Chapter 115
Chapter 115
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Mastering Cat Injections
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"FISS? You mean the sarcoma that shows up right here?"
Go Gi-jin had overheard the conversation between Lee Jun and Yu Mu-hwan. He pointed to the back of Yu Mu-hwan's neck as he spoke.
"Yes, feline injection-site sarcoma."
"It's not just there, though. It can happen anywhere."
"Well, injections can cause it anywhere, right? What was it again? Back in the day, they said it happened in one out of ten thousand cats, but now it's one in a thousand or something?"
Go Gi-jin recalled what he'd studied with Lee Jun.
"Right. It's not as rare as you'd think."
"I was shocked when I read the paper. Had no idea the rates were that high."
Yu Mu-hwan had been stunned after reading the literature himself, wondering if tumors really formed that easily.
"From the looks of it, Teacher Yu didn't give that one a shot just now?"
"Oh, yeah. I tried the leg or tail, but it was kinda..."
He trailed off, unable to say 'I was scared.' Go Gi-jin nodded knowingly.
"I get it. My hands shook like crazy at first. Trembled something fierce."
"Even you, Senior—no, Teacher Go?"
"Man, just thinking about it now makes me sweat."
Go Gi-jin shuddered.
"And get this! Cats hated my guts for some reason. Even the ones their owners fed at home would hiss at me, and the strays ignored me big time."
"Gray and Shadow?"
"Yeah. Treated me real cold."
Yu Mu-hwan tilted his head at Go Gi-jin's words.
'They seemed so nice, though...'
That was thanks to Lee Jun.
Lee Jun had told Gray and Shadow ahead of time that Yu Mu-hwan was scared of cats, so to be kind but keep their distance.
Go Gi-jin's issue, though, stemmed from him crowding the cats right from the start.
"But hey, Bro, isn't FISS a real nasty one?"
"Yeah, they say it is. When it hits, you gotta remove more tissue than with other tumors, and the recurrence rate's sky-high. Sometimes it comes back right after surgery."
"True, there's cases where it recurs just a month post-op."
"I've seen one recur after two weeks."
"Whoa, for real?"
"Really?"
Both men stared wide-eyed.
"So it wasn't like they missed some?"
"Could be. But the CT from the original clinic showed no tumor there pre-op. We all figured recurrence—me and the other docs. Plus, the surgery site followed guidelines to a T."
"Man, that's rough."
"So we gotta be careful. You two know FISS surgery's way more aggressive than other sarcomas."
"Yep. Usually you cut 3cm around the tumor, but with these, it's 5cm."
"And other sarcomas need one fascial layer removed, but FISS requires two or more."
"You got it spot-on. Makes surgery tricky as hell."
"Naturally. Imagine slicing that much off a little cat's back?"
"That's why we aim for tails or legs—just in case."
"Even that's creepy."
Go Gi-jin's massive frame shivered.
"Still beats a scapular tumor. Legs or tails, they can lose 'em and live. But the scruff..."
Lee Jun didn't finish, but all three wore the same grim expression.
"Survival's what matters."
Go Gi-jin's face soured as he spoke.
"Honestly, injecting legs or tails scares me too. Feels like I might hit a nerve, and cats'll hurt more."
"I still get the jitters. IVs are easier, at least..."
"Blood vessels show up. Or even if not, you feel 'em. Like, vessel's right here, good to go."
Yu Mu-hwan answered easily—he had no qualms catching vessels in animals.
Puppies under 500 grams? Routine. Ferrets, hedgehogs, guinea pigs? Master level.
Even lab mice and rat tail veins, first try.
Cats were no different; front or back paws, he nailed vessels flawlessly. Provided they were well-sedated or restrained.
"Same deal. We all know nerve paths."
"Sure, we know 'em."
"Then just avoid 'em and inject."
"Easier said than done! One hiss and my hands freeze up. Plus, legs are all bone!"
Go Gi-jin grumbled, and Lee Jun nodded.
"I thought the same. Their legs are skinny—skin and bone. Where do you even inject? Back's got more meat."
Lee Jun gently stroked Gray's scruff and rump.
Purr, purr.
Gray purred happily.
"So I hesitated like you two. Can't stick needles where there's barely flesh."
"Exactly. And this ain't even a vein shot."
Go Gi-jin touched below Gray's calf.
"Right. Plus back then, we thought incidence was one in ten thousand, not one in a thousand."
"Was limited to vaccines then. Now we know other shots can trigger it too."
"Yeah. Not common anyway. So I figured scapula shots were fine, like you guys."
Lee Jun paused, exhaling sharply.
"But seeing that owner sobbing over the cat that recurred in two weeks? That sealed it."
Both men leaned in.
"When it happens to you, it's 100%. Probability? Useless."
Spot on.
Rare disease or not, if it's your pet, it's 100%.
It hit home for these frontline vets.
"Yeah..."
"True that."
"So let's stick to protocol religiously. You've only read papers—no real prognosis experience. It's a vicious one. Stubborn as hell."
Lee Jun eyed Yu Mu-hwan, who listened intently.
"Teacher Yu, come here. Hold Gray."
Just then, Gray—cradled by Go Gi-jin and staring—locked eyes with him.
Eek!
Yu Mu-hwan flinched but extended his arms.
"Gr-Gray..."
His voice quivered.
Yet he hugged Gray tight as the cat leaped into his arms.
Meow!
Gray rubbed his head on Yu Mu-hwan's shoulder.
Yu Mu-hwan's mouth gaped awkwardly.
"H-ha... haha."
Thrilled and terrified.
Caught between emotions, he clutched Gray and followed Lee Jun.
Before entering the director's office, Lee Jun nodded at Go Gi-jin, who followed with Shadow in arms.
"They're good listeners, so we'll use 'em to teach."
With Gray and Shadow's help, Lee Jun patiently guided Yu Mu-hwan.
"Think you're getting it now."
"Yeah, first time's the hardest. You'll nail it soon—especially pros like you who ace shots already."
Lee Jun watched Yu Mu-hwan closely.
Still tense, but Gray and Shadow had eased his felinophobia a bit.
Seeing that, Lee Jun pondered the next step.
"Teacher Yu. Wanna try park cats sometime?"
"...Huh? The park cats...?"
"I do regular checkups on 'em. Thought you might join."
"Me...? Can I?"
Yu Mu-hwan hesitated—not just cat fear, but worry over missing something.
Lee Jun trusted him, though.
"You'll be fine."
"...I'll give it a shot."
"Good. Tomorrow, then?"
***
Per Lee Jun's suggestion, park cats started trickling into Meongmeong Animal Hospital in small groups.
Yu Mu-hwan spent every non-sleeping, non-duty moment with them—cutting sleep too.
He adapted fast.
Three weeks later, he handled cat exams without shaking.
But.
Hiss!
One hiss from Norangi sent Yu Mu-hwan bolting to the exam room corner, plastered against the wall, yelling.
"Eek!"
Lee Jun hugged the snarling Norangi, chuckling.
"Such a scaredy-cat."
"I-I thought it'd claw me..."
"Nah, he's sweet. Just..."
"...?"
Still stuck to the wall, Yu Mu-hwan stared.
"Heartworm preventives soaked into his back. Feels off."
Lee Jun told Norangi,
"Gotta apply this or you'll head to the cat star. Live long, yeah?"
Near-threat wheedling.
Norangi mewed cutely: Meow!
"Next, Sogeum-i."
Seeing the kitten revived Yu Mu-hwan's courage.
"Trim claws first."
Snip.
Front paws done; on hind legs—hiss!
Sogeum-i bared fangs, glaring.
Actually just pained scrunch, but to Yu Mu-hwan, attack mode.
"Eep!"
He jumped up but didn't wall-stick this time.
"Your bad, Teacher Yu. Cut too short."
"Di-did I?"
"Yup. Up to here was good. Pet him before the topical."
"Okay."
Yu Mu-hwan slowly stroked Sogeum-i's back.
'So soft... Different from dogs.'
Warm fuzz slid over his fingers, fear melting.
Momentum carried, he gently applied heartworm preventive.
Still braced for a hiss.
But Sogeum-i took it calmly, as if sensing his care.
Next: Milo, Shadow's successor and Bluebird Park boss.
'L-Looks fierce...'
Milo's charisma wilted Yu Mu-hwan a tad.
He steeled himself.
'Just like before. Yeah.'
With Jang So-ra assisting, he treated Milo like a dog—picturing sweet Sogeum-i.
"Good boy."
Awkward smile as he petted Milo's head.
Milo stayed put; Yu Mu-hwan's lips curved.
'Told 'em upfront, they behave.'
Recalling Lee Jun, he narrated:
"Gonna inject here. It'll sting, bear with it."
Soft voice; grabbed leg.
Then—
Swish.
Milo whipped around; eyes met.
"Hi—"
Hiccup nearly escaped.
Jang So-ra cupped Milo's face, whispering,
"Just a sec."
Nodded to Yu Mu-hwan; injection landed safely.
Fireworks boomed in his head.
'I injected a cat. No towel, no collar, bare! In the leg!'
Just light restraint from Jang So-ra, but success thrilled him.
Lee Jun had prepped the cats, unknown to Yu Mu-hwan—he beamed.
Euphoria bubbling, eyes met Milo's.
Fierce before, now adorably lovable.
***
Mind flipped, everything cat was cute.
Cats cute, he wanted to do more for clinic cats—not just park ones.
"Yeolmu keeps scratching her ears? Let's check."
Yu Mu-hwan otoscoped the ear.
Black inflammation galore, as owner said.
"Whoa. Must itch like crazy."
Owner grimaced at the screen.
Mites under microscope; he treated meticulously, hoping quick recovery.
Then, per Lee Jun's mantra, petted from head, palpating.
"Good girl, Yeolmu."
Mid-back, eyes widened.
"Hm?"
"Something wrong, Doc?"
"Kinda bumpy here."
"Oh, preventive shot recently."
"Yeah?"
"'Bout a month ago? Before moving."
"I see. Stress might've caused the ear issue. Was it core vaccine?"
"Yes."
Post-FISS talk, Yu Mu-hwan obsessed over injection-site sarcomas.
Re-studying papers.
Hence, worry.
"If it doesn't shrink or grows, come back for checks."
"Got it. It'll fade soon—she always does post-shot."
Owner brushed it off, unlike him.
A week later, Yeolmu returned.