Vyan, the Kerry Hero and
Leighton, the Cat

By Deb Harper, BC, Canada

My 4 year old intact Kerry, Eidenbocks Vyan Kilkieran -"Vyan", saved the life of one of our favorite cats on Friday night. It was Vyan that set off the alarm that something was wrong and alerted us to what surely meant the death of Leighton, my husband's favorite cat..

We had a houseguest staying the night, and she had brought her Leonberger cross dog. She lives up the coast and had brought the big old dog down for medical attention. We live on a farm with 3 dogs (the Kerry, a poodle and a ShizTsu) 8 cats and 8 horses. The dog was brought into the house for the night, into the kitchen with the 2 barricaded doggie doors that prevent our own dogs from access to the master bedroom and the living room while we are at work. They are solid plywood 1/2 doors on spring hinges. We went into the living room leaving the big dog in the kitchen. The dog settled in fine and seemed to be interested in the doggy toy box. Leighton, the cat, was sleeping on our bed and the dog had been seen staring at him from the barricaded doorway. My dogs were with me as we ate dinner and watched TV.

All of a sudden, Vyan became alert, starting barking, and crashed-jumped the barricade and ran into the kitchen. The barricade is quite high so as he took it from a stand-still he clattered and banged over it. We jumped to our feet, yelling at Vyan for causing such a ruckus and we realized to our horror that the other dog had forced his way into the bedroom by repeatedly bumping on the barricade to get momentum to the spring action and silently attacked Leighton as he slept. We found Leighton underneath an end table, blood everywhere. He had puncture wounds on his back and into the groin. He was open mouthed breathing and in shock. We left our half eaten dinners and rushed him to the Animal Emergency hospital, some 40 miles away (30 minute drive on a dark rainy, stormy night that included back country roads and some freeway driving) We were there until midnight.

Leighton is recovering at home now. He is not out of the woods yet...First X-rays did not show internal organ damage and he is scheduled for recheck Xray on Tues. Meanwhile, he is on SubQ fluids, IM injection antibiotics and so far doesn't need surgery. We have to force feed him- he made his first urine overnight. No bowel movement yet...The follow up exam yesterday at a local clinic felt he barely escaped death. If Vyan hadn't heard the silent commotion and jumped the barricade Leighton would have been killed by this dog. Vyan is a hero. If you can imagine - Kerry Blue that loves his kitties so much that he would risk injury to himself to help. And yet, it was this same dog that knew the dog's owner was absolutely devastated (at what her dog had done) and refused to leave her side as we talked the next morning over breakfast. Vyan kept wanting to put his front feet in her lap and be with her. He was worried because she was so upset. She has stayed with us several times before and he'd never made such a fuss over her. He knew.

I know there are lots of people that think that Kerries and cats don't mix but Vyan gives testament to the temperament of my beloved Kerry. He saved a life today.

Two weeks later:

Leighton would no doubt NOT be alive if not for the Kerry Blue. 3 veterinarians have said that "he had cheated death" or is lucky to be alive. Vyan can take full credit for this. We hadn't heard a thing.

They also commended us for doing the Intensive nursing care at home, especially over the Christmas holiday season when the only available care would have been back at the Emergency Clinic (at double the cost)

Leighton's wounds continue to drain. At the last re-check between Christmas and NewYears, the vet had to cut the skin on the back wound and insert a Penrose drain. The wound was not draining properly and was his biggest concern. The tissues damaged on Leighton's stomach, groin area have drained well so far, but left hard scar tissue behind (ladies, you know the feeling if you have pierced ears; that hard lump) Leighton has lost most of the bloated look he had when these photos were taken (He looked flabby or pregnant with all the tissue swelling) Leighton normally weighs about 11 pounds, and he'd only lost one pound with his nursing care. We are to keep up with the antibiotics, keep up with the Sub Q fluids injected under the skin of his neck 4x daily and to continue to force feed him. He is showing some interest in food, and will nibble, but that's not enough to sustain him unless we force feed. Leighton walks with a limp due to a damaged left hind leg. The vet fears he has nerve damage (a turned paw doesn't get flipped back so Leighton isn't "aware" that its turned back) and that this could take months to heal, if ever. I am using a special acupressure red-light torch to treat the nerve damage (an instrument that I rent for use on my horses) to see if I can't speed up that healing process by employing his own body's natural defenses.

All in all, it is looking very positive. Leighton's spirit is back to normal. He talks. He purrs. He is more mobile although unsteady on his feet. Vyan is seen in these photos taken on Christmas Eve morning helping and watching. He respectfully stayed at a distance (not so the Shih Tzu, "Liko" who is in EVERYONE'S face!) while I fed and then moved in closer to sit with Leighton and Liko on the towel I had spread down for the purpose. The photo of Leighton, still with HUGE dilated third-eyelid-up eyes was to commemorate the first drink on his own. (He pulled himself over to the dog bowl to drink) The other photo is of Woody, the villain in all of this, if you will. Generally a nice big old dog- but one that hates cats.

Four weeks later:

Leighton is almost fully recovered except for the limp and nerve damage. He is off the medication and off the SubQ fluids and is back sleeping between us in bed, head on the pillow.

We are most thankful.

Last Update: 11/08/07, 10:35:23  Terms of Use and Disclaimer.