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JACKSON GALAXY, THE CAT, FIGHTS FOR HIS LIFE

SEE END OF POST FOR IMPORTANT UPDATE

Looking out the windowRO.jpg
©2012 Robin A.F. Olson.

Jackson's not well. He's been off for a few days. He's still eating, but otherwise he's depressed and keeps to himself. He's been sleeping on my bed, which is odd, yet nice. The odd part is that he stays there day and night.

I couldn't put it off. I had to have Jackson checked by Dr Larry. Something was wrong.

Checking records.jpg
©2012 Robin A.F. Olson.

Jackson's sensitive when his abdomen is touched. Last time I took him to the Vet, he was cranky but we couldn't find anything wrong without doing expensive tests. I decided to wait it out and hope for the best. Jackson was doing fine until a few days ago when he got quiet. This cat really chats up a storm and for him not to even meow signals that there's trouble.

Taking Temp.jpg
©2012 Robin A.F. Olson.

I got Jackson in to see Dr. Larry this morning.

Jackson's temp was 105.1°F.

It was not easy for Super-Deb to even get his temperature. The moment Deb started to work on Jackson he started to growl. When Dr. Larry came in to examine Jackson he didn't even want to be touched, though only moments before Dr. Larry entered the room, Deb and I were getting head-butts and purrs from him.

 

Not quite right.jpg
©2012 Robin A.F. Olson.

 

We decided not to mess with Jackson, but rather to leave him be and discuss what we think might be going on. You know I had a virus run through my house a month ago and two weeks ago Spencer was very sick. Perhaps this is a virus that will run its' course?

Nicky attacked Jackson a few weeks ago and scratched his face rather badly. The wound was treated and is healing but maybe I missed a puncture and Jackson has an abscess? That would explain his fever..but Jackson's white. You'd think any boo-boo would be visible?

Jax looking up.jpg
©2012 Robin A.F. Olson.

That leaves us with having to run tests. This is were I get shaken to my core. We just can't afford a lot of tests and Jackson needs help NOW. To even get blood from Jackson, he's going to have to be sedated. He's just too angry or in too much pain or both and it's the safest thing to do for him and for the staff at Dr. Larry's.

 

We need to do: Blood work, Sedation, IV catheter (to help break his fever), X-rays to find out if he has an injury or internal problem plus exam and boarding costs. Then we start praying he doesn't need to go to the ER Vet if the IV has to stay in place after hours because we can't afford it and the ER Vet doesn't do payment plans.

 

In the bag.jpg
©2012 Robin A.F. Olson.

 

We REALLY NEED YOUR HELP to provide care for Jackson.

We can't give him what he needs and I'm terrified of what is to come. Please if you would considering contributing to this Emergency ChipIn for Jackson I would be so grateful. I'm trying not to ask for a lot, but I'm guessing just today will be over $600.00 with our discount.

 

Your donation is TAX-DEDUCTIBLE as my rescue, Kitten Associates is a 501©3 Non-Profit Cat Rescue.

If you'd prefer to send a check, please make it out to: Kitten Associates and please note on the check the funds should go to "Jackson's Big Heart" mail it to:

Kitten Associates
P.O. Box 354
Newtown, CT 06470-0354

Any funds not used for the care of this family will go into our General Fund.

If you can't make a donation, you can help us by getting the word out. Every dollar helps and every Re-tweet or FB Share does, too. THANK YOU for caring about Jackson!

 

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Sept 12 6:49 PM EST UDPATE:

Jackson's heart is big, but in a bad way. Dr. Larry fears a serious problem. Jackson's breathing is labored so they're holding oxygen near his face. Jackson's crying. I'm crying, too. We looked at the x-rays and you could see that Jackson's heart is HUGE with a swollen lobe off to one side. Jackson's lungs have a strange pattern, not exactly pneumonia and probably not cancer.

Xray Jackson.jpg
©2012 Robin A.F. Olson. Jackson's heart should be 2-3 ribs wide, not 4-5.

We were faced with what to do next. Jackson MUST have an echocardiogram ASAP. He must be in a cage with oxygen, too. Dr. Larry can't do those tests so we had to drive Jax about 40 minutes away to the VCA Shoreline Animal Hospital.

I called Katherine, my dear friend at Animals in Distress. She and I have been working on finding Jackson a home. I called her, crying. I didn't know what to do. I had to find a way to come up with the money to help Jackson. She offered to pay for the echo, which is nearly $500.00. She told me not to worry. Thank God I have friends like her.

Jacksons big heart.jpg
©2012 Robin A.F. Olson. You can see Jackson's heart bulging and misshapen from fluid.

Sam got the car running and cranked the A/C. I paid the bill for Jackson. It was $540.00, then we made our way to Shoreline with Jackson riding shotgun.

Jackson cried and was struggling to breathe during the trip. I was in the back seat frantically texting people updates. We were all trying to guess what was going on, but we didn't want to know, too. That x-ray was shocking. I started to fear I was going to have to put Jackson down.

Dr. April, a cardiologist, did Jackson's echo tonight. She went over the results saying without any hesitation that Jackson is in Heart Failure brought on by the anesthesia he got this afternoon. He was teetering with it before but this pushed him over the edge. They were treating him with lasix to see if he would resolve some of the swelling around his heart.

Getting Oxygen.jpg
©2012 Robin A.F. Olson. Getting Oxygen before we run him to Shoreline.

 

Bottom line, Jackson has HCM or Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. It's VERY difficult to diagnose without doing an echocardiogram. Jackson's probably had this for a long time. Jackson's probably not 2 years old-more like 5.

 

I'll go into more detail about his condition, but it leaves us in a very sad place.

I do not know if Jackson will be with us in the morning. It's up to him and the treatment. He did look a bit perkier when we said our farewells to him, but we really won't know anything for awhile.

In Oxygen Cage.jpg
©2012 Robin A.F. Olson. Jackson meowing. A bit perkier. Maybe a sign of hope?

 

Will Jackson have a future? I don't know. Will he be adopted? Probably not. Did Jackson find his forever home with us? I don't know, but I DO know we love him and hope he comes home tomorrow feeling better.

 

Comments

First I wanted to say how fast one small little thing can tough your heart. Cats hearts are made of gold. I take alot of courage to stand by and not be able to do anything for them. Just hope you found the best vet for them. I hope what ever happen with Jackson that he not in pain. And that you are able to fine peace in the end as well. I loss my cat of 13 years to cancer. I know how hard this is. PLEASE OF OF YOU TRY TO STAY STRONG! God bless you.

I'm praying for little Jackson and made a small donation.  My babies Orangie and Oliver are sending good thoughts.

I don't know much about veterinary medicine, but when people have CHF, we try to get as much fluid out (with diuretics like furosemide), use ACE inhibitors like captopril to help reduce blood pressure, prevent cardiac remodeling, and help renal blood flow, use oxygen to help with breathing, and sometimes use nitroglycerine to help reduce the poor heart's workload. You seem like a really good, caring cat mom! I sent a little bit of money, and maybe the vet can show you ways to administer drugs to Jackson yourself to help keep costs down. I don't know if Jackson's catheter is for urine collection or drug administration, but they might be able to show you how to do it. In people, some of the most common causes for CHF are high blood pressure, liver problems, and kidney problems, often secondary to diabetes. I know cats are prone to kidney problems, particularly male cats are prone to kidney stones, and that there is some dietary modification that might help with that. It also seems unlikely, but I wonder if CHF in cats can be provoked by an infection - either viral/bacterial pericarditis or a parasite introduced by another animal such as heart worms or liver flukes. Sorry, I'm trying to think of some information that might help you and Jackson. It sounds like he is in good hands, and I send you and kitty love, and warmest wishes.

Hi Robin - I remember you and your page from when you rescued Sockelganger! I really hope Jackson comes through this. I have a big white cat with HCM and he's going strong after 5 or 6 years. Fingers and toes crossed for handsome Jackson.

I shared numerous posts to help find this handsome boy a home--so sorry he will probably end his days in rescue.

I've lost two boys to HCM at the age of two--don't put him through the horror of not being able to breathe, if it gets to that.

Thoughts, tears, and prayers...

So sorry to hear about Jackson.  I have tears in my eyes.  I just lost my beautiful Mio, a 5 year old tuxedo cat I found as a kitten, to the same thing.  It was so hard to see such a vibrant friend go downhill so fast.  To make things worse, my 11 year old chihuahua/min-pin mix has just been diagnosed with the same thing.  I know I will do my best to keep her confortable to the end.  Good luck - hug him for as long as you can and kiss him often.

come on Jackson, you can make it! (:

Please don't think of euthanasia as a last resort. Thank your lucky stars you have that choice and don't HAVE to resort to watching him suffer. I was a vet tech for 27 years and there were times I absolutely could not wait to put an animal down, and yet we had to wait and wait and wait for the owner to call and give permission.It was torture. I was so thankful for the animal to be able to do that for them. Please think of it as a blessing for Jackson if that is what it comes to. When an animal can't breath without oxygen, it is a horrible death for both of you. Have you thought of renting a bottle of oxygen to keep on hand at home in case he gets into distress all of a sudden? Like during the car ride to the other vet. Please consider doing that for him.

I'm so sorry to hear about Jackson. I'm sure this is a very scary and stressful time for all of you. Unfortunately, I can really relate, especially this week. I came home last week to find my baby Simon laying in the middle of the livingroom - unable to get up because of his rear leg. He was fine not 12 hours before - no limp. After spending a week at the vet fighting off a massive infection in his leg joint - 3 different antibiotics, anti-inflamotories, pain killers and force feeding, he was diagnosed with a mass on his kidney and has cancer. There is little that can be done, so I've brought him home to love him until it's time. This week has cost me $2000 - which I didn't have. I can't pay my mortgage and I had to take out a credit card with an incredibly high interest rate to try and provide him with the care he needs. I have no regrets about any of this, I just don't know how I'm going to be able to pay for any more medical help for him. It's so terrible when you have to make a choice between money and the health of your pet. Makes me feel horribly guilty. Your Jackson is such a beautiful boy and I so hope that he gets better. I will keep him and you in my thoughts.

Dear Jackson Kitty,

I am sending all the positive thoughts I can muster your way so that you have a speedy recovery.  I hope your treatments will make you healthy and I hope you also are adopted and find your forever home.  Trust me pretty kitty.  If I were close to you I would adopt you and make you my baby boy.  I've always wanted a pure white cat to take care of.  

 

Lots of Love,

Stacy K

Our hearts and purrs are with you and Jackson. We are hoping for the best outcome.


Harry, Dexter and Tipp

Hi Jackson,

Scampering in this morning to see how you are feeling.  Hopefully better today being home.  

I hope you are getting ham with your pills - Amber says they taste best that way.  

We are both furry lucky kitties to have been rescued from the streets and shown human love and compassion.  

We're all purrin and prayin for you to feel better.

Snowy

Robin,

Please know that we are sending healing energy and prayers to Jackson and you. Bellana, one of our female companions says Jackson could be her twin. I have been through intense health situations with my feline companions.  Hoping for as little suffering as possible for all of you.

I just lost my 5 year old Bailey to Cardiomyopathy, he was playing well and I went out for no more than 45 minutes and came home to find him head, and he was an indoor cat. Broke my heart and I am still hurting over the loss of my little one. Please don't let jackson suffer...

Purrs, meows and puddy hugs for all the very best

Tia

Please give us an update.  I wished I could adopt this awesone cat, but live too far away.  I so hope he has survived trhe last day.

I am hoping for the best for Jackson, he is a young cat yet.  I can see him pulling through.

I am so sorry to hear about sweet Jackson. I went through this last year with a gorgeous 5 year old former feral who had become one of my loved family members.  I knew when I could pick her up with no problem that something was seriously wrong.  My thoughts are with you and Jackson.

Of course I'm praying for you both. I'd like to pass on a way I've found to get by in hard times and care for my pets. There's a "credit card" called Carecredit. They pay your vet bill and you have6 months to 2 years interest free to pay off, depending on your credit score. Google it. Many vets contract with them. 

This is heartbreaking. I've sent out word to my friends, but I am unable to donate at this time. I so very wish I could, but what little I had had been donated at the start of the month. Please, keep us updated on how he's doing. Is he doing any better now? All I can do is hope for the best for him. Get well soon, Jackson!

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