PDSA vets saved the life of six-month-old kitten, Bear, after he ate netting from the Christmas roast beef, causing his insides to ‘concertina’ up together. Without emergency surgery, Bear would’ve died.
The incident took place last Boxing Day at his owner Joshua Simpson’s home in Darlington. Bear required a potentially risky operation, during which two inches of his intestine had to be removed. It was touch-and-go but thankfully, after a short stay at Middlesbrough PDSA Pet Hospital, the cheeky puss was able to go home to his very worried family and eventually made a full recovery.
Bear is just one of an estimated 23,000 pets the vet charity will see over the two-week Christmas period. Many of PDSA’s 49 Pet Hospitals remain open every day over the holidays, and it’s appealing for support to help keep people together with their much-loved pets.
Owner Joshua said: “Bear is incredibly important to us, he’s so loving and he makes you smile even on the toughest days. One of his favourite tricks is trying to dunk his head in the flour when we’re cooking!
“This was our first time using PDSA and the treatment was outstanding. I was out of work for a few months when this happened, and I just couldn’t have afforded the life-saving operation he needed. I want to say a huge thank you to PDSA for all their help and support – without the incredible team at Middlesborough Pet Hospital, we wouldn’t have Bear with us for his second Christmas.”
PDSA Vet Gabrielle Fish, who treated Bear, said: “So many pets are the shining star in our lives, giving us unconditional love and helping us through the most difficult times. Seeing the relief and joy when we reunite a recovered pet with their owner is one of the best parts of our job. But we rely on generous public support to keep our doors open, as we don’t receive any government funding.”
The charity provides free and low-cost care for owners who are struggling to afford vet fees. In 2023 PDSA treated over 430,000 pets and, as families continue to be stretched financially, demand for this lifeline shows no sign of abating. To find out more about PDSA and how to support the charity’s work, visit www.pdsa.org.uk/saveastar
Bear’s story
When Bear, so named because he looked like a little bear cub when he was very young, first became ill he was taken to his local vet. Joshua said: “We didn’t think much of it at the time, as cats are sometimes just sick. But when he refused to eat that evening we were worried – Bear usually loves his food – so we called our vet.”
At first it wasn’t clear exactly what was wrong, Bear was given anti-sickness medicine, and fluids to prevent dehydration. But with no improvement, it was clear further investigation and treatment would be needed.
Joshua said: “I was between jobs and we simply couldn’t afford to pay any more, so our vet recommended we get in touch with PDSA. We were so relieved when we found out we were eligible for their free vet care.”
At PDSA where Bear was immediately admitted, Vet Gabrielle recalls: “He was given intravenous fluid and pain relief, as he was very dehydrated and had a painful tummy. We suspected there was some kind of obstruction in his stomach or intestines, so we monitored him closely overnight, then he was x-rayed under sedation first thing in the morning.
“The x-ray confirmed that something was stuck inside his intestines, but it wasn’t clear what this was. Even so, it needed to be removed urgently or Bear would die, so he was immediately anaesthetised and prepped for emergency surgery.”
During surgery the vets discovered the most dangerous kind of blockage – what they call a ‘linear foreign body’. They found string netting inside him with one end stuck in his stomach, the other end had unravelled and stretched right through to his large intestine. This had caused a ‘cheesewire’ effect, with the tight string pulling all the way through the soft tissue of Bear’s intestines. It causes them to ‘concertina’ together, damaging and blocking them as it goes.
Gabrielle continued: “The operation took nearly five hours, thankfully we were able to remove all the string but we also had to remove two inches of Bear’s intestines that were too damaged to be repaired. This type of operation has a large risk of peritonitis (a life-threatening infection of the inner lining of the stomach), so we had to warn Bear’s devastated owners that even now he may not pull through.”
Joshua said: “It was an incredibly stressful time for us, but the vets kept us updated every step of the way. He had to stay overnight under close monitoring after the operation, but the next day we were over the moon when we heard he could come home. He needed plenty of aftercare, and we had regular phone checks and follow up appointments with PDSA to assess his recovery.
“When the vets showed us what they’d pulled out of Bear I immediately recognised it – the netting off the roast beef we’d had on Christmas Day! In the chaos of the day we must’ve left it out, and he’d been attracted by the smell. We felt awful, so now we’re careful to put everything away immediately and never leave food or leftovers out.
“I’ve since got another job, but PDSA were there for me and Bear when we most needed them. We’re incredibly grateful, as without PDSA our Bear wouldn’t be alive today.”
PDSA provides a vital lifeline for owners who are struggling financially. Its dedicated teams see 11 pets every minute, fix broken limbs, treat chronic conditions, and relieve suffering and pain – all of which keep people and pets together. Help save a star like Bear this Christmas – visit www.pdsa.org.uk/saveastar to support pets in need.
