Rufio, a 7-year-old Maine Coon, recently underwent life-saving surgery at ChesterGates Veterinary Specialists after being diagnosed with a rare condition known as hyperaldosteronism or Conn’s syndrome.
The stunning Maine Coon was referred to the Internal Medicine Team at ChesterGates from Furness Veterinary Centre, with troubling symptoms including weakness, anorexia, weight loss, and persistent hypokalaemia despite supplementation.
The diagnostic imaging team carried out an immediate CT scan and discovered a mass on Rufio’s right adrenal gland. The adrenal glands play a crucial role in regulating hormones such as aldosterone, which controls potassium balance, and in Rufio’s case, his aldosterone levels were abnormally high, causing excessive potassium loss through the kidneys. This condition, although rare in cats, explained Rufio’s symptoms.
To treat the condition, the Internal medicine team decided that the best course of action was to surgically remove the affected adrenal gland which required meticulous planning, high-level anaesthesia, and expert post-surgical care. Under the close supervision of anaesthesia specialists, the surgery was performed by a team of two specialists in small animal surgery, Georgia Jenkins and Erika Bianchini and was a great success.
Post-surgery, Rufio’s potassium levels returned to normal, and he made a remarkable recovery under the close eye and constant supervision of feline ward RVNs and PCAs. He was soon able to return home, where he is now enjoying a much-improved quality of life.
“Our success in treating Rufio’s rare condition is a testament to the strength of our multidisciplinary approach,” said Erika Bianchini, the lead surgeon on the case. “From the internal medicine specialists who diagnosed the condition to the anaesthesia and nursing teams who ensured Rufio’s safety during surgery, every member played a crucial role. Collaboration between these specialist teams was key to achieving such a positive outcome for Rufio.”
Rufio’s owner commented, “I will be forever grateful for the team at ChesterGates, Rufio’s illness came on so quickly and was potentially so severe that it was an incredibly worrying time, and it threw his future into doubt. The team here were so thorough and worked so hard for him that he’s come out the other side bigger and better than ever and has a happy life ahead of him. Everyone was so helpful, caring and took the time to support us as well as our pet, we would entrust them with the care of our pets in the future without a doubt”
