The Origin of Gimmie's Fishes

This blog's title and presence is in honour of our beloved Sphynx boy, Gimli.
We affectionately called him Gimmie, and Gimmie had a life-long fascination with his pet fishes. He helped his daddy feed them each night, and if asked how they were he would peer over at the tank to check on them. He took his pet fishes very seriously and I'm sure they miss him too.

We have Gimli's ashes on the table where the fishes live so he can watch over them forever.

My name is Kay, and I am the human-mom of GODZ Gimli Gil-Galad "Gimmie", and mommy to GODZ Bilbo Bombadil, and his new little Sphynx sisters, GODZ Junipurr Lilly "Liliper" and GODZ Rose of Sharron "Rosebud".

Our story and my quest began in April 2008.

At our vet's urging, we scheduled a dental cleaning for both Gimli and Bilbo on 8 April (the day after Gimli's 3rd birthday). Prior to the visit I asked every conceivable question I knew to ask... except what induction agent would be used and if it was safe for our boys. I didn't know. I didn't ask. I felt that our vet understood our concern and would take every precaution to make sure our boys were OK.
I asked them to do blood work and a quick physical check and then phone me before starting the dental. Forty-five minutes after leaving I still had not received a call. I phoned to find that Gimli was in cardiac arrest and was being coded. I never saw him alive again. When the vet brought his body to us she made a statement to us with crossed arms that caused instant suspicion, saying, "I can see you are upset. I want you to know that I have a million dollar insurance policy, so if you feel you need to sue please go ahead." We'd not said anything about suing. Her smug words still incite my rage and continues to fuel my determination to help others avoid this type of insane loss.

Gimli was taken to Mississippi State's vet lab for a necropsy and cremation. The report I received stated that Gimli had HCM and died as a result of that disease. While I do understand the properties of HCM (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), how it can kill instantly, etc.; it didn't feel "right". A physican friend suggested that I look on their vet records for Ketamine.
Not only did this vet clinic use Ket/Val on Gimli on the 8th, but it was also used on him, without our knowledge or consent, during a trip to the emergency clinic in October 2007 for a slightly burned paw pad. I was told they would give him Valium and nothing else. During that visit Gimli had the casebook look and reaction of the disassociative behaviour of Ketamine (unable to close his eyes, jumpiness, extremely slow to come out of the drug).

With the tip on Ketamine I began to dig, search and scratch. I've called vets all over the US for more information on Ketamine used on Sphynx, deaths reported (and admitted (rare), and ciations on HCM including a French document by Dr. Michel Houard. Dr. Ingrid Straeter-Knowlen,DVM and a board eligible vet-cardiologist very graciously agreed to translate the French document by Dr. Michel Houard. Dr. Straeter-Knowlen stated that she would "never use Ketamine on these breeds."

Since Gimmie's death I have been trying to validate this French research paper, which was presented as an inclusion in an, apparently, out of press publication called CHAT M'INTEREX, Volume 1 / July 1992. I've talked and emailed with members of the science communities including Dr. Ir. Jan-Bas Prins of the FELASA in the Netherlands. He was kind enough to forward my request to locate Dr. Houard to the ECLAM scientific community in Europe and I'm still awaiting their response. I've also been corresponding with the Committee President of Rex United on joining forces - so to speak - to help our breeds steer clear of Ketamine, and she is hoping to bring on-board two French veterinarians who deal with SX and Devons in their practice.

I would like to try to find more information and links - if possible - that Ketamine, when used on our breed, MAY cause latent HCM to develop and advance. I felt so convinced that Gimli died due to the Ketamine that I phoned the pathologist back and we discussed the information I had dug up, including citations and references on Ket/Val deaths not only in SX but other breeds. I asked that an addendum be placed on the necropsy report and, despite being one of our former vet's professors at Miss. State, he amended his report and faxed the copy to me the next day. It now states that although he found that Gimli had HCM, the use of Ketamine and the stress from the dental procedure cause his death on 8 April.

Based on the discussions I've read, on numerous Sphynx breed list, the Ketamine / HCM connection is a relevant concern for many breeders / owners. Perhaps, if we work together and share the information we have, we can help determine a link for Ketamine and HCM - enough to have a warning placed on the Ketamine / Telazol labels.
We know that it most certainly will cause death in HCM cats and even those with UNdiagnosed or latent HCM.

But what, if anything, caused Gimli's HCM condition? Was it the dosage given to Gimli last October or, quite possibly, the Ket/Val given to him during his neutering as a kitten that caused a possible latent case of HCM to began advancing? I do understand that he could have been the unlucky one amongst many in his line. It could have been his Fate; but I believe that it was due to cause and effect, and I believe that Ketamine was the cause. Proving it is the issue. I don't know if that's possible for my sweet Gims, but I hope the on-going shared information and research can help others.

I contend that if veterinarians accept all breeds as their patients then they need to sharpen up their breed information and fully grasp the concept that not each and every creature is the same just because they happen to share the same common name...in this case "cat". Ketamine - as I've also discovered - is the cheapest, most common induction agent available to vets. Owners and breeders should be given options...especially when they ask for them as I did... repeatedly. My concern was only for my boys. To prolong their life, not end it. It is a vet's obligation to not accept death as a possible "oh-well" side effect of anesthesia. As it has been said, "If a few deaths occurred in humans it would not be tolerated in the medical profession." But, with vets, and the laws that backup that mentality, it's often swept under the carpet. Pet's... to some.. are so much more than property.
Gimli's fate was sealed by two horrific convergences; his vet's ignorance and my trust. As I've told the new vet that was recommended to me by the MS State pathologist... if you take me as a client I will be all in your business. I will never again allow my ignorance to put my cats at risk.

[Photo above: Cards of support and a silver box are among many items sent to us. Over three-hundred emails came in from friends around the world, and as well as flowers and letters of encouragement. Thanks to all.]

Ketamine is the most common and the cheapest induction agent used today by vets. It's the standard issue but it is not for ALL breeds. I want to see Ketamine banned by vets for the breeds it can harm. We each have to demand that and not be bullies or cajoled into feeling that lower doses of Ketamine, Telazol or other derivatives are safe. Vet's may not want to take the additional time to consider that an option to Ket/Val might be necessary for certain breeds. In my book that is unethical and unprofessional. It's that mentality that must be challenged and overcome... and from what I can tell it will be a long row to hoe.

For us, we'll always have a hole in our hearts that only Gimmie could fill, and I so want to spare other owners the loss that we've suffered. Whatever the outcome determines the cause to have been, it's all for the good of the fabulous, incredible, and deserving Sphynx breed. Many people may have a Gimli in their lives. It's for them that we work to preserve and protect.

[Thank you to Gloria for her support and loving tribute box to Gimli. Silver box is engraved GIMMIE 04-07-2005-04-08-2008]


Thank you visiting this blog. Feel free to email or send what you feel would be valuable information for other SX or Devon owners... and thank you to all of you in this tight community of Sphynx lovers.

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Gimli's tribute on PetLoss.com

Godz Gimli Gil-Galad Marshall, 04/07/05-04/08/08

Gimli Marshall, our special little boy, passed without warning during a routine dental cleaning at our vets, one day after his 3rd birthday. A hairless Sphynx, he was our youngest little boy. He has a surviving brother, Bilbo Bombadil Marshall, who is now lost without him.
Gimli touched every part of our lives. He was a mommy's boy, but loved his daddy and brother immensely. Gimmie had pets of his own as well. He loved his pet fish. He watched after them every day, and helped his daddy feed them every evening. He took his role in his fishes lives very seriously; they were important to him.

Gimli had a wide vocabulary of words and several unusual traits. He loved to fetch a spongy ball (40-50 times a go), and loved to help his mommy make the beds - although "help" is a bit misleading.
One of his favorite things to do was to go RV camping with us in the woods. He absolutely loved getting into his harness and sweater (or shirt, if warm), and would be antsy with excitement as we put on the leash for a tramp in the woods. Gimli knew all the trails at our favorite campground and would pull his daddy along with a snappy, hurry-I-can't-wait flair. He enjoyed these outings immensely and, as an indoor cat, he particularly loved these special times to smell and experience a wider world.

Another fun trick he insisted on doing each and every day (and night) was to stand in his mommy's hand. He loved to balance and have me lift him up, and he liked for me to undulate my hands so that he "danced" in the air. His trust was complete, which made him confident with this trick. Gimmie also loved to jump from the floor straight up and onto our shoulders... which on my husband was close to 6'. He never missed stepped and sometimes even caught us as we were walking by. He loved to run over and threaten to jump on my husband, who would then turn about and pretend to "put up his dukes". Gims never allowed that bluster to fool him for a second as the moment daddy's hands went down, or his head turned to laugh with me, up Gimli would go with a resounding thump on his shoulders. They had such fun with that game!
Gimli's special time each morning was with his mommy. After daddy fed he and brother, at 6 am, he would run back to our bedroom, push open the door and wake his mommy up. Plus or minus 10 minutes, he never allowed his mommy to sleep past 6:30 am! After some sweet kisses he would either follow or beat his mommy into the bath where he wanted to be picked up. He'd tuck his body close on one side, put his face in my hair, and purr and coo and nuzzle my face. He loved his mommy so! This sweetness is most dear in my heart. I'm so glad this boy loved me. He learned a new trick one month ago that involved the bathroom door. One day his brother wanted to come in the bath (to put his mousie in the toilet, most likely), and mommy was in the shower. Gimli jumped onto the vanity, walked to the door, pulled on the door handle and let Bilbo in. He then turned and walked back to watch the shower in progress. An amazing thing to witness. He continued to learn how to manipulate doors during these last few weeks and enjoyed showing me how he could now open the bath door any time he felt like it. He'd open it, peer both ways into the hall, then calmly go back to whatever he had been doing. The day before he died I came in from my office to find the door to our bedroom closed. This is a door that is always open. I walked in and opened the door and there on my 4' jewelry cabinet sat Gimli... a cabinet that is directly by the door; and on the bed, looking relieved, was Bilbo. My guess is that Gimli was showing off his new talent to Bilbo and instead of opening a closed door he closed an open door and their stuck-in-the-bedroom adventure began. Such a little minx.
He was all boy, though... no mistaking that. He was younger than his brother, Bilbo, by one month and Bilbo had him outweighed by a couple of pounds. Did that matter? Nope. Gims was the Alpha male and everyone else towed the line. He had his own electric blanket, and his own chair. He'd share them, but you knew quite well that he was doing it out of generosity. He and his brother were both very protective of one another and loved each other very much. They ate, slept, played, argued, loved on, fought with, and constantly were together. Our Bilbo will be lost without him.
Although as Lord of the Rings fans know... Bilbo's do not like adventure (but tolerated them), but Gimli travelled many places with his daddy, mommy and brother and was a wonderful traveler. His favorite spot during a drive was as "co-pilot" in his daddy's lap. He was an adventurer and loved his experiences in the woods, the mountains, and at the beach each year. Someplace new to go? Bring it on, he was game. He had a passion for watching birds and squirrels, and enjoyed viewing Animal Planet and his Cat Sitter DVD. When a bird was spied he would chatter especially to them in his birdie voice. Or, if mommy spied a bird and told him about it, he would run to the window for a look. He loved having his photograph taken and he and his brother have an album of over 600 photos on Flickr.com. He and his brother (and their mommy) were avid members of Sphynx Friends, and Sphynx Adventurers on Yahoo Groups and have made many dear, and supportive friends. Gimli was a CFA premiership winner but due to his lack of appreciation of the show cat life he opted, most graciously, to avoid those events (and his mommy agreed).

Gimli was a beautiful, young, and perfect boy in every possible way. Loving, faithful, and generous he gave his parents an enormous sense of pride and supreme joy. His passing was both bewildering and devastating and due, in part, to HCM which strikes without warning, symptoms, and even after a clean bill of health. We could not have been more stunned, and his dynamo presence is now a vast and deep void in our home. It is our hope, as his family, to help other vets and Sphynx owners who wish to know more about his death - and the cause - to better understand our unique breed. I encourage anyone wanting more information to contact me, or read more about HCM and the fundraising for research on this disease at the Winn Foundation website. We, as loving pet parents, would also like to encourage other to inquire first about the types of anesthesia used in sedation practices. For exotic breeds, like ours and many others, Ketamine should not be used.

We, my husband, his brother, Bilbo, my father, and several family and friends have loved Gimli and our lives have been enriched by him. He knew that he was unconditionally loved. He was a confident young boy because he knew we supported him and wanted only the best for him. He did his part by always trying to delight, please, amuse, and love and cherish us. He will forever be in our hearts as one joyful and too-short moment of unabashed love; and we shall always feel regret for what could have been years and years of his most enchanting companionship.

Our thoughts and love go out to all who have lost as we have.