This photograph captures research-based surgery in action at OVC, with the hands of three veterinary surgeons working together to give a cat the ability to breathe through its nose again. Severe narrowing of the nasal passages had left the cat completely dependent on open-mouth breathing. Guided by a collaborative approach, the surgical team developed a novel technique: they reopened the nasal passage and transplanted a small piece of the cat’s own tissue from beneath its tongue into the nose to promote healthy healing and help keep the airway open.
At the centre of the photograph are the surgeons’ hands; each performing a different task, but all working toward the same goal. They represent the teamwork, precision, and shared knowledge required to turn an innovative surgical idea into a treatment for a real patient. The procedure was described in a case report published in the Canadian Veterinary Journal in July 2026. Three months after surgery, the reconstructed nasal passage remained open, allowing the cat to continue breathing through its nose.
