Poinsettia is one of my favorite plant that I always have it
at my home but I never knew that it is a toxic plant for cats.
Our lovely boy’s weight loss was so obvious, he was so quiet
and always coming to my nap, looking my eyes.
We decided to take him Vet to ask about his weight loss. Same day he
started to vomit in the morning. Unfortunately our Vet couldn’t understand the
real reason of vomiting for five days. We’re going to Vet twice for IV to avoid
his dehydration but after when we come back home he was looking so bad,
starting vomiting, refusing to eat even his favorite foods such as tuna fish or
shrimps. Our game player cutty was going to under the coaches, behind the
curtains. His appearance was getting worst each day. Vet did all blood tests including
lykemia, cats HIV etc, US as well. Our poor boys shaved tummy for US was
another trauma for him. We were so sad, trying to figure out what to do, the
place we took him is one of the biggest Vet Hospital in the city, what we could
do more? 5th day, mid night his started to take breath hard, my DH had to take
him Vet Hospital at mid night at 01:30 am. They came back in a several hours
but his condition wasn’t well.
I’ve met with a young lady at my hair dresser some time ago,
who is a Vet we chat about cats and cat pansion possibilities during our
vacations. I had her name card. I called
her and explained my boy’s current situation. She canceled routine appointments
to accept us. She found that he had so high fever and started questions. Her
3rd question was”Did he eat any plants?”.
I said, as far as I remember he broke a bunch of poinsietta and bite
some leaves of it. She opened a related link at her computer to show me toxic
plants page, all symptoms were same with Babig’s. We had wasted five days back
and forth to Vet. Hospital, only dehydration and stomach support were applied
him.Many secondary effects as intestinal
and blood cells disregarded. Gosh, the milk sap of the poinsettia is fatal for
cats....How come I didn’t know it? We could lose our little boy!
Vet Lady started to apply proper meds, we’re going to
Clinique each day...It is just a small Clinique not open 24 hours like the
other one.
Second week his blood level came more critical, he was
unable to produce red blood cells due to marrow bone blood cells production
ability. The only solution should be
blood transfussion. But there is no blood bank for cats. Where we should get safe
blood for him? Our second boy’s blood
group checked, when we learned that he was same blood group, we cheered all
together. Same night he saved his brother’s life with his blood. After
anestesia he was sleeping like an angel and we were waiting crazily to see the
result if "Babig" will accept the blood.
My DH and DD were holding his paws during transfussion period. I’ll never forget his eyes which was looking
at us as saying “don’t leave mei save me!”.
Whole night we waited but glad that he never vomited but
diare continued. Next day, his blood level wasn’t excellent but it was good
news for the new blood cell production. After 2 days it reached to acceptable level. His front paws were so sensitive after all
those IV, we had to use his back paw to take blood. It wasn’t so so easy for
him. When we saw the result, Vet, her assistant and I hughed each other with a
great happiness, we’ve never gave up,
did every possible thing to save him.
His dehydration continued for a while, she kept giving him
IV. Afterwords his controls turned to
weekly period and afterwords monthly basis. But, we still control his feces, give
him special food and he sleeps with us.
I have an
unbeliavable relation with him. Whenever
he feels weak, comes to me and lean his head on to my nest. Still his both front paws must be painful
because of pet angio, in addition, I forgot how many injections he had to have,
too.
I’m grateful that I coincidentally met with a Vet Lady and
she saved our boy’life with her knowledge and experience. We really appreciate
her and her assistant.
Now, we don’t have any indoor plants at home other than some
pottet things at the terrace. We had a
serious experience, I hope no one have same thing. I wanted to share our sad but happy end story
before Christmas time. I’m sure there must be cat lovers who doesn’t know toxic
effects of poinsettia for their cats. As I told you before, I hope no one have toxic poinsettia problem for their cats during the wonderful time of the year.
