d never know [all he’s been through],” said his adopter, Clarissa. “He acts like he is 10 feet tall and bulletproof…. nothing phases him.”

This article was originally published in the Autumn/Winter 2025 edition of Pet Tales. Read the latest here.