Camden News: Henry | Ginger Tom | Henrietta | Mill Lane Veterinary Surgery | Finchley Road

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Camden News - by VIVIENNE RAPER
Published: 11 December 2008

Henry/ Henrietta with Joshua Rusnak and veterinary nurse Karen Dunlop

‘Sex change’ for Henry the cat

PROZAC, valium, and now, to cap it all, a sex change of sorts – the adventures of one West Hampstead cat sound stranger than fiction.
In a delicate operation that would bring a tear to the eye of every male, Henry the ginger tom became a Henrietta at the Mill Lane Veterinary Surgery near Finchley Road last week.
But the burly moggie did not make the gender swap for lifestyle reasons. He underwent the unique surgical procedure to remedy an excruciating blockage to his waterworks.
“He was going to his cat litter and straining for about 20 minutes,” said his owner, Michael Sutton, who first noticed his cat wasn’t quite himself last March.
Vet Joshua Rusnak confirmed the unfortunate feline had an inflamed bladder caused by a blocked urethra.
“If left, his bladder could have exploded and he could have died of shock,” Mr Rusnak said.
Mr Rusnak flushed out the blockage, but Henry’s toilet troubles were far from over – his problem brought him back to the vets three more times.
Worried the inflammation might be caused by stress, Mr Rusnak prescribed Henry Prozac. When that didn’t cut it, he gave the cat Valium.
Mr Rusnak, having “exhausted all medical options,” was forced to take the nuclear option – removing the tip of Henry’s penis and sowing the two halves back to his skin to stop the urethra from blocking.
“We did that and he never looked back,” said Mr Rusnak.
Henry has now made a full recovery from his horrible ordeal.

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