Siamese Cats

I have a beautiful Blue Lynx Siamese cat, named Jaxon. He is 9 months old and quite adorable as you can see by my picture! He is what they call polydactile, meaning he has extra toes on his front feet. It makes him look like a little lion!He had a rough start. I got him in May 2009, when he was just a few weeks old. I had him about 3 days when a noticed a small sore spot on the top of his head. I was concerned, so I called the breeder. She said that it was probably where one of the litter mates bit him and that she usually treated it with Neosporin. I tried this for a couple of days, but it didn't seem to be working. I made an appointment with Dr. Brenda Owens at Coats Veterinary Hospital and took him in. She didn't seem concerned, but took a culture and gave him antibiotics and a topical cream. 10 days later, I received a call from the Dr. Owens, saying he tested positive for ringworm! I was told this was unusual in healthy cats and that I should have him tested for Feline Leukemia. I did and thankfully, he was negative. Dr. Owens then informed me that ringworm was more common in pure bred cats. She gave me some cream for it and thought that would cure it. A few days later, I noticed several more small spots all over his body. Concerned, I called the Dr. Owens again. She was concerned and recommended that I give him systemic medicine for ringworm. The medicine was dangerous. It would suppress his bone marrow and cause a low white blood count. I elected to try the medication. What else could I do? He took the medication for 2 months and had to be confined to my bedroom. He had blood work done every 3 weeks to make sure the medicine was not toxic to his little body. After the 2 months, the ringworm appeared to be resolved. He had 2 more fungal cultures, which were both negative. We had gotten over that hurdle. By then, it was the end of July.

Since Jaxon had been immunocomprimised, the Dr. Owens had elected to wait and give his baby shots when he got well. I took him for his first series of shots the end of August. The day he got them, he seemed okay, but that night, he was extremely lethargic and refused to eat. I took him back to Coats Veterinary Hospital the next morning. Dr. Owens said he had a bad reaction to the shots and he should not receive them again. She kept him at the hospital all day, since he had a high fever and was dehydrated. She gave him IV fluids and Benadryl. Cortisone was out of the question since it could cause the ringworm to reappear. I brought him home. 2 days later, he started sneezing and had a runny nose. Once again, I took him to the vet. She said he had an upper respiratory infection from the shots and gave him an antibiotic. She said it wasn't contagious. I didn't confine him since she told me he wasn't contagious. We have 2 other cats in our home, Beaufort, a Long Hair Domestic, and Lilee, a Chocolate Point Siamese, and I wasn't concerned since she said it was just a vaccine reaction. In 2 days, both of our other cats started sneezing. Not contagious? She started the other cats on antibiotics. One cat, Lilee, is 12 years old, and she had a terrible time with the infection. I thought we were going to lose her. Jaxon, Beaufort and Lilee all got well after about a week. I thought this was it.

All was well until October. Jaxon began to vomit for no reason. He didn't have a fur ball and hadn't eaten anything different. After 3 days of this, I took him to Coats Veterinary Hospital. Dr. Elias did an exam and suggested x-rays and blood work. I am on disability and my funds, limited. They wanted over $400 to do this. I asked them to please treat him for gastroenteritis and see how he would do. They gave him more IV fluids and Reglan to take at home. I gave him the Reglan right on schedule, but he kept vomiting and refused to eat or drink. My sister, Leanna, is a nurse, so she called to talk with Dr. Owens. Leanna suggested they try another medication, but Dr. Owens refused. I wanted to try Phenergan and they refused to give me the dosage! I had to look it up online! The vet, Dr. Brenda Owens of Coats Veterinary Hospital said if I couldn't afford the xray, I should just put him down. I could NOT believe she said this! This is supposed to be a "Christian" practice. What a joke that is! I got an appointment with my Leanna's vet in Raleigh, which is about an hour away. I took him to CareFirst Animal Hospital Glenwood and saw Dr. Elisa Sumakeris. She was absolutely wonderful! She did the xrays for a reduced price. She discovered that he was totally impacted, after the first vet said he was completely empty. They gave Jaxon enemas and laxatives at the hos[ital and kept him there for a few hours. They prescribed a special food for him and sent him home. I have to keep his food and litter box separate from the other cats. The food helped and he was fine. I requested all of his records from Coats Veterinary Hospital, as I NEVER intend to use them or recommend them again! I scheduled Jaxon to be neutered.

I took Jaxon to be neutered the middle of November. A routine surgery. Dr. Elisa Sumakeris performed the surgery. I dropped him off at CareFirst Animal Hospital Glenwood at 7:30am and went to my dental appointment. I knew they would keep him until 4:00pm, so I wasn't in any hurry. Dr. Sumakeris called me while I was at the dentist and said she was through with the surgery and Jaxon was fine. I breathed a sigh of relief and finished up at the dentists. I decided to go to Crabtree Valley Mall and do some Christmas shopping. Not long after I got there, I received a call from Dr. Sumakeris. Jaxon was bleeding and she was going to have to operate again. I was hysterical. Jaxon is like my child! I rushed to the office to be with Jaxon. Dr. Sumakeris finished the second surgery and said the bleeding had stopped, but that he had a genetic clotting disorder. She gave him a dose of Vitamin K. She checked him every 15 minutes for bleeding. When she was satisfied, about 3:00pm, she let him leave. She gave him an injection of antibiotics and some pain medicine to take at home. She didn't even charge me for the second surgery! She is the kindest veterinarian I have ever met, and so compassionate. Jaxon did fine after his surgeries and has had no problems since. I pray every single day that he remain healthy. We have had quite a journey!