Quartz’s battered body was found in Brooklyn by a good Samaritan. It appears he was probably hiding under the hood of a car and his back legs were stuck in the fan belt when the engine was starting. The trauma caused to her limbs was heartbreaking, but our Pet Health Centers team sprang into action, determined to repair Quartz’s broken world.
Dr. Mark Verdino, Animal League America Chief Veterinary Staff Officer, explained, “Quartz’s right hind leg was unfortunately devoid of viable soft tissue, so we had no choice but to amputate this limb. The left rear foot was also very traumatized with exposed tendons and bone on the upper surface, but we are using aggressive care to heal the tissue and hope we end up with a functioning foot at the end of the day. The team’s innovative approach included the application of a stem cell ointment and collagen matrix aimed at accelerating tissue regrowth.
The challenges were formidable: with Quartz’s wild nature, he tended to protest every bandage change and subsequent treatment. And since she was a fairly active kitten, the bandages had to be changed more often because they got dirty. The staff remained ever vigilant to prevent infection. Doctors took Quartz’s playful nature as a good sign that he had feeling in his paw. Cats can function well with three legs; however, the loss of both hind legs would create significant challenges for Quartz.