This is the start of a series of stories about animals and their owners who’ve found help and healing at the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital. Periodically we will share heartwarming tributes from hospital clients who wanted to highlight the vital treatment their animal companions received from the hospital’s caring teams of clinicians, veterinary nurses, staff and students. We begin with a tale of a cat named Gabby.
Gabby Cat joined Jenny’s family at just six months old—a curious, spirited rescue with a few health quirks that required ongoing care. Early on, Gabby was diagnosed with food allergies, managed with the help of a prescription diet recommended by their local veterinarian.
Years later, after a series of urinary tract infections, Gabby was diagnosed with kidney disease. That diagnosis brought her to the Purdue University Small Animal Hospital, where she underwent surgery that helped extend her life and improve her comfort.
Jenny remembers how she sought to reassure Gabby before the trip, describing Purdue as a kind of “fancy cat hotel” where she’d be well cared for. Gabby’s treatment team took that approach to heart, sharing light-hearted updates with Jenny — including their sense of her less-than-enthusiastic feelings about a fellow feline patient.
Throughout her time at Purdue, Gabby received prescription medications from the hospital pharmacy and even had her own pet insurance card tied to Jenny’s plan. The total experience, from personalized updates to specialized treatment, reflected the hospital’s commitment to whole-pet care.
Writer(s): Mackenzie Martin | pvmnews@purdue.edu
