Photo: Courtesy of MSPCA-Angell
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — One Munchkin kitten is up for adoption at the MSPCA after suddenly falling ill with a mysterious illness in November.
After almost two months at the MSPCA- Angell in Boston, Dollie has recovered and looking for a family to take her home.
In November, Dollie's family brought the four-month-old Munchkin kitten to the MSPCA- Angell looking for help after the kitten stopped acting like her normal, playful self. At first, she had vague symptoms, but after a while, her skin and ears started to change and her family began to grow concerned.
Photo: Courtesy of MSPCA-Angell
“When Dollie came to us, her ears were sloughing, and they actually did fall off,” Mike Keiley, MSPCA-Angell director of adoption centers and programs, said in a statement. “Parts of her skin were necrotic – the skin was dying. It impacted her extremities, including her tail, legs, and most of her ear tissue. We had never seen anything like it.”
Dollie's family ended up surrendering her to the MSPCA after they grew overwhelmed by her extensive medical issues and were unable to care for her anymore.
The MSPCA- Angell team worked to figure out what causing Dollie's mysterious illness with the help of Dr. Meagan Painter, a dermatology specialist at MSPCA-Angell West in Waltham.
Photo: Courtesy of MSPCA-Angell
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“When my team came to Boston to examine Dollie, I saw severe skin sloughing and necrosis, especially around areas with poor circulation like the extremities,” Dr. Painter said in a statement. “This is typical for a problem called ischemic dermatopathy, which is usually caused by a reaction to something in the body that leads to widespread inflammation.”
She said the skin disease can lead to dying tissue in sensitive areas like ears and paws. Dollie ended up needing to have her tail and one leg amputated in order to save her life.
Photo: Courtesy of MSPCA-Angell
While Dr. Painter said she is unsure what caused the reaction, the medical team was able to save two of Dollie's legs.
“Dollie’s been with us for a while and it’s time for her to find the loving home that she so desperately deserves after this ordeal,” said Keiley. “We don’t think that she’ll need any specific ongoing care because of this condition, just a family that’s looking for a unique cat and is willing to work with a vet to address any future medical needs.”
Those interested in adopting Dollie can submit an inquiry at mspca.org/dollie.
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