Charming, a kitten who survived the Camp Fire, at VCA Valley Oak in Chico, CA on November 21, 2018 where he is receiving treatment by UC Davis veterinarian Jamie Peyton for burns on his paws. (Photo by Karin Higgins. Courtesy of UC Davis.)
Jeffy’s Daily Mews
CHICO, California–We kitties love tilapia. Best dinner ever. But the vets at the University of California at Davis used a feline foodie’s favorite to treat kitties (and dogs) burned in those awful Golden State fires. It may be a waste of good fish, but if the swimmer had to check out of his pond, at least it helped feline brothers (and pups.)
A 4-month-old kitten with singed whiskers spent 13 days roaming the Camp Fire burn-area with second and third degree burns on his paws. He was rescued and brought to the animal hospital on Nov. 20 where vets named him Charming cuz he was. Before long, they came up with fish mittens for a Charming kitten.
Tilipa: It’s Not Just for Breakfast Anymore
Dr. P first tried tilapia sandals for cats on this young mountain lion’s burned paw from an earlier fire. (Photo courtesy of UC Davis)
The tilapia skin (sans the scales) becomes a skin substitute that relieves pain, protects the wound and promotes faster healing, says veterinarian Jamie Peyton, chief of the Integrative Medicine Service at the University of California at Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Dr. P first used tilapia on bears and a mountain lion burned in a wildfire.
Tilapia skin transfers collagen, a healing protein, to theburned skin. Better still, it also reduces the need for frequent bandagechanges, which hurts like a son of a dog.
Dusty Spencer, VCA Valley Oak veterinarian and Jamie Peyton, chief of the Integrative Medicine Service at the UC Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital treat a kitten that was burned in the Camp Fire that devastated Butte County. (Photo courtesy of UC Davis)
She says there’s no established standard of care in the literature for treating animals with burns. So, the vets are flying by the seat of their undergarments.
Amy Quinton, spoke purrson for the vet school says Charming’s is healed and they expect a full recovery, which means he’ll be begging for fish, not wearing it. Although his humans haven’t turned up, he’s being fostered by one of the veterinary technicians who’s been caring for him. But don’t worry, if no one claims him, the vet tech promises to have and to hold. I’ll keep you posted when he goes to his (new) home.
Do you have any well wishes for Charming? Leave them in the comments below.
What a wonderful story and awesome innovation- Thanks tons for sharing!! Here’s hoping Charming is doing great and he’ll get to go home with his tech soon!! 🙂